Vyrolan Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 What does everyone use for casters for shop-built cabinets/tables/stands/etc? What configuration do you normally use (4 swivel vs 2 swivel + 2 rigid)? What size do you use for various situations? Is having the "total lock" ones that lock both rolling and swiveling that important? I've gone down the rabbit hole online and hoping you guys can provide some real world perspective. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 I usually use 2 swivel and 2 rigid. Size depends on what I'm trying to accomplish. Personally, I think dual locking is kind of overrated. What are you making? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 I don't normally have things on castors in my shop but, I did want the ability to move my drum sander around. I bought this from Grizzly so I could make a custom base and it's worked very well so far. http://www.grizzly.com/products/Universal-Mobile-Base/D3757 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vyrolan Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Personally, I think dual locking is kind of overrated. Yea it kind of smells of "sounds better than it is". I wonder if 2 rigid + 2 dual locking is a worthwhile compromise. What are you making? Some really basic cabinets likely holding benchtop tools as I'm starting to accumulate things. I've got the Ridgid belt/spindle sander I'd like to put on one...I'd like to turn one into a very rudimentary router table...one for a benchtop band saw...and one maybe for a future benchtop drill press. I also may make a table/cabinet around my little jobsite table saw (foolish, yes I know) but that one is more clear since I know it needs to be very stable when locked. http://www.grizzly.com/products/Universal-Mobile-Base/D3757 Sad but true that thing is cheaper than 4 good locking casters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 depending on how much your time is worth to you, I'd recommend just buying some tool chest bases like this. The 3 drawer versions are great for storing bigger tools, and the 4 and 5 drawer versions are good for more common stuff. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-26-in-wide-3-drawer-standard-duty/p-00946461000P?prdNo=21&blockNo=21&blockType=G21 Come black Friday, you will most likely find one of the big box stores selling them for around $90. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vyrolan Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Yea I've thought about that...and my wife has pushed for that approach as well (because it gets us to an organized garage sooner), but I'd really like to build them myself for customization reasons but moreso for skill development. I've not really done any casework and would much prefer to fubar some shop stuff rather than a "real" project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 I've not really done any casework and would much prefer to fubar some shop stuff rather than a "real" project. I'd recommend a router table or hanging tool cabinet as a skill building project over storage cabinets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 What configuration you use is more of a preference thing. I can recommend the casters that look like clear ish skate wheels. They roll well over saw dust and chips. Rockler has a good selection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vyrolan Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 I'd recommend a router table or hanging tool cabinet as a skill building project over storage cabinets. One step at a time...right now I have nowhere to put stuff I have like the benchtop sander and band saw. I've been setting stuff up temporarily on a plastic folding table. =p I have very limited wall space so I want to do more planning around what exactly I do there and then probably build a french cleat (or similar) system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 I have a great store just 5 minutes from work that I go to when I need casters. The guys there are really helpful in choosing the best product to use. http://www.casterland.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew-in-austin Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 I have been extremely happy with these: http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/148595/3-Caster-Double-Locking-Swiveling-with-12-Threaded-Spindle.aspx Thy are very smooth and very sturdy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 I don't like my tools to be on caster while in use, even if they lock. My preference is to build a tool base using 4 swivel casters, on a cam mechanism that lowers the base to the floor during operation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customwood montrose Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 In my shop I have probably 8-10 carts that have these casters on them, varying in size from 20" x 40" up to 34" x 60" http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/141050/4-Caster-Double-Locking-Swiveling-with-4-Hole-Mounting-Plate.aspxI can put probably 1000 pounds of stuff on one before it gets to hard to push around. Best ones for the money that I have ever bought. They can work well even when really pushing something clamped to the work bench, hand planning or dominoing large parts. All of them are 4 swivels with double locks on the corners. Dustin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 I have a couple of tables on casters that I move around as needed. I don't need the locking feature so I "cheaped out" and used the casters from mover's dollys on sale at HF. As I recall, they were less than $10 per set of 4 swivel casters including mounting bolts. PS - Don't know why I'm listed as Guest. I was logged in when I posted this. Mike M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 PS - Don't know why I'm listed as Guest. I was logged in when I posted this. Mike M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 I have a couple of tables on casters that I move around as needed. I don't need the locking feature so I "cheaped out" and used the casters from mover's dollys on sale at HF. As I recall, they were less than $10 per set of 4 swivel casters including mounting bolts. PS - Don't know why I'm listed as Guest. I was logged in when I posted this. Mike M Well, you're Mike M now.... seems to be happening quite often lately! Edit: it just happened to this response. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 Anything I put on castors, I put on 4" castors and I get them from Fastenal. They're cheap and the 4" helps roll over any giblets on the floor. I usually use 4 swivels because I have a 2 car garage and may need to twist a machine - like spin the table saw 45 degrees to use the open shop door to rip a long board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 Yes 4" castors 2 fixed and 2 swivels with brakes on all of them - you never know which wheels will be closest to your foot. I also made a shop trolley with all 4 wheels swivelling. That is very difficult to control as it skates all over the place. I did build it for a particular application in mind though and it works ok around the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 PS - Don't know why I'm listed as Guest. I was logged in when I posted this. Mike M Mike, Someone mentioned this yesterday on another thread but I don't recall which one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Bienlein Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 I use the polyurethane 3" swivel double locking casters for all of my mobile tool bases and carts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarrylR Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 I use the polyurethane 3" swivel double locking casters for all of my mobile tool bases and carts. I have Casters on almost everything in my shop. At 20x20 or so I don't really have enough room for everything I want so I need to be able to move when needed. I have used the polyurethane casters as well for everything. I have 3" or 4" ones on most items but put 5" ones on my lumber cart. I also always use the lock and swivel version for all wheels. They just give you much more flexibility. It's not as much about the wheel size as what the weight rating is in my opinion. The ones on my lumber cart are rated for 450lbs each giving me 1800lbs in total. -Darryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 Ken it was a thread I started - New Forum "Feature" - If you refresh the screen it will show you up properly. I think it is a bug. That's right Thanks for the reminder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.