Heavy tables on casters or hoverpucks?

[rslaback]

I picked up 2 of these automation machine bases at the local auction house. They are super beefy and obviously heavy. My plan is to use at least 1, maybe both as a small scale fabrication/welding surface. The top is blanchard ground and an inch thick so that should work. It obviously doesn't have a regular layout pattern of holes but I think there are enough existing threads etc. that I can make some purpose built tooling for it.

Anyway, with the limited room I have in my shop I like to keep everything mobile. These things are super heavy so I was thinking about hover pucks like machinery movers sometimes have. It would be nice to be able to hook up my air line (or even toss my cordless compressor on it) and push it around with a finger.

Does anyone have any experience making or buying a system that would make moving a table like this around easy? I know that I could do casters but I think these will still be a bear to move, even on wheels.

 

[Zeke]

Casters tend to move a bit when you don't want them to unless you retract them. I don't know about hover pucks but I'll stick around to hear what others say. The ones I found were mucho bucks.

 

[djjsr]

Northern Tool currently has some steel casters on sale.

 

[tarmy]

castors for my stuff. The key is buy good ones that don’t flat spot and have dual locking mechanism.

 

[metlmunchr]

Googling hover puck gets nothing but some toys. Air bearings for machinery moving sell for $hundreds to $thousands each, depending on size, and use large volumes of air.

The heaviest thing in my home shop is my planer at about 350#. It rolls effortlessly on a base made from one of the 400# capacity Bora caster base kits. No idea what these tables weigh since no dimensions are given, but the 1" plate would be 40#/sq ft.

 

[jack stand]

A few years ago when I built a mezzanine in my building I decided that I needed a pallet jack. You'd have a rock solid table without added height and wiggly casters and the pallet jack could harmlessly park under one of them while not needed.
They are not necessarily only for pallets as you'll find out.

 

[Sweetcorn]

I have the pucks it sits on and casters that I can raise/lower to move the table around.

Not home now, but I'll get some pics for you later

 

[nadogail]

I have a Harbor Freight tool base under a workbench, when I want to move it I step on the pedal and the casters go down and the feet rise and the bench rolls.

 

[loganb]

I agree with pallet jack. Get a used one on craigslist or similar and park it under one when not in use and will likely be money ahead compared to casters plus more stable

 

[highdeserthacker]

I use leveling casters for these situations- heavy table where I don't want any wiggle. Very stable when the leveling feet are engaged. However, not ideal if you are moving your table around regularly as they take time to set up.
I'm running these on my mill table: e.g. https://www.casterhq.com/LevelingCasters-s/115.htm
You can find this brand on Zoro and combine with one of their 20-25% coupons for more reasonable cost.

 

[CraigStu]

nadogail can you show the tool base you have? I found this one but it doesn't have any foot pedal

300 Lb. Capacity Mobile Base

Amazing deals on this 300Lb Capacity Mobile Base at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[like2wheel]

Googling hover puck gets nothing but some toys. Air bearings for machinery moving sell for $hundreds to $thousands each, depending on size, and use large volumes of air.

Yeah, I couldn't imagine what the op was referring to. And when he mentioned using his cordless air compressor it really sounded like some sort of sorcery.

 

[Sweetcorn]

I have the pucks it sits on and casters that I can raise/lower to move the table around.

Not home now, but I'll get some pics for you later