I've been looking for a proper set of flat files forever. Well at least for the last couple years since I've moved into my new studio. But man they are expensive. Crazy expensive. I need flat files that aren't 2K or 3K or more. I check Craigslist, Ebay, FB, office furniture resale sites, etc. regularly with no luck. I had resigned myself to creating/building my own. Google and Pinterest provide lots of studio and storage "hacks" but my problem has been size. The paintings I need to store are (on average) are 30" x 40" so even the Ikea Table Top hack wasn't big enough. But a little patience sometimes pays off...

Earlier this week, I found a blurb online about a local surplus store that had recently acquired used office furniture including "architects files."

So the next morning I headed to south Memphis. Certainly not the best area of town but I'll be brave for a deal. The building was located across across the street from a, surprisingly busy, strip club (maybe they serve brunch?) and the man behind the counter did little to conceal the handgun in his waistband. Undeterred, I began to weave my way through the jam-packed warehouse in search of the elusive "architect files."

Buried below a mountain of office chairs I found this beauty. Perfect for my soon-to-be storage/shipping room...