Making my bench mobile? Lifting castors?

[VolksWomble]

I am still figuring out layouts in my workshop, and moving stuff over from my old place (See my thread in my sig) and am toying with the idea of making one of my benches mobile - or at least movable with lifting castors such that it moves when I want but not when I don’t.

the bench in question is a large steel fabricated welding bench - not one of those fancy setup benches sadly, but a 7ft x 4ft bench with 2” box section frame and 1/4” plate top. I didn’t make it, I found it in a scrap yard and was too good to leave there. Problem is,mits rather heavier than most of the lifting castor kits I have seen , like this one from Rutlands… plus I’d like a larger castor.



Has anyone seen a good bolt/weld on style lifting castor? Or a mecanism that could be added to existing legs?

the welding tables I alluded to earlier sometimes boast having castors p, but I’ve never seen one in real life…

 

[CraigStu]

Why not standard casters w/ good locks?

 

[VolksWomble]

Why not standard casters w/ good locks?

I want it very firmly on the floor, with no hope of moving at times - like when you need to hit things hard…. i dont really want it any higher either, and the existing framework wouldn’t allow for shortening the legs.

 

[cvairwerks]

Set it up for a pallet jack to move as necessary.

 

[lilredex]

Mine rolls on old floor jack wheels in the back and fixed feet in the front, floor jack on a cross member moves it about.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I agree with @cvairwerks, buy a used narrow (20.5” wide) pallet jack to move the bench or machines around as needed. I personally like Crown pallet jacks as they are well built and parts are readily available if ever needed.

 

[Lynden]

Here are a couple of low-tech solutions if the bench is light enough that you are able to lift the ends.

 

[tarmy]

I want it very firmly on the floor, with no hope of moving at times - like when you need to hit things hard…. i dont really want it any higher either, and the existing framework wouldn’t allow for shortening the legs.

If you get good castors they will lock two ways and will not move.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I am still figuring out layouts in my workshop, and moving stuff over from my old place (See my thread in my sig) and am toying with the idea of making one of my benches mobile - or at least movable with lifting castors such that it moves when I want but not when I don’t.

the bench in question is a large steel fabricated welding bench - not one of those fancy setup benches sadly, but a 7ft x 4ft bench with 2” box section frame and 1/4” plate top. I didn’t make it, I found it in a scrap yard and was too good to leave there. Problem is,mits rather heavier than most of the lifting castor kits I have seen , like this one from Rutlands… plus I’d like a larger castor.



Has anyone seen a good bolt/weld on style lifting castor? Or a mechanism that could be added to existing legs?

the welding tables I alluded to earlier sometimes boast having castors p, but I’ve never seen one in real life…

I thought lifting castors were too expensive. I bought castors with brakes. You do not need brakes on all 4 castors. A caster with a brake, on each corner can guide the other caster on an end or side. I like to install a locking castor diagonally from each other. This works.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

This one gave me idea's years ago, that may happen with the new house.

 

[KenB]

Get some ideas by searching for “machine casters” on EBay.

Ken

 

[Skyman]

Maybe these, or something similar?

Amazon.com

 

[Sweetcorn]

Here's what I did on my table that weighs about 1,400 pounds empty. Only pic I have on my phone of it and I'm in for the evening, lol.

Cheap jacks from HF and the rest was just made from scrap pieces and leftover casters I had. I pump the jack a few times and the feet are up off the ground, release the pressure and it drops right down and stays where you set it. Did the exact same thing on both ends.

Rolls easily with one hand and I move it around fairly often.

 

[Yellerdog]

Sweet corn’s set up is the answer, have seen this set up before and it’s the only way for a really heavy bench

 

[Bill T]

Another approach is to use standard casters.
Make jack screws to weld on each leg. We use this approach in the fab shop in my plant. Our tables are much heavier than yours. We use 1" threaded rod to raise the table. Once the table is off the casters, lock nuts are run down to ensure the table maintains the position.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I am still figuring out layouts in my workshop, and moving stuff over from my old place (See my thread in my sig) and am toying with the idea of making one of my benches mobile - or at least movable with lifting castors such that it moves when I want but not when I don’t.

the bench in question is a large steel fabricated welding bench - not one of those fancy setup benches sadly, but a 7ft x 4ft bench with 2” box section frame and 1/4” plate top. I didn’t make it, I found it in a scrap yard and was too good to leave there. Problem is,mits rather heavier than most of the lifting castor kits I have seen , like this one from Rutlands… plus I’d like a larger castor.



