Toolbox Casters

[nmk_61802]

Anyone have any ideas to upgrade toolbox castors (5" I believe). I bought a Excel toolbox combo and as I thought the casters are fairly cheap, and I would like to replace them with a higher quality version. I really like the Snap-on spring style casters, but four of them would be more than the purchase price of the box.

 

[danski0224]

Good casters cost good money.

I bought some for an upcoming welding cart project and the 4 of them were $225.00.

 

[nmk_61802]

Good casters cost good money.

I bought some for an upcoming welding cart project and the 4 of them were $225.00.

I do understand that, but I was really looking for some suggestions. The Snap-on ones cost about $200 each.

I think you are only paying for the name there.

Craftsman offers upgraded casters for there EX line, which consists of the standard caster with a silver rim/hubcap. Not really the upgrade I am looking for.

 

[PoorOwner]

The craftsman bling wheels are cheap price wise I am not sure if it is really better than the one that came with your excel box though..

what kind of excel box do you have?

Look into brands like Albion..

 

[sunshineFC3s]

try castercity.com

I have a set of their 4" total locking casters on my rather heavy wood workbench and they are very nice. In the total locking variety, they have 3" to 5" casters available, in several colors. They may have more sizes in the more traditional variety casters. Not that expensive either - relative to the prices quoted above. Fast shipping, good product. Im actually about to place my second order with them so that I can get my shop press on wheels.
-a

 

[rsanter]

I have bough some very heavy duty casters for $200 or less
just do a search on the net.

 

[billymade]

I haven't bought any myself but Harbor Freight has "raw" casters in bins at my store location. I cannot vouch for the quality but they do have them there; I would assume they would be affordable but "made in china" would have to be assumed. They have a bunch here: http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=casters&Submit=Go For a higher end solution; I looked at my Snap-on carts casters and found they were "Faultless Caster" brand. You can check them out here: http://www.faultlesscaster.com/
They are really well made (mine say made in USA); I don't know their pricing but they look like a quality solution.

 

[nmk_61802]

what kind of excel box do you have?QUOTE]

It's and 42" Excel combo, I picked it up off an Ebay seller who also has a seperate website not affiliated with Ebay. It doesn't have a model number that I am aware of, but it seems a lot better quality than the big box store sets, or the Craftsman box it will be replacing.

Here it is in its crappy cell phone pic glory (good camera was not here:

and here is the box it's replacing:

The side box is an older Husky side that seems to be of the same quality as the Excel and will be placed on the Excel.

I was hoping to do a full review once the top comes in, it has been damaged twice in shipping, and this is the second bottom that I have received.

 

[russlaferrera]

Northern Tool has a great selection for cheap, and they can be lubed.

 

[Merkava_4]

I really like the Snap-on spring style casters, but four of them would be more than the purchase price of the box.

Those casters wouldn't have fit your box anyway; they have a large top plate with wide bolt spacing. Your box probably takes a standard size top plate. The best thing to do is go out there and measure the bolt spacing from center to center on one side and one end of the rectangle; report back with your measurements.

 

[PoorOwner]

forget about snap on, or shocks..
pneumatic caster...
I bet it's easy to sweep under the box with these

http://www2.northerntool.com/product/200336324.htm

 

[Merkava_4]

These are the casters I want to get for my box with the Durakush wheels.

http://www.paysoncasters.com/standard_plate/200.htm

 

[Fedwrench]

Get a set of the Sears Craftsman 6 inch casters.They're very strong and durable. Whatever you get, make sure they'll line up with the caster channel on your cart.

 

[Merkava_4]

Get a set of the Sears Craftsman 6 inch casters.

The problem with a lot of these original equipment casters is that they're hard as a damn rock; you can hear every single grain of sand they roll over.

My prior Kennedy box I had, had nice medium density rubber wheels; they made the box very quiet to move.

 

[danski0224]

I do understand that, but I was really looking for some suggestions. The Snap-on ones cost about $200 each.

I think you are only paying for the name there.

Craftsman offers upgraded casters for there EX line, which consists of the standard caster with a silver rim/hubcap. Not really the upgrade I am looking for.

Then don't buy them from Snap-On

Last time I looked, several manufacturers offer a spring loaded caster, and they are not for the budget conscious.

