Retractable Workbench Casters

[nnoble83]

Anybody have plans or ideas for a caster setup similar to this:

.

Or a setup like the ladders used at stores where you step on the lever to lower the wheels and lift up to release the wheels. I have searched all over the internet and have not come up with anything as clever or functional as this. Most things i have found are flip up boards and i would rather not have to lift up on my workbench (its heavy). Thanks in advance.

 

[heffneil]

That reminds me of the system at home depot with the ladders there. You can step on that bar to push the wheels down and then kick it to release it and have the rubber feet hit the floor. Might want to check it out!

 

[daveroy]

If the casters go up and down, then by definition you are at some point lifting the table.
You may want to look at stoppers instead.

 

[DaleK]

Depends how heavy you're talking about. Been kinda thinking on putting one of the trailer jacks with a good sized wheel on each corner of my bench. Wouldn't be quick but I don't want to move it THAT often. For a smaller bench and a quicker lift, you could put a light implement or trailer jack in the centre on each end and fab up a crossbar on the bottom with a couple of castors.

 

[djjsr]

There are double locking casters available. Double brake locks both wheel and swivel rotation with the touch of a toe.

Here's some examples .......

http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2001989/Heavy-Duty-Double-Locking-Casters.aspx

 

[Keep]

Take a look at the "mobile bases" for power tools. They will do what you are asking for.

 

[cronic]

Not the cheapest product out there, but seems to do what you need.

http://www.drillspot.com/material-handling/casters-and-wheels/specialty-casters/

www.footmastercasters.com

 

[E.rodz]

check with mc master car co. best industrial supplier ever by the way. I use casters for heavy machines that have a swivel design and you can screw the jacking mechinizm down with a screwdriver to lift the wheel off the ground. I think these are what you are looking for. wish i new how to do a link for you.

 

[nnoble83]

The home depot ladders have the mechanism I want I just can't find it anywhere. The mobile tool bases would also work but I would hate to buy the whole thing just to use the casters which is a possible solution. I will be moving the bench often since sbe insists on parking her car in the garage, and I'm realizing I built it to heavy. It will be pushed against the wall when not in use so I won't be able to access the rear the youtube video is perfect I just cannot find plans for it.

 

[Dan Babb]

I've been thinking about the same thing for a workbench I want to build. Just found this online (don't know if they are any good...but worth looking into)
http://www.castersupply.com/NAV/leveling_casters.htm

This looks more like the Home Depot ladder setup.
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/markvcasters.htm

 

[trbomax]

Depends how heavy you're talking about. Been kinda thinking on putting one of the trailer jacks with a good sized wheel on each corner of my bench. Wouldn't be quick but I don't want to move it THAT often. For a smaller bench and a quicker lift, you could put a light implement or trailer jack in the centre on each end and fab up a crossbar on the bottom with a couple of castors.

I did this on my large assembly bench,but the jacks are only on one end.The other end has 5" fixed wheels under each corner. The jacks are a little wobbely so when I get it where I want it I let it down on two fixed legs and turn the jacks horizontal. Cant post any pics because its still in the ohio shop and I have too much equipment up here thats sitting around untill the rooms are done ,so it wont be here untill that happens!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

If you are not often moving the bench, and you have other stuff, get a pallet jack. Some stuff is easy to put on casters (cabinets and shelving) but other stuff doesn't work well on casters, and pallet jacks are handy for moving all kinds of stuff.

Charles

 

[wnstwolf]

I looked at the idea Norm Abrams uses woks on a lever action. I am no norm so went a different route...

2 pieces of 2" square tubing cut to length of depth of bench (28" for me)

4 -6" 3/4 bolts and 2 nuts for each

Cut holes in the 2" square tubes straight through about 6" from each end and welded one nut over the hole

threaded one nut all the way on the bolt and then threaded the bolt onto the assembly above

Welded two non-swivel casters on the ends of the bolts and two stationary casters on the other assembly (if I did it again they would all be swivel type)

carriage bolts through the 2x2 and through legs of bench

hit the bolt with impact lifting the table off the ground (at this point I ran the "pinch nut down and tack welded it in pace as a stop for ease of future use)

Move table where I need it and hit with impact to lower in place.

all in I have about an hour into it and was all made from scrap I had in the shop..

 

[dartsportsteve]

What about a lever-action design like this only on a small scale?

You could also look up Ice Shanty/Ice House drop down wheel designs for similar ideas.