Has anyone seen a good bolt/weld on style lifting castor? Or a mecanism that could be added to existing legs?

the welding tables I alluded to earlier sometimes boast having castors p, but I’ve never seen one in real life…

I have a massively heavy 30"x84" cast iron work bench. It weighs like 1800? lbs.
It was built with 1-1/2" leveling bolts in the bottom of the 4 legs.
I wanted to be able to move it around as needed so I added heavy casters. But I retained the leveling bolts.
Most of the time I leave it sitting on the casters and can push it around as needed by myself.
If I need to do some heavy reefing on it I screw the leveling bolts down so it's sitting on those and not the casters.
Three men could not budge it when it is sitting on the bolts

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

I used some like you pictured in the original post on a small work bench I built.

While it is more like a movable tool table, they work alright, but if it was a steel table or larger I would use some locking casters.

 

[ipgenie]

One option I didn't see mentioned is to put a trailer jack with castor wheel at each corner. The kind that you weld the mount to the table and pin on the jack would allow you to remove it and store it out of the way if it's not moved frequently.
You didn't say how heavy the table is so that may or may not be a good option but it's one I've seen pictures of a few times.

 

[cannuck]

I make as many things as possible moveable on their own as overhead cranes only cover the center work bay. My two welding/fab/work tables are a 3x6 and 4x8 each weighing in around 700 or so lbs. They are on locking casters (as are my 48"
shear, press and brake that also are similar weight) and stay well enough put when wheels are locked. Next shop (if it ever gets built) will be fully covered by a pair of 5 ton OHCs and casters will all come off. My main engine stand/pipe bender is bolted to floor. All of my machine tools are heavy enough to stand freely but not castered. Have been thinking of mounting my bandsaws on casters, though, as they get moved a fair bit.

 

[Lumpy102]

Very similar to sweetcorn's post, and these pictures copied from the internet somewhere long ago, buddy added this to his 4X6ft workbench, works great. He has mig and arc welders, oxy/acet torch, 2 grinders, 6" vise, assorted clamps/vise grips, and 2X72 belt grinder mounted to bench, likely a ton of weight. rolls easily

 

[CN Spots]

Floor locks. I have 4 of these that I snatched out of the scrap metal pile at work that I put on a rolling woodworking bench but I've only ever needed to use 2 at a time. Absolutely rock solid. Size them accordingly to your casters.

 

[Sleeper]

Like Skyman suggested, I’ve used these Footmaster casters in a number of applications. They are rated for up to 1600lbs each depending on which model you get. Or you could get the almost identical Vevor knockoffs for a fraction of the price if that’s your thing.

 

[nadogail]

I have a supplementary top of 3/4” plywood attached to a Harbor Freight 1000 Hydraulic Lift Table. In addition to being adjustable it can be rolled wherever needed.

 

[sz0k30]

Try to have most of the tools in my garage be mobile. Have casters or carts on my: workbench, drill press, hydraulic press, welder, small cart, parts washer, table saw.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

Here's what I did on my table that weighs about 1,400 pounds empty. Only pic I have on my phone of it and I'm in for the evening, lol.

Cheap jacks from HF and the rest was just made from scrap pieces and leftover casters I had. I pump the jack a few times and the feet are up off the ground, release the pressure and it drops right down and stays where you set it. Did the exact same thing on both ends.

Rolls easily with one hand and I move it around fairly often.

That is genius! Storing that idea for the future. Thank you!

Jim

 

[4x4Pete]

Maybe some press down locking feet? I have these on two sides of my mobile bench, not sure where they're from or how much they'd cost. The bench is a repurposed jet turbine stand and came with the super castors with swivel locks and the press down feet.


Edit: I looked up the name on them,-Bassick, they're called floor locks.

 

[TEXACMAN]

I have an ATV jack to move mine, the shelf on the bottom has runners that line up perfectly.

 

[garfieldzzz]

One solution would be to make a square or rectangular section steel tube across the legs which can pivot around something (round tube for example). The casters are mounted on the square and one short receiver tube welded on top. The pivot sits low so the wheels are tilted if the bench is on the ground. Both sides get an piece of c or u steel which is cutout on both sides so it can slide over the leg.
To lift the bench you put a long tube in the receiver for leverage and lift it on to its wheels, the u steel on the sqare lowers due to its weight and locks the square in place.

Just need to find a picture to illustrate

This is similar to my example:

https://www.tegral-shop.lu/media/image/b7/47/43/[email protected]