I got these with the Duralast wheel (and they were still $60+ each): http://www.hamiltoncaster.com/Caste...tersBCCapacityto850lbs/tabid/103/Default.aspx

 

[kbs2244]

The problem with tool boxs is they get real heavy real quick.
Most of the spring type casters I have seen on tool boxs were bottomed out.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I used Colson Casters on mine, 8" performa rubber tread. My box weighs around 2500 lbs, and even sharp rivets won't stick in them, the tire just molds around it as you go over, and as soon as it comes off the floor, the rubber pops back out and shoots the rivet out.

I will advise against the pneumatic ones if you have a heavy box. I used to have 10" pneumatics on mine, and changed all the tires every 3-4 weeks. They would blow out at the sidewalls, couldn't take the weight.

 

[billymade]

I'm a little embarrassed to admit it but after hitting the flea market today; I went to harbor freight in part, because we are talking about the casters here. I looked at what they had in stock; the store just happens to be down the street from my house. I am loathe to admit this but the casters actually seemed like they were pretty good quality! They had quite a few types in stock and they look very similar to their "made in usa" counter parts; you would assume they would be light weight, hard plastic and not something you would want to buy. They ended up seeming heavy duty, some were rubber and they seemed like they would hold up pretty well. I personally have not purchased or used any myself; you milage may vary. I ended up coming away impressed, if you have a HF near you, I would recommend you go and check them out; the prices are pretty impressive!

 

[Worsedog]

forget about snap on, or shocks..
pneumatic caster...
I bet it's easy to sweep under the box with these

http://www2.northerntool.com/product/200336324.htm

Easy to sweep under but only 1800 lbs a set capacity

 

[kbs2244]

Don't be embarassed to buy HF.
Just be selective.
I use their casters under my power tools that I park against the wall and pull out to use.
But they are not real heavy.
Depending on it's weight, I might use 6 instead of 4 for a tool box.
Unsupported distance between the casters can come into play here.
An extra set in the middle might be cheap insurance.
And if you move it regularly, oil them.

 

[Merkava_4]

I used Colson Casters on mine, 8" performa rubber tread.

oooooooooo ... I bet those ride smooth and quiet, huh?

 

[nissan_crawler]

oooooooooo ... I bet those ride smooth and quiet, huh?

Very. It's nice not having the drawer re-arranged every time I roll across the hangar. They're whisper-quiet. My box must be at least 2500 lbs, and will still roll towards the nearest floor drain if you don't set the brake on them.

They really weren't *that* expensive. I think I paid $120-$140 for two Series 4 8" solid, two swivels with brakes, flat performa rubber (mine are grey, seems they're black now). I got them from http://www.americancaster.com/ they have a local outlet.

I'll say right now, that no way, no how, do the HF casters come even REMOTELY close to the quality of these. THese casters have no damage, and have not had ONE single screw or rivet, or anything else, stuck in them in the 4 years I've had them, nothing. I probably roll over 10-15 things a day, they never stick. Air hoses and 120v power cords? My box goes right over them.

I'm bending the supported 1/4" wheel plates on the frame I made, if that gives you a clue the weight they have on them.

 

[PAToyota]

Have to check out some of these links - two of the casters on my creeper committed suicide over the weekend...

 

[Kevin54]

Have to check out some of these links - two of the casters on my creeper committed suicide over the weekend...
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Wouldn't happen to be a Chinese creeper would it? If so, then Advanced Auto and AutoZone carries replacements. I had a few of mine bite the dust.

On the other hand, check out Grizzly. I just got one of their catalogs the other day and they have a couple of pages of casters. And if no one has gotten their catalog, it is pretty nice with a few hundred pages.

 

[PAToyota]

Probably... What isn't these days?

The creeper itself works nicely, but a better set of casters would be worth the money.

 

[bmwpower]

Colson
- poly wheels: easy on the floor
- lockable: stays put (but you can get them without locks, too)
- greasable: smooth moving

 

[z28toz06]

tractor supply has some nice casters.

 

[tarmy]

View attachment 639551

View attachment 639552

This...on Amazon...about 40 bucks...rated to 800 lbs. each...won't flat spot either.

RWM 47 series...both fixed and swivel...
ER Wagner...swivel lock...

Got them on all my big equipment....