Not exactly tools...plate caster wheels???

[coachrick]

So, I'm working in the garage a bit and decide to replace a GFCI outlet that is a little too touchy(after 10 years). In front of the chest high outlet is my converted mule chest(dresser) and it must be moved. Reasonably smart guy that I am, I installed plate casters on the four corners after reinforcing the legs of the chest. We moved here three years ago and I've moved the chest a time or two but essentially it stays in place.

Here's the fun part:
Two of the four casters have brakes and as I began to "try" to move the chest, I checked to make sure the brakes were not engaged(flat floor, no need for brakes). Also made sure the wheels were turned in the 'right' direction so the cabinet would roll easily. Dang!!! Thing acts like the brakes are on or the cabinet is fully loaded(not loaded...that's part of the garage project...maybe 1/3 loaded with odds and ends, not heavy tools). I pull a bit more, careful not to tug on the top of the cabinet, lest I manage to topple it over onto my person. It's moving, but barely.

I inspect the wheels more closely and discover the 'rubber/plastic' "tires" are disintegrating!!! I don't see the 'remnants' of the tires at first since they are under the cabinet, leaving a trail of rubber-ish debris. It seems the "rims" of the wheels are holding up but the cabinet is tilting precariously. I manage to drag the cabinet enough to destroy the 'tires' on all four corners somewhat symmetrically and manage to get the cabinet out of the way of the outlet and service panel. I go about my electrical duties while I ponder the next step with the casters...Dang!!!

I managed to get the chest back into position; but now I must unload it and re-install some sort of casters...again. I got these originally at Northern and they were of moderate price($25 for 4 ?) and load rating(250# ea?). Do I need to spend MUCH more to get some wheels that will hold up? The garage normally hits 90F on our hottest days; but I have seen it go to 94F when both vehicles have been pulled in and doors closed. I've never seen it below 50 degrees, even in the coldest weather. The floor is concrete but has a decent sealer from years ago. Fortunately, the NSF shelving I have used in basements or garages for over a decade has 4" stem casters that have held up to the elements...no failures in any of the half dozen garage units.

I'd rather stick with 3" wheels and something that will roll smoothly without damaging the floor.

Any thoughts on the best wheels for the job...or any I should avoid(like the ones on there now!)?

I'm old enough that I thought I knew some stuff; but I reckon I didn't know I had to worry about fairly stout casters disintegrating in the garage!!!

Thanks for reading my story!!!

 

[Crusarius]

I have had a similar problem but the casters I chose get serious flat spots in them making them a pain to move.

I think a polyurethane caster will hold up much better. The real question is, what are they exposed to causing them to breakdown. I can't imagine its the temperature. Usually rubber does not hold up well to oil or solvents or even road salt. if they have been exposed to either that would definitely shorten the life.

 

[cgrutt]

Sounds like the casters you bought were defective or exposed to some solvents or something. Or they could have just been cheaply made ($25 for set of 4?). The casters on my tool boxes are 30 yrs + with no problems. Try a set with urethane tires next time? They also make casters with steel wheels but that is generally for very heavy stuff. Good luck!

 

[vandalthree]

Check out castercity.com. Stay away from common store bought casters. I've wasted my fair share of money on those before learning my lesson. There are literally dozens of options for wheel materials depending on your application. Caster city tech support will get you sorted out with the right one.

 

[coachrick]

Thanks, all! I'm definitely going to shop carefully for this next set. The wheels have never been exposed to much of anything except garage dust...no chemicals, no cleaners...just the sealed concrete floor. Dang.

Well, this will give me the opportunity to de-frag the chest and get it organized. It has been a catch-all(I never met a drawer, shelf or other horizontal surface I couldn't clutter up!!! )

I may take the remnants to Northern just in case there was a re-call or TSB on these casters. Perhaps some adjustment toward a more suitable set? I'll also check with castercity.com...Thanks again!!!
Rick

 

[fourjeepin]

Re: Home Depot Clearance Thread 2015

The casters on my rolling seat did that last week. One went then another within seconds. I have had this thing a number of years.

 

[fourjeepin]

Re: Home Depot Clearance Thread 2015

I need to reach out to Griot's Garage to see if they will send me some new wheels.

 

[coachrick]

Re: Home Depot Clearance Thread 2015

The casters on my rolling seat did that last week. One went then another within seconds. I have had this thing a number of years.

Maybe it's a conspiracy !!! What are the odds???

Supposed to be 102 here Friday...not sure I want to be in the garage after about 1000...certainly not muscling this chest around!

 

[coachrick]

By way of a follow-up, I decided to keep sweating after the morning 20 mile bike ride and spend some more time in the garage. I attempted to tackle the caster-conundrum before the heat finished me off. As I was unloading the chest, I came across...YEP...a set of casters!!! I thought I had another set; but also couldn't remember if they fell victim to the downsizing sale. The mounting plate on this set was considerably larger than the ones currently on the chest and I didn't look forward to reinforcing the legs even more to get a good mounting surface. I decided to remove one of the failing casters to check the 'fit' of the new ones. As I removed the dissolving caster, I noticed the rubber 'tire' was peeling off of a plastic(?) inner wheel, similar to the rim on a car but solid. I was actually able to peel off the remaining rubber from all four casters and leave a now 2.5" wheel in place! I was pretty excited at the prospect of re-using the original casters and it looks like they will work at least for a while. The brakes no longer function since they simply dug into the rubber 'tread' and now don't make contact when engaged. No worries; but I'll "chuck" the front casters just in case we have an earthquake or something!

Bottom line for now...no new casters needed, mule chest was somewhat reorganized, DW was impressed with the appearance of that section of the garage and I have an EXTRA set of casters for my next project!!!

Thanks for the tips, y'all!

 

[ahab]

Lowe's and Home Depot sell urethane and steel casters.

I just put a 690 lb lista on urethane casters from Woodcraft, it moves with a slight touch now.

 

[royesses]

I just replaced the defective casters on my Kobalt tool box(same problem you had) with these:
http://shop.servicecaster.com/Toolbox-Casters-p/30cs520-pur-tlb-2-r520-2-rs.htm
They are 10 times the quality of the Kobalts at 1/2 the price!

 

[coachrick]

Now I'm wondering if the "wheel" inside the original casters is made of Polyolefin. The extra set of casters have PO "tires" on them...seems they are an economical way to get a decent wheel that is fairly durable.

In any event, I'm going to leave the originals on the chest and keep an eye on them, rather than swap them out. They move smoothly and seem to be working just fine. If I had them on a nicer floor that deserved protecting, I might switch them. As it is, I've learned a bit about PO, PU, Phenolic and urethane wheels!

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Lowe's and Home Depot sell urethane and steel casters.

I just put a 690 lb lista on urethane casters from Woodcraft, it moves with a slight touch now.

Imo unless the floor needs to be protected, steel wheels are the way to go on stuff that sits. Any weight flattens out soft wheels over time.

 

[coachrick]

Lowe's and Home Depot sell urethane and steel casters.

I just put a 690 lb lista on urethane casters from Woodcraft, it moves with a slight touch now.

Imo unless the floor needs to be protected, steel wheels are the way to go on stuff that sits. Any weight flattens out soft wheels over time.

I'll certainly look into more robust wheels for the next set!...especially as I load this chest with tools, I might need to step up a notch or two!

I can't afford Woodcraft unless I have a coupon!!! I haven't seen a coupon from there in quite a while. Maybe they figured out that my living in a townhouse has seriously curtailed my woodworking I actually haven't been to the new Austin location yet...that's how little I am into w/w projects.