[NHCOLL-L:2216] Re: new cabinets: points to consider

[Gretchen Anderson]

I concur with John. Delta Design cabinets are excellent and I encourage 
you to check them out. Working with the company is a delight! They will 
customize to address your needs and continue to trouble when there is an 
occasional problem, even long after the installation and bills are 
paid.  We used Delta exclusively in our new facility. The sizes were 
standardized as much as possible, with the addition of double wide as 
well as some double deep.

One thing to look for in cabinets is their flexibility. The Deltas met 
our needs here extremely well. A standard cabinet (which the company 
designed for us) can easily have a combination of drawers, shelves and 
rolled storage racks (we have textiles to contend with). Cabinets can be 
divided to have half wide drawers as well. In addition, we requested 
wheeled carts to move drawers (both full width and half width).

It is a good idea to look at the recessed handles, just in case of 
future compactor storage. If that is a possibility, I suggest asking 
what it will take to prepare the cabinets for compactor carriages. 
 Also, check what the coating of the cabinets is. Powder coat is best. 
It is the most inert and will adequately protect the metal to prevent rust.

Good Luck!
Gretchen Anderson
Conservator
Science Museum of Minnesota


Kate Wellspring wrote:

>Good day,
>
>We are in the process of reviewing demo models of various types of steel storage cabinets to be purchased and placed in a new museum facility.  We currently have very few steel cabinets, and are thus still learning about their finer points.  If you have past/current experience in choosing cabinetry/drawers for your collections, we would be very interested to hear your comments, horror stories, etc.  
>
>So far we are looking at double-width models by Viking and Steel Fixture.  While we like certain qualities for each of them, some issues of concern are the ease with which removed drawers can be reinserted into their runners, drawer and external door torsion, durability of gasketing, and drawer release hardware that is not user friendly.  You may be aware of other important factors that we have not yet considered, and we would be most grateful if you would pass them along.
>
>Thank you in advance.
>
>Kate Wellspring
>
>______________________________
>Kate Wellspring, Collections Manager
>Pratt Museum of Natural History
>Amherst College
>Amherst, MA 01002
>kwellspring at amherst.edu
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