Casters?

[gwyneth]

I'd really appreciate people's thoughts about casters.

Swivel, non-swivel, brakes. How many of a set of four should have a brake? Does it differ if they swivel? How do you mix swivel and non-swivel, or is that senseless?

And I don't suppose anybody knows why they're so expensive...

[mschrank]

I'm assuming you will be using these in the shop for mobile workstands, etc?

I'm pretty sold on the double locking swivel casters. The double lock keeps them from rotating as well as swiveling.

Some here will point out that a setup using casters alone will never be as solid as providing some other means of support when using your equipment, and that's true. But I've found them to be plenty stable...at least stable enough that I don't feel inclined to take the time to make an alternate locking/blocking mechanism for the workstand.

If I were using them under a workbench, it would probably be a different story as I insist on a rock solid bench.

If you have enough room or a small enough workstand, you can get by with only 2 of the 4 being the swivel type. I have four swivels under my mobile BT3000, but only because it is so long and would be difficult to maneuver otherwise. On the other hand, four swivels can be a handful to try and keep in a straight line.

Yes, they are pricey, but Grizzly has some on sale right now. These are the ones I usually buy and have been happy with them. I did destroy one once, but it was way overburdened with a heavy doghouse being shoved/pulled kicked & cursed over rough ground.

EDIT: That link above takes you to the catalog page and doesn't show the sale prices which are about a buck lower.

[LCHIEN]

re: 2 or 4 swivel
if you want the ultimate in maueverability in close quarters, use four swiveling. But four swiveling makes a less stable and also harder to steer. For example try pushing a 4-swiveling wheel cart down a sidewalk tilted to one side!
For more easy steering over long distances, use 2 fixed and 2 swivel.
For light to modest loads two swivel at the opposite end from where you push and steer. For heavy loads, have the 2 swivel casters at the end where you push. It'll be much easier to handle but the back end will swing wider (the steering will be like backing a car up all the time).

re: locking
If you want a fairly stable work surface you need to have double locking castors that lock both the swivel and the rolling with one action.
The non-locking castors should be fixed (roll but not swivel).
Then location of the lcoks then are dictated by the previous discussion on which end the swiveling castors go.

If you don't get double locking castors then as you push sideways on the swiveling castors they'll rotate and transpose that end of the cart's location by the offset of the castor (offset of axis of swiveling to axis of rotation) which is usually an inch or two.

[cbrown]

I did my router table with two swivel and two fixed casters (and rubber feet that screw down to lock the whole thing in place for working. I now wish (especially since getting a Herc-U-Lift and getting used to spinning my BT in place) I had made it with four swivel casters instead for my small shop. Moving it with two swivels IS like threading through a course of cones in reverse gear and requires too much planning of clear space and sequence of rotation especially if you want to make sure that the working end comes out facing away from the wall.

Chris

[HarmsWay]

The swivel/non-swivel issue is a pet peeve of mine. I'll almost always pick 4 swivel wheels for the reasons others have already mentioned. For non-swivel wheels to work in close quarters the wheels must be at the very corners of the table/cart and that's rarely the case. There is usually some overhang of the table top which always bangs into things.

[DonHo]

In my small shop I've found 4 locking swivel casters to be by far the best. As has been stated 2 swivel and 2 fixed might be more stable but steering is much easier with 4 swivel.
DonHo

[gwyneth]

This is really, really useful info...thanks for all the replies.

Clearly, repositioning things repeatedly by a few feet is a distinctly different goal from transport-type movement.

Since nobody has a smaller 'shop' area than my enclosed back porch--if they do, I'd really like to hear about it--the swivel advice is especially valuable.

So is the double-lock explanation--it's one thing if a mobile storage cabinet can be nudged inadvertently, but a different thing for the TS.

Mission-critical, in fact, if my goal is to move the Craftsman 21829 a foot or two without having to take everything off and set it up again, re-testing for accuracy. Not to mention the potential safety issues.

Everybody's helped me save an enormous amount of time and frustration--thanks again.

[JR]

I have some of just about everything in my shop - mixed fixed and swivel, all swivel, four single-locking. No double locking, so take my next comments with that in mind.

For things that are self-feeding (like a planer) you could go with non-locking. Same for things you pull down on, like a drill press or mortiser. For things you push on, like a TS or jointer, you want a stable tool that absolutely does not move.

I like a setup that lifts the tool or workbench onto casters, then after moving, sets the tool down on solid feet. This mobile base has swivelers under the lift lever, and fixed casters on the other end. It can also be built with lifting/swivel on both ends for use in tight quarters.

[Pappy]

Here is the Grizzly Summer sale flyer page.

http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2007/Summer/77

The only ones I have used from Grizzly are the 3" red polyurethane casters on the lower right of the page. I have them under my drill press cabinet and router station. Both have double lock swivels in front and non-locking swivels in the rear and have performed to my satisfaction.

