Tools w/casters?

[PhilofKayDu]

I need to put more of my stationary tools on casters. I see and understand that alot of you use plate casters to bolt to the bottom of your shop built cabinets. But what do we do if we want to leave the metal base/leg assy.? Is there a metal bracket for 1 plate caster at 1 corner for any base? Of course, we need sets of 4. Rockler's All-Terrain Mobile Base looks great; but quite expensive. Why can't there be 1 bracket at each corner? Phil

[Pappy]

With the variation of configurations on the legs of different tools it would be hard for any company to make a "one size fits all" bracket/plate. Fabricating a plate from 16 ga metal that could be bolted to each leg wouldn't be too difficult with a vise and cut off wheel.

There are some retractable casters that would bolt to the legs, but they can be pricey.

Another option is a shop made base that was published in Wood magazine several years ago. It was designed with a lift on one end with swivel casters and fixed casters on the other end. Most members that use them have found putting a lift and swivel casters on both ends makes the tools more manuverable. I had trouble with the lever coming loose and modified the lever to a step down design from the original 180 degree rotating lever. If you go to my webshots albums you can see the different designs inf the albums for the lathe cabinet (original design) and the jointer (my modification). This base raised the tool about 1 1/2 - 2 inches.

[JR]

... and the jointer (my modification).

Geez, Don, the lift mechanism looks like a rudder on a friggin aircraft carrier! That is one sweet jointer.

I've also done the wood mag design. Pappy and I have both posted multiple times on this topic. I haven't implemented his mod to the lift mechanism, but I can attest to having the problem with the lag bolt coming loose. I think this is the one I made for my bandsaw. I've also made it for my jointer, table saw, and also a version for my assy bench (which was a fail).



I have also used one available at Harbor Freight on my lathe. It works very well, and is actually cheaper than making the Wood mag design.
JR

[PhilofKayDu]

Thanks again Pappy. Thanks JR for that link. I am going to have to check the HF mobile base out. Phil ----Every great oak was once a NUT!

[atgcpaul]

I had the rudder style base before and then went to a metal HTC base like the HF where the wheels are on the outside. The rudder design is better if you have a stand with open legs. The outboard wheels only swivel in the front and take up more space. I don't like my HTC base and plan on going back to the rudder style/foot operated lift.

[gjat]

I've done the rudder style and am disappointed with the lag bolt getting loose. Plus, it's a cabinet I keep my routers and sanders, so the weight may be an issue. I was actually thinking of converting it the othe HF style. I want a stable cabinet that I can easily move to put away.

[JimD]

I have a base using parts like this on my table saw and jointer:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...0mobile%20base

I think I got mine at HF years ago, however. The table saw base is for my BT3100 and is shown in the old Spruce and Sandeply article if you can still get to it. The bottom of the saw base is a torsion box with a clear 2x4 as the outer member. The mobile base is bolted to the 2x4.

I also have an even cheaper/simpler mobility option on my router table. It has 2 fixed casters at one end and about a 2 inch long piece of 2x2 angle iron on the other end bolted to the cabinet and sticking out away from the cabinet with a hole in the center of the horizontal piece that sticks out. I then put a L shaped wooden dolly with a lag screw with the head cut off onto the angle iron piece to raise and then move the router table when I want to. The nice things is you only need one L shaped piece for several tools. It works well but needs about 3 feet in front of the tool while moving for the handle. I do not always have that much space.

Jim

[Pappy]

The prototype for the lever mod was made of MDF to bolt to my BT3000. The wife, even with bad back problems, had no problem setting it on the casters. With the jointer I have to lift on the ends of the feed tables. But, I am moving over 200#'s of cast iron!

[gerti]

I used these for my radial arm saw:

http://www.woodcraft.com/Catalog/Pro...6-5cfdbcee90c4

Did not think they'd be any good, but they turn out to be the easiest to maneuver in the shop. A bit of work to install them (drill holes in the legs).

[dbhost]

FWIW, if bang for the buck is what you are looking for, the Harbor Freight mobile base shown above is VERY hard to beat, especially since it has some very nice, heavy duty-ish levelers. The biggest drawback to it is you have to machine up the wood stock to 1.25" square. No huge deal, but there are some woodworkers out there that complain about it... Just set your fence, use your push sticks, and have a good go at it!

I have 2 of those bases, 1 on my band saw, the other for my drill press not set up yet. My plan for the DP base is to make it bigger than it has to be, to create a large platform, and mount a 2 layer thick mounting board of 3/4 plywood on the mobile base, bolted down solidly, then the DP bolted on top of that. This serves a couple of purposes. Not the least of which giving me additional height to the DP since I am always stooping when working at the DP...

Just a fair word of caution. The holes need to be drilled STRAIGHT through this. It should be obvious, but I had some trouble getting my drill holes straight using a hand held drill. Use a drill press, or some sort of drilling guide / jig to insure your holes are dead on accurate.

[PhilofKayDu]

Mobile Bases

So after a failed attempt of DIY on my BS; I bought the HF Base kit. Instructions call for hardwood for the runners. I don't have any. Has anyone used 2x and cut it down to 1.25" sq.? Would it be strong enough? Or should I find some hardwood? My Rockwell BS I'm thinking is about 250 lbs. Phil

[Uncle Hook]

I have my 14 inch band saw sitting on the General International 50-025 mobile base. The steel is heavy duty and the foot levers to raise the front base feet off the floor are easy to use. The tool rolls nicely on my concrete floor. This base was rated best in class by Fine Woodworking magazine a few years back. I thought some of the reviewers overdid their complaints about the difficulty to assemble the base. The base just takes a bit of time to assemble because a fair number of nuts and bolts are used to assemble the frame. A PDF assembly manual is located here. I bought mine from Coastal Tool in CT becaue they had a good price at the time.

http://www.general.ca/pg_index/manual_en.html

http://www.finewoodworking.com/ToolG...22&tab=_editor

http://www.wordsnwood.com/2002/rev-base/

http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/product/1550

You might want to check out the Woodriver mobile base. It's on sale for $40.00 with free shipping.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/202...bile-Base.aspx

[capncarl]

Casters are expensive, especially when you need 4! I found really cheap casters at large car shows where they have the vendors with tools/old parts/new stuff. These guys sell anything they can make a buck on, and some have started selling casters for $2,$3,$4 each. Really good ones comparable to $15 to $30 ea. at Tractor Supply. Sandpaper, disks and belts are less than half retail stores. Opps, sorry, not meaning to derail or redirect this thread.
capncarl