mobile tools bases

[kindyr]

I have a decent size garage, but I have more hobbies, each with their own variety of tools needed. So I need my shop to be configurable to which ever task I'm working on at the moment.

I have a craftsman mobile tool base for my table saw And I am not a fan. It doesn't lift the saw up enough to clear any kind of junk on the floor, so the floor has to be well swept before I can move the saw. It is also somewhat flimsy in construction, and leaves the weight of saw partially on the casters wher in the lowered position. not ideal. Aspects I like about it are the low profile nature of it and the foot operated aspect.

So I'm looking to see if anybody has examples of home built mobile tool bases that anybody has built.

I have an idea that meets most of my criteria, but I don't know if it will work for the heavier tools. I may try it on my horizontal band saw just to see if it works in steel the way I see it working on paper.

What I'd like to find is a system that can be built or bought:
at a reasonable cost
Handle a reasonable weight(I figure some of the tool stations will be over 300 lbs)
let the station sit on the solid floor, completely off the casters.(to prevent shift and damge to the caster)
lift the stations mostly level and high enough not to need a perfectly clean floor)


I'd love to see what you guys have come up with.

 

[SportFury59]

This doesn't let station or ??? sit on floor off casters but what I use for casters is the furniture dollies you buy at HF - 4 casters on a hardwood frame measuring 18"x30". I got a '60 TBird engine sitting on one and a '59 Plymouth cast iron torqueflite (heavy) trany sitting on another one. And they roll around easily. Also have a gorilla shelving unit setting on 2 dollies and a miter saw cabinet sitting on another. I use a smaller 12"x18" HF dolly for under the hitch on a camper trailer I have in garage. It's easier on concrete and moves better than the steel wheel camper comes with.

 

[rsanter]

I have seen the bases you can buy and still prefer to build my own.
I prefer bigger wheels and ones that will lock or I like to install a jack style brake
another advantage of larger wheels is that you can wrap a chain around the wheel to act as a brake. dosent work with little wheels

bob

 

[hamholfarm]

Bob,

Is that a Bridgeport vertical mill sitting on your mobile base? Do you have more pictures of the mobile base?

Thank you!

Chip

 

[rsanter]

yes, that is my bridgeport on a roller base I made.
I build it for the sale house that only had a 2 car garage and I was space limited. depending on what you trying to de a mill can require a bunch of space, so the roller base allowed me to pull the machine out for use and then push it back for storage

the base is made for 3/8 angle that I picked up cheap as scrap or a cutoff...
just welded up a square frame that the mill base sits in and then used more of the same material to make the wheel mounts.
the rear wheels were free from a place I used to work at and the front ones were given to me by a friend that got them for a few bucks each at the Boeng surplus in washington.

I have transported the mill twice with a trailer by rolling it up on it
I also have the small lathe on a rolling base but the big lathe is just too big to do that with

bob

 

[Jim Stabe]

I keep a file of pictures of ideas I come across that I might build someday. Here are a couple tool mobility ones you might find interesting. I apologise in advance if either of these belong to any of you here, I don't have names to give proper credit.

This is a simple way to move a machine around that has fixed wheels on the back (non-swivel casters). There are similar devices sold for moving trailers around.


These allow wheels to be lowered to move the maching and then raised so it sits on solid legs.



Jim

 

[SportFury59]

Top pic with pinkish/orangish wheels appear to be off a skateboard. I attached 2 of those to bottom of a patio door one time that was worn out and wouldn't open easily.

 

[SportFury59]

Currently putting windows/headers in my garage. Got a stack of 2x10's and 2x6's in garage that are always in the way. Put the stack on 2 HF furniture dollies and now can push them anywhere out of the way. Got the idea from seeing a pic of this being done somewhere on this site.

 

[lilredex]

Have made a few mobile stands over the years and always use an axle that pivots a bit, which makes the unit self levelling. In use I have never seen the need for wheels that raise up, my stuff has enough weight to keep it stable and stationary in use. My table saw is a good example, you can see it here:



and jointer mobile:

 

[Vinko]

i just made a few more carts and a couple of wheelie-type bases. gotta get some pics up.

Also a guy I work with has a nice cart idea with welded shelving inside -- drawers in front and on top, so it's these sort of "staggered" shelving on top that allows easy reach to different tools.

 

[Rocket]

Not a mobile tool base, but the idea could be used.
I made this piano trolley for the local institue earlier this year.
It used large anti mar swivel casters, so it can run on carpet, concrete & timber floors with ease & with out marking the polised timber.
You'll notice it has a very low centre of gravity & the main frame is made of solid bar (it could take the weight of 2 pianos if need be)

Just thought I'd share the idea.