caster placement on 84" toolbox

[alinc100]

Hi All,
As one of many projects I am planning to join 3 Kennedy toolboxes into a long 84" cart/rolling workstation.Chances are it will not roll often,nor far.
I would like to use 6 casters,each being heavy duty and overrated.
Is it best to use 4 swivel and 2 straight or would it be better with 4 straight 2 swivel?
The frame will likely be 2" steel angle with plates in the corners and center for caster mounting.
The boxes themselves would be bolted together and then a top made from plywood/laminate and aluminum would sit above them all.

thanks

 

[zkling]

Depends on how and where you want it to turn about. Say for example if you put swivel on the ends and then a set of fixed in the center. It would be able to spin like a top, would turn quick and sharp, but drive ability may get frustrating for long trips. Then say for example you put a pair of fixed on one end and swivel in the middle and the other end. It would push well from the swivel end, but turning would be more biased around the fixed set end. 4 straight of any combo won't want to turn very well as one wheel will have to slip while turning.

Think of a toy car.

Or you could do all swivel. It would be a real headache to try to go in a straight line, but maneuverability would be awesome as you could parallel park it very easily.

Edit: I'll add this scenario just for completeness. Say for example you were to put 6 fixed casters on the box, all pointing the same direction. It would very much like to go in a straight line, but turning would be very difficult and dangerous if not practically impossible.

 

[alinc100]

Or you could do all swivel. It would be a real headache to try to go in a straight line, but maneuverability would be awesome as you could parallel park it very easily.

.

I did this to one of the other lower Kennedy cabinets I have. The 4 swivel casters make it very easy to tuck in and out when needed,not so easy to push in a straight line for long distances. This is where 4 of the casters for the 84" project would come from along with 2 more matching ,straight casters from HD.

 

[rsanter]

If it was me I would use all swivel casters
I would make the frame from at min 2x2 box material and I think I might even mount the outer casters about 6" in from the ends

Bob

 

[zkling]

I did this to one of the other lower Kennedy cabinets I have. The 4 swivel casters make it very easy to tuck in and out when needed,not so easy to push in a straight line for long distances. This is where 4 of the casters for the 84" project would come from along with 2 more matching ,straight casters from HD.

My old 26" bottom box which is now my "cart" has all 4 swivel and it is really handy to easily place. However I can't imagine a fully loaded 84" box with all swivel caster. If you had to take it down an isle I think it would wear you out in short time trying to keep it going in the right direction.

Just depends on the area you are trying to navigate. Center fixed would be like a zero turn mower, it would swing out less. Where as with the end fixed would be like a fork lift I guess where you could park the one end and slide the other end to match up. Have you seen one of the kennedy versa carts?

 

[Rico.]

Just make it easy on yourself and get all swivel casters that can lock in a straight ahead
position... or manufacture something that you can deploy to stop them being able to swivel.

 

[Outlawmws]

Another vote for 6 swivels. it will be hard enough to maneuver without having to deal with 2 straight.

If you DO go with 2 straight, you need to put them in the middle and presumably in the long directions which will make backing the thing against a wall a b$%#h

 

[ndoran]

I can't imagine any 84 inch box being easy to move under any circumstances once you get it reasonably full. I would not put 6 swivels on it if it has a top box unless it was 30 inches deep due to stability concerns. I would go with 2 fixed and the rest swivels.