 

[Zeke]

A good reason to have a lifting mechanism is that rubber casters on a rather heavy tool can flat spot if left with weight on them for an extended period. For my mostly AL table saw, this is not a problem. But, I want to make damn sure it doesn't move in the middle of a cut. So, I'm looking at making a system too.

Subscribed.

 

[markeric]

how about this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=HENMh1FWtj0

 

[Duck72]

how about this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=HENMh1FWtj0

I like this idea a lot! I like the simplicity of it and it appears that it doesn't require a lot of force to make it work.

I would make a few changes though. I would have the handle lay flat with the front of the bench or have it retract into the floor panel on the inside of the fascia board it is attached to. In other words, it would be attached to the other side of the board.

The board that is attached to the casters would be cut flush with the exterior fascia board to avoid tripping over it.

I also like this one too!

 

[Zeke]

I also like this one too!

I cracked up watching that!

Not doing that. The first one isn't bad, but could use the mods you described.

 

[jrunde]

I'm thinking of using these on mine.

 

[Zeke]

Hey, jrunde, welcome and good link!

 

[lilredex]

I've taken a different approach, and have never found the need to lift the castors.

If whatever you are building is heavy, it will stay put on its own. Three wheels makes it stable (and self leveling).

This is my first attempt. It was made for a really heavy early model of a imported drill press. Pictured, it weighs in around 150# and it doesn't go anywhere.

Next was a mobile stand for my T/S. It has four wheels, but if you look at that center picture, the wheels are mounted on a beam that pivots in the center, thus making the whole assembly self levelling. Loaded as shown it weighs 200# plus, and I have never found the need to block the wheels or whatever, it just does not move.

I also made up a mobile stand for my jointer using the same pivoting beam idea. It has a clamp rack on the back which adds to the weight and stability.

When it came to my workbench, mobility was a neccessity, but not that big a deal, as it is only moved every ten years or so to clean up the floor it sits on. For that, I installed 4" cast iron wheels (old floor jack) at the back and the front has a low cross beam that fits my floor jack quite nicely. My solution to the mobility issue.

 

[Jamesbbh]

I used trailer jacks on two of the legs and handles on the other side to move it around

 

[Twiggss]

interesting

 

[Iroc-Z]

I used trailer jacks on two of the legs and handles on the other side to move it around

I like this.

 

[Jamesbbh]

I like this.

Comes in handy, and these trailer jacks are ~$30 at Harbor Freight. I don't move it much, but when needed I'm thankful lol.

 

[427HISS]

jrunde-

I've been searching for the best way of moving my bench around the garage, and these that you listed seem PERFECT,....for my application !!!

The price is very reasonable too.

I have a Sears Craftsman bench that has drawers on one side and a empty space on the other, that a tool box goes under. It's only 20" wide, so I wonder if I could weld a bar in-between the two casters with a foot operated lift in the middle, so it would raise both at the same time. But,....maybe that wouldn't matter ?

Actually, I watch the two video's and I don't see a problem with raising one corner at a time. My metal bench is not as stout and non-flexible as a wood bench, but I don't think it'll be a problem. If it does flex too much, I can bolt on or weld a bar between the two to stiffen it up.

I have a lot of work to do before my garage is done, but you can see some of the Craftsman bench. Being only a single stall, I want to keep everything organized. I thought of storing a sheet of plywood and either put it on a pair of saw horse's or on my car lift's arms to make another bench, but with these casters I wouldn't need to.

 

[JZHeyde]

I can tell you what I did that works on my bench. At each corner I have a leveling foot. About six inches in I welded a three inch stub of 1 3/4" square tube. I then built a caster mount from 1 1/2" square tube that slides into the stub. The stub has two holes in it, one is for storage and the other is for moving. I use my floor jack to lift the side of the bench then I pull the pin on the caster and slide it up or down to suit my needs. It works great, I dont have to have jacks mounted to my bench and I always know where to find the casters should I have to move the bench. I dont anticipate moving it much but if I want to scrub out the garage I can now do so easily! I can get some pictures if anyone wants to see what I did.

 

[Nuts]

For very heavy bench


Nuts

 

[Full Size 66]

For very heavy bench


Nuts

I have many years in fab work and that is the neatest bench idea I've ever seen.

 

[t100]

this is pretty slick, for moving 1000lbs table.

 

[Nuts]

I have many years in fab work and that is the neatest bench idea I've ever seen.

I've also seen that idea used for concrete shooting benches on a range.

I have a heavy table I'm designing so this was a nice thread to run across,
it led me to find that vid


Nuts