1 sheet plywood rolling clamp cart design.

[dbhost]

Just knocked this out in Sketchup, it's a basic plywood rolling clamp cart.

Sketchup File Link.

Materials:
1 sheet 3/4" plywood. Grade not really important. It's a clamp cart after all.

4 3" locking swivel casters.

16 "Broom Clips" to hold pipe clamps.

3 2x2x8 construction grade pine, or 2 cheap 2x4x8 ripped to 2x2x8 (cheaper).

1.25" coated deck screws.

There is absolutely NO fancy joinery here. This is all utility screw and glue stuff. The cross bar heights can be adjusted to work with your specific clamps. This is sized to fit 144 Harbor Freight F type bar clamps or similar, plus 8 3/4" pipe clamps (using 6' pipes).

The advantage to this design is there is a LOT of clamp storage in a very small space. The disadvantage is that with a footprint of 12x36", and an overall height nearly 6' 5" it could prove to be somewhat top heavy.

I claim no responsibility for any accidents if anyone builds one, loads it up, and it topples on them, others, or property and causes damage. I merely offer this as an idea... Use it at your own peril...

I did consider going lower and wider, but the point of the narrowness was to be able to slide this thing into a small floor footprint space for stowage.

[tommyt654]

Looks good,tho I think a wider base might offset any toppling over options

[dbhost]

Looks good,tho I think a wider base might offset any toppling over options

Agreed, the idea behind it was to be able to slide in to a small space... It is possible to go as wide as 24" with the base, but that messes up other dimensions and gets out of the 1 sheet idea... But it IS doable...

I am banging around some other concepts as well... Just a scrap plywood base, and 2x2 uprights / crossbars... 18x36 base would be a lot more stable for sure...

[dbhost]

Take 2



Widened the base to 18"x36" which should help substantially with stability, but will increase the footprint by 1/3.

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehou...2&prevstart=24

[pelligrini]

The advantage to this design is there is a LOT of clamp storage in a very small space. The disadvantage is that with a footprint of 12x36", and an overall height nearly 6' 5" it could prove to be somewhat top heavy.

Your second design would help with the stability some. I really think the first design would get you hurt and/or something broken for sure, especially with swivel casters.

Neat idea, allthough I still think the center of gravity is still too high. Couple that with the weight of it filled there's no way you would ever want to try to stop it from falling.

[dbhost]

Sketchup Model

This one is shorter, allowing storage for 96 F bar clamps, or whatever combination you want. This still offers and obscene amount of clamp storage, reduces overall height substantially, thus improving stability... This would also have lots of left over scrap material...

[LinuxRandal]

Could you change the center of gravity, by placing the heads down below, and using a light chain to hold the tops in?

[tommyt654]

Better, but I was thinkin more along the lines of an A-frame than rectangle to eliminate the toppling effect and provide stability as well as strength.Overall a nice design tho

[chopnhack]

I know you said that you didn't want or couldn't increase the footprint due to space constraints - is it possible to mount the casters on angle iron and spread them out away from the main body? Don't know if you have the ability to sneak the casters around other machinery and nest them together or if you have absolutely zero space i.e. between boxes or cabs, etc. That would keep you within size and within 1 sheet.

[dbhost]

I know you said that you didn't want or couldn't increase the footprint due to space constraints - is it possible to mount the casters on angle iron and spread them out away from the main body? Don't know if you have the ability to sneak the casters around other machinery and nest them together or if you have absolutely zero space i.e. between boxes or cabs, etc. That would keep you within size and within 1 sheet.

I was thinking about sliding this between one of those tall plastic shelving units and the Reverse Osmosis system...

[chopnhack]

Maybe you can skew the "legs" in a z shape to accommodate your restrictions. Have you ever seen those department store racks for hanging clothes? The casters are on a z shaped frame allowing you to nest the racks tightly together and in crowded back rooms.

[Bill in Buena Park]

Dave, not sure if this is a viable option - but you could reduce tippage by adding four (4) 12in 2x3 "pontoons" with casters attached that pivot down from the narrow sides of the cart. Might eat up a little of the width available there for clamp storage, but when lowered and locked/pinned into pontoon position, would provide up to 32in base width on an 18in wide cart. (18in w - 10in "gear up" loss [5in/side] + 24in of "gear down" reach). Leaves about 8" on each end for clamp storage. You could store shorter clamps above the retracted gear.

[dbhost]

Dave, not sure if this is a viable option - but you could reduce tippage by adding four (4) 12in 2x3 "pontoons" with casters attached that pivot down from the narrow sides of the cart. Might eat up a little of the width available there for clamp storage, but when lowered and locked/pinned into pontoon position, would provide up to 32in base width on an 18in wide cart. (18in w - 10in "gear up" loss [5in/side] + 24in of "gear down" reach). Leaves about 8" on each end for clamp storage. You could store shorter clamps above the retracted gear.

I am completely at a loss for what you are getting at. A sketch might help...

I am not adverse to some sort of kick down caster or leveler if that would work better.

My goals here were...

#1. Store as many clamps as possible.
#2. Use as little space as possible.
#3, Be as inexpensive to build as possible...

[LCHIEN]

dave, I learned from experience that four swivel casters on a tall narrow item is dangerous.
The reason is that when you change direction the center of gravity remains the same but the points of contact may shift several inches around the COG as the wheels swivel. The worst thing is that if you push it from the wide side that adds a vector that pushes the COG in the direction opposite of where the wheels moved to.

In other words, 4 swivel casters work against you when you push it sideways, the swivels move the support points closer to the critical COG+force vector where it gets tippy.

[LinuxRandal]

Some other options to consider, that will change the cost, but might make this less top heavy. Use a steel plate for the bottom, or build a box at the bottom, with weights/concrete, etc. in it.

I didn't pay attention to the caster part, generally I have found I like things better with two swivel and two straight casters.