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All swivel casters

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Chadwilliam1

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May 13, 2012
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Cincinnati
I have this 44" craftsman tool box. Right now it has the standard 2 fixed casters and 2 swivel casters. What would be the concerns of making it 4 swivel casters? My reasoning is I have a small garage and I only need to roll it out to either sweep out from underneath it or like earlier this year fix my garage door. The way it sits right now I have to take shelves down just to move the tool box. I am concerned it might make it a little unstable.


One of my options are and it is what we do at work with out boxes is we build angle iron frames and add casters. So I could change it to a 6 swivel caster design( I plan to buy the other side box). If I did this I could add a heavier duty wider caster.

FB_IMG_13358940861917702_zpsfb4237c8.jpg


:edit: this is an old picture there are shelves next to it now.

Chad
 
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zkling

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Jan 23, 2007
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My main box (standard 27" wide, 18" deep, 56" tall) has 4 colson swivel casters. They roll super smooth and swivel very well.

For long straight lines movements they will drive you crazy. On the other hand it makes it very nimble to move in and out from the wall. Instead of the typical parallel parking job needed with the standard 2 fixed, 2 swivel.

On a box as big as yours I am not sure how well it would work. It will take quite a bit of muscle to get it going and keep it going in a straight line. For the home shop I think you will like the full swivel casters. If it was at work where you need to push your box up and down isles I wouldn't use all swivel. Just my 2¢ :beer:


I just noticed, hey another Cincy guy :rocker: :beer:
 
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Chadwilliam1

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I cant go far with it, its a one car garage. I have to dissasemble it to move it out of my garage. So going in a straight line is not an issue I just want to be able to move it away from the wall and put it back on my own.
 
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zkling

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Jan 23, 2007
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One thing I will add. Do yourself a favor and buy all locking swivel casters. That way your tool box doesn't roll down your driveway while you are rearranging. BUT I wouldn't know this from personal experience of anything :eek:. Now I just put chock all wheels with small pieces of angle. Most garage floors are pitched, so heads up.
 
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dumper

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Oct 22, 2006
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Oregon
how about changing the existing fixed wheels to the type of swivel casters that can be locked in the straight ahead position. Not cheap, but it gives you the best of both worlds. And, nice setup, by the way!
 
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03protege

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Sep 13, 2012
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Louisiana
When I get fed up enough I will change mine out to all swivels. I have VERY limited space in my garage so I pretty much have to be able to pull the box straight out.
 
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turbodave

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Apr 30, 2012
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IL/WI
I think the reason they put the casters the way they do is to prevent the box from tipping, if your pushing it so it rolls the other way it's going to be a lot easier to tip if it gets anything under a caster wheel.

Not saying don't do it, but be careful when moving it in that direction and be sure to lock all the drawers closed when you do.

The former owner of my big vidmar cabinet welded casters on it so the fixed ones roll in the direction the drawers open, and the drawers don't lock on the cabinet. Let's just say it was a loud crash when I tried to roll it up the apron into my garage. The front caster hit the start of the apron, momentum let all the drawers open up and gravity took care of the rest. Fortunately it was still empty, and the only damage was a bent slide that was easy to fix. It was that event that made me realize why my other boxes have the casters the way they do.
 
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toolstools

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My dads kobalt box has 4 spring loaded swivel casters. Rolls.smooth as butter and is heavy enough to only go where you tell it to, but easy enough to turn. Its the 56" or whatever their big stainless box is with the radio.
 
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crewchief888

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NW indiana
the biggest downside to have 4 swivel casters, is some unstabilty when moving the box back and forth,
ie: against and away from the wall.

i have all 4 swivels on both my carts, they get a little top heavy when moving them against the "short side legs".
in the shop, we've already had one 4 dr HF cart fall over backwards.

and yes it was mine.....:dunno:



:beer:
 
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