New casters

[bluedog225]

I need to order some 4-5” casters for a new project that will roll around on the shop floor (concrete).

The casters on my harbor freight toolbox just dissolved spontaneously. I’m not going to replace those right now because the box just sits there And will probably be in the same spot until I’m gone.

Are these polyurethane? Or something else? I’m trying to avoid getting more of the same.

What caster material do I need to order to avoid this? I can order steel wheels. But those seem a little extreme even for a concrete shop floor. What’s the black stuff? I want something that’s not going to deform or disintegrate over the next 30 years or so.

Thanks

 

[nadogail]

When it comes to Casters, experience has shown me that Cheap and Good are mutually exclusive.

 

[BillK]

I want something that’s not going to deform or disintegrate over the next 30 years or so.

Steel is probably the only thing that will do that. I have 4 carts I use for moving engine blocks, heads etc around my shop and they all have steel wheels. I would bet they are no more than 2" diameter. Those carts are at least 30 years old.

If you aren't going to have a lot of weight on them a good rubber wheel should be ok too but expect to pay dearly for them.

 

[gizardlizard]

At work, we roll plastic injection molds around on polyurethane wheels. The molds can weigh up to 3000 pounds. There are so many types of wheel compounds including polyolefin, Delrin and lots of others. Even with the polyurethane, there are many different types of hardness. Wheels aren’t cheap. Ball bearing swivels are a must. No plastic bushings. Is your floor in decent shape or extremely rough?

 

[bluedog225]

The floor is basic flat concrete. Later in life I may put a coating on it. Though that would require moving so much stuff it’ll probably never happen.

I just want a good basic deal. Was pretty surprised the harbor freight just turned to powder.

If I do put a coating on the floor, I suspect steel will tear it up pretty quick.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I need to order some 4-5” casters for a new project that will roll around on the shop floor (concrete).

The casters on my harbor freight toolbox just dissolved spontaneously. I’m not going to replace those right now because the box just sits there And will probably be in the same spot until I’m gone.

Are these polyurethane? Or something else? I’m trying to avoid getting more of the same.

What caster material do I need to order to avoid this? I can order steel wheels. But those seem a little extreme even for a concrete shop floor. What’s the black stuff? I want something that’s not going to deform or disintegrate over the next 30 years or so.

Thanks

I prefer the All-Good casters over any I have tried. The blue centered casters came as replacements for a piece of machinery I bought. The machine has been re-homed and most of the **** casters remain. I use them as replacements on old cabinets with bad wheels.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I always buy casters with Phenolic wheels. Bearings are a must-have.

 

[tarmy]

ER Wagner or RWM..get good non flat spotting castors.

 

[nadogail]

I took the rotten rubber off the casters from my US General Harbor Freight tool box, it now sits on the metal cores of the OEM Rubber Tired casters. It probably won’t be moved in the foreseeable future.

 

[metalmagpie]

Was pretty surprised the harbor freight just turned to powder.

Why?

 

[tool_scrounge]

I always buy casters with Phenolic wheels. Bearings are a must-have.

I second the above. Phenolic is pretty indestructible and does not appear to degrade from my experience.

I always use the largest caster wheel diameter that has the same mounting holes. 5” casters move a lot easier than 4” casters.

I buy quality US made new old stock casters off of EBay for my tool boxes. But I am cheap by nature.

 

[rsanter]

The wheels on my HF box did the same after 14 or so years.
I removed the wheels and put them in my lathe and turned the plastic material off them.
Upside, they roll good again
Downside, the wheel locks no longer work

If you want to replace them you don’t have to replace the whole caster! You can save a few bucks by replacing just the wheel

 

[gizardlizard]

Phenolic wheels are ok, but because they are so hard, they are brittle. We have some mold carts with them as well and the material chips of rather easy compared to a hard polyurethane wheel.

 

[Tbender78]

Find yourself 2 discarded shopping carts. Those wheels are indestructible. Most I have found the front wheels come off with a 5/8” socket.

 

[hobie18]

3...2...1... hair

 

[Stevee]

McMaster-Carr has a very good selection

 

[SwissMetric]

You can download the 600+ pages (PDF 1 GB! but vectorized drawings are zoomable) English Blickle catalog here:

Castors and Wheels

General Catalogue G16

catalogue.blickle.com

there are also chemical compatibility tables. Blickle is the largest German manufacturer, you'll find about everything from not-that-great basic to top notch. As others said, you get what you pay for.

Also some general background information, it's one of those typical German no-nonsense technically detailed catalogs.

Overall for generic use like tool cabinets I prefer basic black elastomer wheels with center part made of steel and with assembly also made of zinc-plated steel parts. I don't like wheels with inner part made of plastic.
Something like from page 196 from any good manufacturer would be my 1st choice if nothing more elaborated is required e.g. due to sharp chips, solvents, etc.
A compatible castor can usually be found, it's just about the cost and maybe availability.

BTW make sure that screw heads or protuding studs are not too high, in some cases I had to use flat nuts instead of regular ones and where important make sure that there is no risk of marking the floor. Lubricate before balls fall off!!!

Using the wrong castor can also make a huge rolling resistance difference.

 

[karoc]

If you’re serious about casters then try here https://www.casterdepot.com/ Lots information there and selection, different price range. But you can find load rating of casters. I purchase from them back before Covid which lot cheaper and called Great Lake Caster Co. I have same problem with cheap casters come on HF boxes etc

 

[SILVERPLATE]

I had the same issue with HF box. Anyone recommend an exact replacemen?