Adding wheels to my tool chests...input requested from you all.

[MCS]

Hello,

I have two Vidmar tool chests that I want to make mobile. I was thinking about welding an angle iron frame together that each chest would sit on/in with the wheels attached to the frame. I know this would work. I am wondering if, as an alternative, I could simply bolt the casters to the base of the cabinet where forklift forks are supposed to go to move the thing. Please ignore the junk wheels that are shown in the picture. They are complete garbage! [/IMG]

Thanks for your input!

 

[isb cornbinder]

The only casters replacement casters I buy, now, are BLICKLE casters. www.blickle.ca
They are made in Germany and cost almost twice as much as the next best caster. I have these casters on my shop rolling chair, my office chair at my JUKI upholstery sewing machine and at my office chair in the office. These casters are the best of the best and roll with little resistance. If you toolbox does not move often. some quality phenolic wheels with bearings might make a better choice. Five 2 inc casters for my shop chair cost about $120.00

 

[Hammer1963]

Personally, I would fab a mounting plate from 1/4" steel to slide into the openings with threaded holes and to help spread the weight load. From my experience, these cabinets are quite heavy. There are several caster choices starting with replacement casters from any large capacity tool cab manufactures/suppliers

 

[cbacres]

You can mount casters directly to the tubes on the box, the holes will match the base plate of 4-6" casters. I have casters on all of my Vidmars for years now with no issues. I don't move them much, just to clean or rearrangements in the shop.

These are designed for the casters, except Vidmar will tell you you need latching drawers when using with casters, really not a issue unless you're moving around a lot.

 

[kbs2244]

Try

http://www.castersupply.com/index.htm

They will want to know weight
And I would suggest locking with swivels on at least on end.

 

[sberry]

Ones from 3 yard dumpster. whats even better is a pallet jack if you dont have to move daily and have room for it.

 

[pcmeiners]

Used these on 8 Vidmar cabinets., they are great .....

Nylon fiberglass filled, 1000lbs per wheel

http://apollocaster.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=65513

 

[Marctrees]

Don't be locked into any existing bolt pattern size.

Better to drill new holes than be confined in your choices.

Doing that will open a whole world of possible choices.


Just an idea - One could sandwich 1/2 or 3/4" plywood as a weight distributing spreading shim between caster base and the cabinet steel, through bolt all sandwich layers.

Spreading the stress on the steel over more area.

Variation on post # 3 Marc

 

[Marctrees]

OK... understand the below talks only about SWIVEL casters, not non swivel.


Keep in mind, swivel caster frames introduce this issue - Generally, the larger the wheel, the larger the "caster" horizontal distance is.

Like on a 3" wheel swivel caster, your footprint on the ground could vary like... estimating by memory here... like 4" or something.

I'm talking the "Caster" that is built into cars that allows you let go of the steering wheel and the car continues going straight... the "caster effect".

So don't worry about using existing holes, but mount all caster bases as FAR apart as possible to minimize tip over possibility from shifting COG when the casters are in the extreme footprint narrowing caster positions.

It can make a potentially dangerous tipover more possible situation.

Caster me Bro ????? Marc

 

[ltusler]

Check these out, I upgraded my car dollies to them. Magic.

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Wheels/Casters/Plate-Casters/2-5-8X1-3-8-FAULTLESS-AIR-CARGO-CASTER-1-4240.axd

 

[Mikeske]

https://www.harborfreight.com/mater...0-lb-capacity-vehicle-dollies-2-pc-60343.html

why not something like these

 

[aircommuter]

Maybe something like this would work.

 

[jdsac]

Not sure if the fork pockets unbolt on a vidmar, but here's what I did on my listas. I unbolted the fork pockets, took out the bottom drawer & ran box tubing long ways inside.
then I drilled and mounter the casters. That way the box is sandwiched between the casters and the box tubing- plenty strong, and it's the same as making a frame externally.
For casters I used some from a company that made dumpster repair parts. I put 6 - 4 in the corners & 2 mid span.

Casters similar to these- 800 lb load ea: http://www.surpluscenter.com/Wheels/Casters/Plate-Casters/6x2-SWIVEL-PLATE-CASTER-1-5085-S.axd

 

[matt_i]

Be careful. A vidmar can be loaded up to more than 1 ton without much challenge.

The biggest danger is rolling it with the drawers unlocked, get it out of level and it can fall over, damaging the cabinet, the stuff inside, the stuff next to it, and worst of all you.

I've solved that by making pallet bases out of 2x4s on edge plus 3/4 plywood and then using a pallet jack. It requires about 1" extra space on each side of the cabinet.

 

[nutjob]

Here is what the Lista mobile bases look like

Kevin

 

[pi_guy]

I have found that Snap On casters are of extremely high quality.
If you have a SO dealer check them out as the price is very reasonable.
I have replaced several of my fixed casters with swivel ones