The first mobile base I built was for my band saw, following the plan in Wood magazine. (The one JR has pictured.) Swivel in the front mounted to a hinged plate that lowers it onto leveling feet and straight casters in the rear. Every one I have built since has swivels at all four corners. I also modified the lift 'arm' from the original design. I plan to go back and modify the rest of them as well as adding swivels to the rear of the BS lift.

This uses the modified lift riding on Darnell swivels (either 2" or 2 1/2"). At somewhere around 400#, I have to lift the tables slightly to lift it on and off the casters but it rolls and steers easily.


As to the cost, you can go from one extreme to the other. Bottom line, IMO, is to go with the best you can afford.

HF and the box stores sell casters that will hold the rated weight until you try to steer them. The swivel bearings are substandard and, in many cases, the wheel rides on a pin 'axle' with no bearings.

Woodcraft sells casters similar to the Grizzly offerings at about 2-3 times the price. Off shore mfg with decent quality.

Carson and Faultless are 2 brands on the other end of the scale. High quality casters but they carry a high price tag to go with it. An exception is Darnell-Rose. http://www.casters.com/catalog/index.htm

They are a US mfg of high quality casters at a price slightly below the Woodcraft prices. There is a couple of weeks lead time because they make and warehouse the parts, not complete units. The casters are assembled and shipped to customer specs. Joe Mauro, my contact in the California office, is a woodworker and will take the time to work with you for the best solution to fit your needs.

(If you haven't figured it out, this ranks up there with planes and a favorite subject of mine.)

[gwyneth]

Both have double lock swivels in front and non-locking swivels in the rear and have performed to my satisfaction.

Thanks for the sale flyer. Am I understanding right that this setup is stable enough when locked to be stationary for working with the tool, even with no locks on the rear swivels?

I personally am benefitting from your interest in casters, so it's another great illustration of how much people here know about a lot of different things.

[lcm1947]

I've never used the ones with the stem. Are they as strong do you suppose as the ones with the plate and 4 bolt holes? How do you attach the stem one's? Just drill a hole and stick the stem in them? Seems like that's what you'd have to do but then do thet or could they fall out if you were to lift the table up? They just don't to me anyway seem like they would be as strong.

[DonHo]

These are the casters I've used on all my mobile tools

http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/11883

I have the 3" on all but my workbench and I have the 4" ones on it. I have my BT3100 on a mobile base and haven't had problem with it moving while in use (all 4 casters are locked) on most of the other tools I only lock 2 of the casters and don't have any problem. If your floor is level and smooth the 3" are fine but if the floor is rough the 4" will probably roll easier.

DonHo

I should have added that you probably should use casters that lock both the wheels and the swivel. The ones from Hartville do that, I'm not sure of others.

[Anna]

I've never used the ones with the stem. Are they as strong do you suppose as the ones with the plate and 4 bolt holes? How do you attach the stem one's? Just drill a hole and stick the stem in them? Seems like that's what you'd have to do but then do thet or could they fall out if you were to lift the table up? They just don't to me anyway seem like they would be as strong.

I asked some of those questions some time ago ago. I've used the stem casters for a flip-top planer base. Haven't had any problems so far. I bought them by accident and was pretty determined to use them instead of throwing them out. If I have a choice, though, I'll go with the other type.

Gwyneth, I echo what everyone else said regarding 4 swivels vs. 2. I made a jointer base with 2 locking swivels and it's been really hard to maneuver in my dinky shop. (I'm betting my shop is smaller than yours.) For the table saw, I used the Woodcraft base and that's been really stable. They were also recently on sale. At $50, it's almost as expensive as getting 4 good casters.

[gwyneth]

Gwyneth, I echo what everyone else said regarding 4 swivels vs. 2. I made a jointer base with 2 locking swivels and it's been really hard to maneuver in my dinky shop. (I'm betting my shop is smaller than yours.)

This would be relatively easy if it hadn't come with the portable, not mobile, base--if it were like the BT bases, I'd just spring for an HTC.

I am, however, trying somebody's brilliant idea of moving the wheels on the 21829 cart to the other end...if the darned things will come off.

As to 'shop' size, Anna, my back porch is 5' x 12' ft, but that also includes the traffic corridor between the kitchen door and the porch door. And the only wall without windows or door or both has old-fashioned wood siding that not only cuts into the space but makes it almost impossible to attach anything to.

On the other hand, I can see a little of Lake Superior two blocks away (more in the winter) and I should be aquiring the enormous two-story garage in the back of the yard. It's a locked up and hibernating professional woodworking shop, so I'm not complaining.

[TheRic]

.... I should be aquiring the enormous two-story garage in the back of the yard. It's a locked up and hibernating professional woodworking shop, so I'm not complaining.

Can't wait to see the photos your new shop.