Caster question

[Bbp78]

Long time reader, first time poster. Thanks for any information in advance. I bought an old Walker Turner bandsaw and was wondering if it’s better to use all swivel total lock casters to make it mobile or to use a portable type of base? The base has holes for mounting to the floor and I was thinking of using casters. Thanks for any opinions on what you’ve found works better.

 

[Maui]

I have a 16” Walker Turner bandsaw that was mounted on a mobile caster base when I purchased it. It moves quite easily. I’ll take a look at it when I have a chance and let you inow how they did it.

 

[JEFinCLE]

I am not a fan of either casters or mobile bases...particularly for band saws. I want my machines solidly on the ground when I'm pushing against them. I have bolted in a piece of lumber or plywood about an inch up on one side of the legs on all my lighter machines. A two-wheeled dolly can move them anywhere in the shop. I have a small footprint pallet jack for the heavier stuff.

 

[Mintgrun]

I know what you mean about wanting the tool on the ground so it doesn't move when you're pushing wood through. The same's true for table saws. Yet, I have one of each that are mounted on castors and have found that feature to be useful. When I want to keep them from moving, I just put a thin strip of wood on the floor behind two of the castors.

My shop is not very big and so it's helpful to be able to roll stuff around. ( I have six table saws and five bandsaws ). Sometimes the saws on wheels get rolled out of the shop when I want to keep the dust down. Delta made retractable casters that come down when you step on a pedal. (two wheels per pedal) They're cool, but the wheels are very small. I've also seen a pair of wheels mounted behind two of the legs so they sit just off the ground and they ride on the floor when you tip the tool in that direction.

I mounted this little INCA saw on a rolling base and used it to cut some long curves in 5 1/2" thick 6x12s when building a large arbor. That was probably the most fun I've had running a bandsaw. I suspended the piece just above table height and pulled the saw through the cuts.

 

[Bbp78]

Thanks everyone I appreciate the replies. Mintgrun that arbor you made looks awesome and that’s pretty neat how you did that! I like the caster idea, Maui and Mintgrun have you ever felt the saw will tip over even if the casters are locked? I just don’t want to spend $100 on casters and then regret it. JefinCLE I like your idea but this saw probably weighs almost 400 lbs and a dolly scares me if I lose control.

 

[Mintgrun]

The INCA saw came on the stand that the table saw is sitting on in those photos. The motor was mounted inside the boxed portion. It seemed like a lot of wasted space, so I bolted the saw/motor onto the wooden slab and set that on the rolling stand. The space below the saw became usable and the saw is much more portable. For a while, I just set the saw on that stand and it felt precarious moving it around. Once I screwed it down, it felt secure. The saw body is aluminum, so it's very lightweight; especially compared to your 400 pound saw. Could you share some photos of what you have?

EDIT-- that arbor was a fun project. It covered an outdoor kitchen with a wood fired pizza oven. Not my design... I just got to build it. Here's a crappy photo showing those 6x12 pieces and the bandsaw cut the 2" x 10" cross pieces as well.

 

[tool_scrounge]

The most stable will be to pick up a narrow (20.5" wide) used pallet jack and just bolt 4x4s under your machines. The pallet jack makes it very easy to move machines but the machines are very stable in the final location. For very heavy machines 4x4 heavy wall steel tubing work well.

 

[Bbp78]

Sorry for the delay, life got in the way. tool-scrounge I like your idea I don’t have room for a pallet Jack though. Mintgrun that arbor turned out great by the way. I’m still leaning towards the casters but am a little worried about it tipping still. Thanks again for everyone’s help.

 

[tool_scrounge]

The trick on pallet jack's is to park the forks under a tool box, etc so you are then only are using about 2 square feet extra of space. They also make pallet jack's for moving vending machines that have really short forks.

 

[Bbp78]

Good point, pallet jacks do slip under things easily. I’ve never seen a mini one, I just searched for them that’s pretty cool. Maybe I can find one on Marketplace. Do you think casters are an accident waiting to happen?

 

[RTM]

My Laguna 14 is in two casters, and moves like an old factory shop cart, with a removable set of front wheels

MBA3015-0180, Laguna Tools Mobility Kit. Fits 14-SUV 16-3000 Series

Premium Industrial Products Offered at the Lowest Prices

www.ustooldepot.com

Keeping the wheelie thing out of the way is pretty easy, just a magnet holds it upright behind the saw.

 

[Bbp78]

That’s pretty neat RTM, looks like it would work well.