A wood lateral file cabinet, of course, is made up of wood. Although some other cabinet parts such as the drawer slider and guide rails may be made of strong plastic resins or some kind of metal, most other parts are made up of wood. The common wood used for the manufacture of a wooden lateral file cabinet is oak. Oak lumber has a good durability record and gives out a typical shade that satisfies the tastes of those who tend to like the natural shades of wood. Sure, there may also be other kinds of wood utilized and reinforced with laminate to enhance the overall looks but oak is mostly used. Furthermore, the wood materials in major brands are treated with chemicals to preserve the wood as well as to protect it wood burrowing insects which can damage the structural integrity of the cabinet.

On the other hand, lateral metal file cabinets are sturdier as compared with their wooden cabinet counterparts. Although they may cost more, they have proven to be reliable and very durable. Different kinds of metals are used in their manufacture. Those that are intended for light applications are usually made up of thin aluminium or galvanized iron sheets spot-welded together. They are then coated with paint for a nice looking finish. Those that are intended for purposes of severe importance are made up of heavy and very durable metal alloys. Actually, they can already function like a safe. As such, very sensitive and very important papers and documents are mostly stored in these types. In any event of emergencies, fire proof file cabinets are the most durable of all kinds. They can withstand a high degree of heat such as those generated during a fire and a high resistance to abuse and batting such as those occurring during an earthquake. A fire proof filing cabinet is actually a metal file cabinet reinforced with very high quality insulating materials that can withstand heat. Normally, a paper document inside a non fireproof cabinet will burn when subjected to intense heat.