What would you store in this bookcase?
Written: Mar 25 '04 (Updated Mar 26 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: made from steel, 3 adjustable shelves, solid back, colors match HON filing cabinets
Cons: plastic shelf clips, bookcase has sharp corners
The Bottom Line: I've sandwiched the bottom line between two gargoyle bookends. I think the Bottom Line looks scared.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: HON Metal Bookcase 47" High Three Adjustable One F... |
Our office just received a new HON 4-Shelf Metal Bookcase. Since the office already has several of these HON bookcases, I thought it a good idea to write about them. The newest metal bookcase is going into the graphics department.
What the Bookcase Looks Like
These bookcases come in two colors: Putty and Charcoal. The units are made of heavy-gauge steel with three adjustable shelves and one fixed shelf, which is the bottom of the bookcase. In case you are wondering, the shelves are solid planks of metal (not mesh or crisscrossed metal strips). The adjustable shelves can be moved up or down in 1/2-inch increments to customize the space. According to the manufacturer, each shelf can hold up to 102 pounds.
This unit has straight sides and a solid back. The top of the unit can be used to stack or place additional items. The corners are angular, too, not rounded. The unit dimensions are: 47" high, 34 1/2" wide x 12 5/8" deep. The unit comes assembled with only the shelves needing adjustment.
Our office supply buyer purchased the bookcase from staples.com for $129.00.
What Comes with the Bookcase
* One metal bookcase
* Three adjustable shelves
* Twelve plastic support clips for anchoring the shelves in place
* Shelf assembly instruction sheet (in English, Spanish & French)
Adjusting the Shelves
Tools Needed:
* Flat-blade screwdriver
* Hammer
Our bookcase arrived with the shelves already in place. Each metal shelf is held in place by four clips (two on each side wall). The support clip resembles an "L" shape. The shelf rests on the bottom of the "L", and a tab at the top of the "L" pops out to sandwich the shelf between the tab and the bottom of the "L". Here is how to remove the support clips to readjust the shelf height.
First empty the shelf of its contents and locate the four plastic support clips. Place the end of the flat-blade screwdriver against the tab at the top of the L-shaped clip. Using a hammer, tap the handle of the screwdriver to flatten the tab against the bookcase wall. Do this for all four clips. Now the shelf is freed and can be removed. Lift the support clips free of the wall and relocate them to their new position. Make sure the clips are even so that when the shelf is placed on them it will lay even. Next place the shelf into the support clips and use the flat-blade screwdriver to pry out the tabs on the clips. When the tabs are released, the shelf will be sandwiched between the tab and the bottom of the clip.
Our Experience
The bookcase arrived in protective cardboard, which was easy to remove. The unit fits nicely against the wall and blends with the furniture in the room. (HON makes their bookcases the same color as their file cabinets for easy coordination of color.) One of the adjustable shelves was relocated, which was easy to do.
This particular unit is being used by the graphics department and will hold a variety of art supplies and materials. We have similar HON cabinets throughout the office that are holding everything from telephone books to manuals, catalogs and large 3-ring notebooks.
I doubt anyone in the office has weighed the contents of what each shelf is holding, so I can't vouch for the manufacturer's claims that each shelf will support 102 pounds. However, I do know those phone directories are heavy and the shelf has not bent beneath their weight.
The cabinets clean well, too. A swipe of a cloth keeps them dust free. When water or coffee has spilled on these units, it is easy to wipe clean with paper towels.
My one concern are the plastic support clips that hold the shelves in place. As long as the clips are not moved often, they should maintain their strength. However, I imagine that having to use a screwdriver and hammer to retract the tab that holds the shelf in place would eventually weaken the tab plastic. Once we receive our cabinets and adjust the shelves, the shelves are not moved. No one has ever readjusted a shelf after the unit is initially set up.
If needed, HON sells touch-up paint markers for $13.00 each on their website. These markers are designed for use on metal. We have not purchased these markers, so I do not know how well they work. HON also states in their online product literature that they offer additional shelves for sale; however, I do not see where to purchase them or a price.
Likes
* comes assembled
* 3 adjustable shelves
* functional
* colors match HON file cabinets
* easy to clean
Dislikes
* plastic clips instead of metal
* corners of bookcase are sharp
Summary
Our office likes this HON 4-Shelf Metal Bookcase as well as the others we are using. The bookcases are strong and suit our needs. We also like that the bookcases match the filing cabinets in the office, creating a unified look. This is a nice functional bookshelf for the office.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
The HON Company
200 Oak Street
Muscatine, Iowa 52761
Toll Free Customer Service Phone # 1-800-336-8398
www.hon.com
Please read my other reviews.
Cramer 4-Step "Stop-Step" Ladder
Stanley Heavy-Duty Stapler for up to 120 sheets
Stanley Contemporary Electric Pencil Sharpener
Acco Electric 3-Hole Paper Punch
Rubbermaid 3-Drawer File Tower on Wheels
Sharpie Twin-Tip Permanent Marker
Belkin UPS Emergency Battery Backup
Gateway 500X Desktop Computer
Dazzle 6-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader
Logitech Cordless Optical Mouse
Rubbermaid Chair Mat
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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