Mobile base for bandsaw?

[Ed62]

Still waiting for the missing part of my bandsaw to be shipped, so it is not set up yet. But I'm thinking about making a mobile base for it. My concern is that it might make the working height uncomfortable for me (5' 8" tall). What size casters would be best to use? Would a simple piece of 3/4" ply or MFD work? Any other suggestions on managing the height of the base?

Ed

[Uncle Cracker]

I use the DIY base kit from WC on my Rikon 14". It's very low profile, and you just cut a piece of 3/4" ply and bolt the hardware to it. I don't see it right now on the WC site, hence no link, but I can't believe they've stopped selling them. BTW, I'm 5'8" also, and no problem with the table height for me.

[Cubsfan]

I just got the one from Harbor Freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=95288

Didn't add more than maybe an inch to the height. It does suck that you have to use 1.25" square pieces of wood, but in the end it did the job.

[Whaler]

I have the Shop Fox D2057 mobile base under both my BS and DP and have no issue with height and I am 5' 9".

[radhak]

I took a hint from a master ( http://woodgears.ca/mobile_base/bandsaw.html ) and put my bandsaw on a HF dolly !

I took the $20 dolly (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38970) that I paid $10 for; disassembled it and cut the longer sides to fit, and reassembled it to get a really small dolly, but exactly the size I needed (just enough that the wheels are outside the footprints of the BS). It brought up the base of the BS up by barely an inch, and that's how I like it (I am 5' 8"). It moves whenever I push/pull it, but not when I am using it. I don't see any signs of vulnerability/instability.

(And before you ask - I know that HF has a mini-dolly too, but it did not measure to what was needed for my 15" Grizzly.)

I don't have pictures because I have not been able to clean up my shop yet; one of these days...

[Ed62]

Thanks for the replies. I got some good ideas from them. Our local HF had 2 size dollies. Neither were as large as the one linked to. I just picked up some casters to make my own.

Ed

[dbhost]

FWIW, I have the HF mobile base on mine, and the additional height was almost nothing. Certainly not more than 1" overall. Being 6' tall, I can honestly say, I don't think it's tall enough... At your height though, it may be just right for you...

The 1.25" dimension for the lumber is kind of stupid, but easy enough to rip on the BT...

[toolbelt diva]

What a timely post, I was just going to ask the same thing. My band saw is still in the box waiting for a mobile base. I think I'll try the HF mobile base. Does it ever go on sale lower than the discount with a 20% off coupon?