Need some help from the resident mechanical geniuses

[LoneGunman]

Space is at an extreme premium in my garage, I have a lot of equipment that needs to be mounted to the floor but also needs to be movable because I don't have enough floor space. The pic below shows my buffer mounted to a fairly heavy steel dolly, I need to figure out a way to lock it in place while using the buffer. I don't want to change the casters to ones with brakes, the existing ones are welded in place and can handle some heavy weight, the dolly came with my military surplus document safe that I use as a gun safe.

There will be other things mounted across from the buffer, probably my belt sander and a smaller buffer.

I don't mind not being able to move it immediately, meaning I don't mind having to spend a few minutes disconnecting something. I also want it mobile so I can wheel it outside and use it, buffing inside with 10" wheels makes for some very bad indoor air quality.

 

[nissan_crawler]

http://www.colsoncaster.com/products/parts_accessories/floor-locks/default.aspx

 

[tatra]

i like nissan's idea a lot.........have seen in mags where suggestion of placing the caster's wheel in side a woood douughnut to stabalize the table.........a lever was uesd to raise each end, and apply to tires wheels..........this might prove less wobbly than the jacks that nisaan introduced, as on the bottom you put some kind antiskid matirial such as rubber, etc........then you can preload the caster bearings by tapping the donut outwrds from the base........

 

[rjohnson]

I agree with Nissan

 

[ears]

Low buck method of the same thing is just a big nut welded on to the base, use a bolt with a fender washer on the end as a foot.

 

[cwstevens92]

I too agree with nissan

 

[LoneGunman]

i like nissan's idea a lot.........have seen in mags where suggestion of placing the caster's wheel in side a woood douughnut to stabalize the table.........a lever was uesd to raise each end, and apply to tires wheels..........this might prove less wobbly than the jacks that nisaan introduced, as on the bottom you put some kind antiskid matirial such as rubber, etc........then you can preload the caster bearings by tapping the donut outwrds from the base........

The wood doughnut idea sounds good and cheap which is always good. I like the stuff in the link Nissan posted, have a feeling it's going to be too expensive though.

"ears" idea is a good one also. With the way work is (20 hour weeks) and my wife being out of work due to preterm labor cash is getting a little scarce.

 

[tadg]

I've been toying with swapping casters for skids on all my large tools and buying a used pallet jack to move stuff around when needed. That would give me portability and stability at the same time without buying nicer casters.

Anybody see issues with this approach?

Tad

 

[nissan_crawler]

THey're arounnd $25 shipped on ebay.

 

[LoneGunman]

That's not bad at all. So many things like that are so ridiculously priced. The manufacturers are so accustomed to dealing with industrial customers who don't question pricing.

THey're arounnd $25 shipped on ebay.

 

[kindyr]

Anybody know if those legs posted would stand up to being used on a table built to be hammered on?

 

[larry4406]

Why not use caster wheels that have the lock already on them? Roll into position, lock the wheels and be done.

 

[rcm296]

Low buck method of the same thing is just a big nut welded on to the base, use a bolt with a fender washer on the end as a foot.

great low$ idea, if you go this route , can put at each corner or very least 2 on one side, and use as leveler same time, if no access to welder, drill hole so bolt can go through base, and nut either side of the dolly frame

nothing wrong with nissan's idea either

but welded nuts with 3/4-7/8 bolts just looks like it was ment for that homemade dolly

 

[kbs2244]

Sand Bags.

 

[LoneGunman]

Why not use caster wheels that have the lock already on them? Roll into position, lock the wheels and be done.

As said in my original post

"I don't want to change the casters to ones with brakes, the existing ones are welded in place and can handle some heavy weight, the dolly came with my military surplus document safe that I use as a gun safe."

 

[65EFI5.0]

Google floor anchors and strap that sombitch down! May even be able to find some flush mount ones or some stand up style that you can mount to the wall beyond. use ratchet straps or turnbuckles and get after it!

 

[rsanter]

I've been toying with swapping casters for skids on all my large tools and buying a used pallet jack to move stuff around when needed. That would give me portability and stability at the same time without buying nicer casters.

Anybody see issues with this approach?

Tad

its a very good idea. there is someone on METALMEET that has done that. his Mill, Brake, shear, and some other stuff are all on pallets and he uses the pallet jack to move them out to where he can use them

bob

 

[Torque1st]

A person can also use toggle clamps to make their own floor stands. They are about $5 each at HF. They are not as stable as the purpose made Colson units.

I like the skid idea and a pallet jack.

 

[JamieK]

Expanding on ears and rcm296 ... Take a heavy duty c-clamp, cut off the fixed jaw and about half the frame, and weld the remainder to the base of the machine you need to stabalize. Weld one on each corner. When you need to use the machine, turn the screws down until it slightly picks the machine up. This would also help if you had uneven floors.

Jamie

 

[ProGun3400]

This is what I used for the mill that I mounted on wheels. The threaded rod is 7/8-9 I think? The square stock is threaded and I sliced that into 3/4" thick nuts and welded them on the bottom of the plate that the mill stand sets on. You'd have to drill four 7/8" holes in the plate and weld the nuts on the bottom of the stand for the threaded rod to pass thru the plate. The washers will have hockey-pucks glued to them. Crank them down and it'll stop it form moving. Crank it far enough and it will be strictly setting on the hockey pucks alone? I have them at each corner of my mill stand not only to lock it in place but to level it on my uneven garage floor. You could get by with just two in the front? I have some extra threaded rod, square and hex nuts and can probably come up with a couple of washers. It's hard to tell in the picture but the washer is approx. 1/4" thick. The hockey pucks can be p/u at a local sports store for $1-2.00 each. I can donate to help the cause if you'd like? Free is good.

 

[OccupantRJ]

The pallet jack idea works well. I am using that method at the moment, because all my heavy equipment has been stored in a semi trailer for the last 5 years. ( flood recovery). I keep a forklift at the storage location to remove a piece as I can handle it relative to need and space, load it and bring it home on my trailer, tilt trailer and skid equipment off into shop, then pallet jack it into place. As I am reworking the building along the way, I use the pallet jack to relocate the equipment to the other side of the shop. The Bridgeport alone weighs around 2,500 lbs, so this is a very good option, and one of the few easy ways to move it around while I insulate and plywood the walls and such. Later, I will be moving my forklift to this location, then I can set all the machinery more permanently in place. A good method is to make support rails on the perimeter of the legs 5 inches from the floor on all your tables, workbenches, tool tables and such, as I do at my workplace. Then when a piece needs moving, simply insert a pallet jack, lift, and roll away. A small piece can be moved by using one fork of the pallet jack, just cracking it loose from the floor, so as not to lose balance. Of course, this assumes you don't have showroom floors.