Jack up tool box to prevent flat spots on casters?

[Zeus36]

I have two Stanley Vidmar cabinets I'm using for toolboxes. I added hard caster wheels (salvaged items) welded to a metal 2x2 angle iron frame, but I want to raise the cabinets off those casters to prevent flat spots, since I have a heavy bench top drill press and a granite surface plate sitting on top. The cabinets only get moved if I need to access the rear wall.
I was thinking of some sort of jack like a machinist's jack at each corner just to raise it maybe a quarter of an inch. Or use a floor jack and some 4x4 blocking, but then I would have to clear and empty the cabinet each time I wanted to move it.

The distance from the lower frame to the floor is 5 inches.

Are there any devices made for this purpose or anyone have other ideas?

 

[RVDan]

This will not end like you think it will.

 

[58Yeoman]

Should've used metal casters.

 

[jeffmattero76]

My old Craftsman Radial arm saw had a setup like you are looking for. Normally, the saw would sit on the legs, and the casters were just slightly off the floor. This was accomplished by a metal "housing" for each caster. The axle of the caster was a long arm that came through this metal housing. That housing had a slot in it so that, you wanted to move the saw, you would step on each axle and push it to the other side of the slot which would lift the stand off the floor and cause the caster to be sitting on the floor. There was a detent that the arm would fit into that would hold the caster to the floor. When you were done moving it, you would again step on that long axle, move it out of the detent, and that would put the legs back in contact with the floor, and the casters would be raised off of the floor.

I gave the saw to the son of a friend of mine, or I would take a picture of what I am talking about. You may be able to see it if you do a search for "Craftsman Radial saw stand" and look at an exploded view.

Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk

 

[jeffmattero76]

http://www.bing.com/images/search?v...608047769541086368&selectedIndex=5&ajaxhist=0

Actually, I was able to find a picture of what I poorly described above. It is not an axle that you step on and move, it is an arm that moves the metal housing. See the picture in the link.

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[brownbagg]

you are really thinking too much

 

[LXCam]

This will not end like you think it will.

you are really thinking too much

Shall we begin??

 

[LS6 Tommy]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078JS7RCP/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Tommy

 

[tarmy]

If you are worried about it...get good casters and the problem is gone.

 

[Zeus36]

Should've used metal casters.

I think metal casters are the best route. Thanks!

Five bucks at HD:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-in-Steel-Swivel-Caster-4035345EB/203672178

 

[matt_i]

Be really careful with a Vidmar on casters. Its a dangerous thing due to the propensity of the low friction, heavily loaded drawers to want to extend en-masse.

Some of them have a single-drawer interlock but some do not.

 

[lml999]

This will not end like you think it will.

Last week I had the opportunity to haul my aluminum racing jack up to the second floor of the house, using it to raise a heavy window air conditioner off the floor (saving my back from the initial deadlift...)

My wife thought it was clever and offered to record a video on her phone...

I had the same reaction "this may not end like you think it will..." and the video will end up with a Darwin Awards title of some sort.

I suggested that she put the phone away and just watch...

 

[homebuilt burner]

One shop I used to visit took the casters off of their toolboxes and set them on wooden blocks. They had been broken into numerous times and it was harder to steal a toolbox that way.

Just saying. Maybe no wheels is better.

 

[pcmeiners]

1000 lbs per caster, no flat spots .....
http://apollocaster.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=65513

 

[Gummi Bear]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/POWERTE...ith-400-lb-Load-Rating-4-Pack-17000/206801594

I think this is the concept you’re describing



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[Robert Haas]

My big roller cab is up on blocks.

I won't ever move it again (I hope) and it is solid as the wall it is in front of on blocks.

My casters are fine by the way.

 

[BillK]

Zuess,
I have 3 boxes at the shop about as full as they can get. They are all at least 25 years old. Most do not get moved but maybe once a year to clean the floor and I have never had an issue with the casters. Two Mac Boxes and one old Matco.

 

[6768rogues]

You have too much time on your hands if you worry about flat spotting castors that were salvaged from somewhere.

 

[Zeus36]

Be really careful with a Vidmar on casters. Its a dangerous thing due to the propensity of the low friction, heavily loaded drawers to want to extend en-masse.

Some of them have a single-drawer interlock but some do not.

My Vidmars with wheels have the drawer interlocks. My larger units sit directly on the floor.

 

[tarmy]

Another idea...I had these on the cabinet I rolled out to the driveway that had a bit of slope...essentially a brake for each end...

 

[langss]

Before I retired, my toolbox sat in the same place for over 15 years. I never needed to move it because my entire work area was less than 10 ft from it. It has a steel angle iron frame with rubber wheeled casters. Other than all the dirt and **** that was behind the wheels that were against the wall, it moved very easy.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Over loaded casters will fail regardless as its just as much aging of the rubber as it is flat spotting. Like others have said get medal casters and don't worry about it any more.. I have seen the casters crack and come apart just from age not just the load..