New Toolchest, Modify Casters Now or Never

[jlmanatee]

I scored a new Craftsman S2000 51" rolling and top chest for Christmas. Hooray for me! I put it together and now I'm staring at the job of moving all my tools from various other boxes in an organized manner. But before putting a 1000 lbs of tools into it, I want to consider the caster system. It currently has fixed and swivel casters. I'd really prefer all swivel casters to improve maneuverability. But throwing swivel casters on each corner will change the center of gravity, front to back, and could make it more tippy than it already is. Not an improvement.
I was thinking (always dangerous) and was considering the idea of completely removing the existing casters and attaching 2 furniture dollies to the bottom. This would give me the maneuverability I'm looking for and also add to the front/back stability. Yes, it would increase the footprint. It would at least be an inexpensive experiment. But the wheels on most furniture movers are less than 3" making it potentially harder to move. What do you all think?

 

[rust in the eye]

How do swivel casters change CG?
FWIW: I have lots of tables, carts, etc. on casters. 4 swivel casters make them ~ easier to move vs. only two but those on 4 also are less stable once "in place", the slightest nudge will knock them out of place.
I doubt you'll be moving a 51" box around much anyway, but rather will spending next for a tool cart.
My advice? Leave the casters alone.

 

[Retired dozer fixer]

Once you put 2000# of tools in there you won’t be moving that too far. Yes 2000 seems like a lot but it will go fast. When I was working I estimated my shop box at over 4000. Wasn’t too worried about theft. Needed a rollback wrecker to move it home at retirement

 

[danho]

+1 for leave it as is. I have several cabinets loaded down and have never had any issues with rolling them around and locking them in place.

 

[jlmanatee]

That's 3 for "leave em alone". OK, I'll stop over-thinking it.

 

[Etchase]

I like 4 swivels.

 

[619DioFan]

My main box is parked with shims under front casters to make sure drawers stay closed. Probably weighs 2500 loaded. Only time it moves is if I move to a new house. I have several shop carts for moving around.

 

[tomtomgt356]

I put 4 casters on my service cart for maneuverability and stability hasn't been an issue. The main box has the factory casters and has only been moved a couple times as I was working on shop layout. I agree with the majority to leave them as is.

 

[tool_scrounge]

The upgrade I usually do it to change them out to larger diameter quality casters, usually 5-6” diameter depending on the tool box. Much easier to roll with much higher load capacity. Usually I can find NOS Colson casters on EBay.

 

[Wamsutta]

I hate 4 swivels. I also hate when people put the side handle on the opposite side of the swivels.

 

[yhprum]

I can picture it tipping if you have swivel casters and are pushing it from the front and having a caster dig in to something and stop rolling. Pushing from the side, not so much.

 

[Shocker]

Another vote for leaving them. I never move my boxes.

 

[Oldsnapper]

+1 for leaving as is. A tool cart could use 4 swivels but the main box should have 2 fixed. Most main boxes very seldom get moved. Working in shops for over 30 years, there was only one shop that I had to move the main box any amount. If I had a cart then, the main box wouldn't have moved much that year.

 

[Wamsutta]

If you want an upgrade, this is an upgrade!

Colson Performa

 

[Radio Flyer]

I hate 4 swivels. I also hate when people put the side handle on the opposite side of the swivels.

Yup. I jumped on the 4 swivels and hate it. Bad thing is I welded them on. One day I’ll get pissed enough to empty and flip my cart so that I can cut them off.

 

[AEAdam]

Almost regardless of the box, it’s a really good idea to reinforce the underside of the casters. The top mounting plate of the casters, very often sits on nothing more than a sheet metal skin. As the box bends with weight, you can actually crease the thin skin the casters are attached to.

I’ve tried different solutions. I installed aluminum extruded angles inside the box, front to back to try to reinforce the caster bolts and beam the load front to back. On the box I’m think of, there was enough height below the bottom drawer for that.

On my KRL, it has sheet metal channels running front to back. With 6” casters, the caster plates are as wide as the channel, so the vertical leg of the channel supports the edge of the caster plate. On my 5” casters, the plate is well inside the width of the channel. So installed a 3/8” or 1/2” aluminum plate between the caster and the box. My plates are just slight bigger than each individual channel.

If this isn’t clear, please let me know.

Thread 'Toolbox lifting'
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/toolbox-lifting.526912/
This is what I was talking about.

 

[AEAdam]

If you want an upgrade, this is an upgrade!

Colson Performa

The suspension casters are a better idea. If your floor isn’t perfectly flat, the spring casters will help the box stay a little squarer. I think some of the HF boxes use them.

I put something like these on a box and wasn’t happy with them.

 

[Wamsutta]

The suspension casters are a better idea. If your floor isn’t perfectly flat, the spring casters will help the box stay a little squarer. I think some of the HF boxes use them.

I put something like these on a box and wasn’t happy with them.

It's the tread compound that makes the biggest difference. They glide across the concrete so smooth and effortlessly.

 

[AEAdam]

It's the tread compound that makes the biggest difference. They glide across the concrete so smooth and effortlessly.

Hmmm. I may have these on a kennedy. The tires are soft. They maybe can develop a flat spot from sitting which makes them not that fun to roll around. They are also narrower than stock.

I think for a lightly loaded medical cart rolling across a tiled floor, they are awesome. Mine have a bit of wobble I don’t love. Slam a drawer and the box moves.

I think for heavily loaded boxes, hard tired casters are probably the right choice. I’m actually going to take my Colsons off that Kennedy and put back 2 swivels and 2 fixed casters.