Casters for tool stands/bases?

[anythingyoucanimagine]

I'm building five mobile tool bases which is 20 wheels/casters. I have two more to build (total 28 casters) and I'm probably forgetting something.

Is HF best place to go? Alibaba? HF is fine but if you buy 50 casters the 20% coupon only applies to one caster and I don't want to do 50 transactions.

McMaster? Thanks.

Average tool weight: 250-400 pounds.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Average tool weight: 250-400 pounds.

Divided by four means around 100 pounds max load for each caster. For that load, HF is probably OK. There are a ton of choices on Amazon as well, here's one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y49D2J2/?tag=atomicindus08-20


You could also check any surplus or salvage stores in your area to see what they have. For that matter, big box stores like Home Depot carry quite a variety of casters as well.

 

[anythingyoucanimagine]

Thanks Stuart. I was asking because I'm looking for a bulk buy of 30-50 casters. Either way, the link you posted would price 40 casters @ about $200 with tax. That's less than I was expecting so thank you.

 

[rsanter]

I often buy the small moving dolly and take the casters off of them

 

[tarmy]

Cheapo casters will work...but flatspots and expansion joints can be an issue.

I learned a long time ago to get good casters...look at E R Wagner or RWM 47 series...

 

[kazlx]

I buy from these guys all the time. Great stuff and anything you could want. Prices have always been super reasonable IMO.

https://www.magnusinc.com/

 

[RKA]

Don’t bother with harbor freight. I picked up a few for an inexpensive dolly that would hold 200 lbs. each caster was rated for that. They turned freely in the store, but once I screwed them to the dolly and put weight on it, it became evident they were only made to LOOK like a good caster. They were 3” ball bearing polyurethane locking casters. I went back to my old stand by casters from castorcity.com. If you are ordering more than a dozen, call them. They will usually knock 10-15% off. Their equivalent PU 3” total locking casters (Taiwan) were around $14 ea., so not cheap (but not as expensive as well known brands), but they work well!

 

[Bobf]

I don't know if they're still available but I bought several sets of replacement casters for the HF 4X8 trailer. I guess there was a problem with the casters in the kit so they offered a set of (4) replacements for I think $6.99 in a plastic bag. I bought several bags at the time and have them under several items in the garage(press, sand blaster,english wheel, parts washer)

 

[ford33]

It's the flat spotting of the tires and poor bearing that caused me to switch to better quality and more expensive casters. Also, every caster is at least 5" diameter wheel and most are 6" so it will roll over an extension cord easily and I can place a broom under the item to clean the floor.

 

[Rory Bellows]

Ebay. Great prices and huge selection.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I often buy the small moving dolly and take the casters off of them

I've done this as well with HF mover's dolleys, but they were nothing super heavy or getting moved alot.


If I were to need casters for a heavy project that would be getting moved alot, I'd buy something better.

 

[rayra]

I often buy the small moving dolly and take the casters off of them

I do exactly the same. Toss in a 20% coupon and it makes the casters a real bargain.

Put them on my big rolling work table, and swapped them into HF's tech cart and moved its taller softer casters to my lumber off-cuts cart. And on some rolling shelves.

 

[Lynden]

If your floors are concrete, steel-wheeled casters are an option. I have them under my lumber cart and my table saw.

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

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQI88I0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Marctrees]

Best value for casters is NOS USA made on ebay.

Some are often lightly used takoffs.

Thing is on USA ones the frickin rubber does not fall apart.

It does take time and study but occasionally great deals can be found.

Marc

 

[matt_i]

The casters I liked best were from the green bear Grizzly Tools. They had a caster, red hard urethane wheel that had a parabolic cross section, which made them very easy rolling and turning. The casters which are a big flat wheel are often attractively cheap but twisting all of that surface contact was a pain.

In the industrial world I got some Apex casters which match above description but with orange urethane tires, 8" dia & 10" dia so larger for industrial parts carts, these are the easiest rolling casters of many iterations tried.

 

[PhysicsDude]

I recently bought these casters off Amazon and used them for my V8 engine coffee table that weighs around 300lbs.

The casters roll and swivel really well - better than what HF sells, and at about the same price (~$4/caster). The wheels have actual bearings, and the locks work well also.

 

[1MtnGoat]

Try this place I buy a lot here. castercity.com