Stability of locking/leveling casters

[The Metric System]

I am building a new workbench and want it to be both stable and one-person mobile.

It doesn't have to be easy to roll since it will be mostly stationary, but I do need to be able to push it a short distance a few times per year.

However, it absolutely needs to be totally stable and solid when in place. I don't have much patience for benches that rock and wiggle when I'm trying to work.

My prior experience working on any bench with conventional locking casters is that (even when locked) there's enough play in the mechanism and/or the point contact with the ground that there's still noticeable movement from the work surface.

I'm familiar with the type where the wheels retract up and then deploy downwards when you step on them. these look like a good solution from a stability standpoint but I'd prefer not to have the assembly sticking out the side of the legs if I can avoid it.

Does anybody have experience with this monolithic style of leveling/locking caster that extends a foot below the wheel? If so, do you get any noticeable play once the feet are down?

I like the idea of having a leveling function integrated into the locking caster, but want to make sure they're not going to be all wiggly in actual use.

 

[tom86951]

My solution was to 3D print flat feet with cups for the wheels. They actually slide on the garage floor quite well but remove virtually all of the wiggle from the castors. As boots and suspenders, I bolted it to the wall with two easy to remove bolts...

 

[Fav Onefour]

Swivel castors without some wiggle? Hard plastic wheels with good castors feel more sturdy but they slide around too easily. If you are clanging and banging on the bench, the wheels slide. @tom86951 , has a nice fix for the wiggle factor. I'd add rubber grippers on the bottom for sliding. You would still need a quick lift setup to get the blocks under the wheels each time you move the bench.

The style of castor posted is interesting. I have not used that style but I like the separate locking leg. I wonder how cumbersome it is to level and lock the leg?
Have you looked into the option of adding floor locks?

These guys have a lot of options.

Adjustable Height Floor Locks (FL-ADJ) - Product Family Page

This one of a kind floor lock includes an adjustable height foot pad that will work on carts with different caster heights. The adjustable height feature provides uniform locking and safety unlocking force for better ergonomic operation. This feature also keeps the floor lock working properly as...

www.vestil.com

There are some heavy duty versions with rubber feet grippers that super sturdy. If the height is adjusted correctly, the step down lock and unlock is convenient.

 

[strength_and_power]

I am building a new workbench and want it to be both stable and one-person mobile.

It doesn't have to be easy to roll since it will be mostly stationary, but I do need to be able to push it a short distance a few times per year.

However, it absolutely needs to be totally stable and solid when in place. I don't have much patience for benches that rock and wiggle when I'm trying to work.

My prior experience working on any bench with conventional locking casters is that (even when locked) there's enough play in the mechanism and/or the point contact with the ground that there's still noticeable movement from the work surface.

I'm familiar with the type where the wheels retract up and then deploy downwards when you step on them. these look like a good solution from a stability standpoint but I'd prefer not to have the assembly sticking out the side of the legs if I can avoid it.

Does anybody have experience with this monolithic style of leveling/locking caster that extends a foot below the wheel? If so, do you get any noticeable play once the feet are down?

I like the idea of having a leveling function integrated into the locking caster, but want to make sure they're not going to be all wiggly in actual use.

My buddy puts these on the tab and slot word tables he sells. He is pretty **** so I’m thinking they’d work just fine for your application.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I'm all about making things moveable in my shop.
Here's one example:
My welding table weighs most of a ton. When I got It had big 1-1/2"bolts under the legs to level it
I added the casters but I offset them
If I screw the bolts up about 1/8" I can move it around alone. If the bolts are screwed down 4 men couldn't move it.
Maybe that idea will work for you?
I do have to sweep the floor before I move it as even a dime will stop a caster from rolling.

 

[tom86951]

I'm all about making things moveable in my shop.
Here's one example:
My welding table weighs most of a ton. When I got It had big 1-1/2"bolts under the legs to level it
I added the casters but I offset them
If I screw the bolts up about 1/8" I can move it around alone. If the bolts are screwed down 4 men couldn't move it.
Maybe that idea will work for you?
I do have to sweep the floor before I move it as even a dime will stop a caster from rolling.

Love the simplicity of that set up. Do you need jam nuts on the big bolts or do they stay put under all the weight?

 

[Ultradog MN]

Love the simplicity of that set up. Do you need jam nuts on the big bolts or do they stay put under all the weight?

After I move the table to where I want it I screw the bolts down so they raise the casters off the floor about 1/16". Don't need jam nuts - they never move.

 

[goldtang]

We built a steel work bench that has drop down wheels so it sits on the legs most of the time and the wheel are lowed down with cheap scissors jacks when we need to move it the attached picture was it idea we used borrowed from the internet

 

[Ultradog MN]

Here's another of my contrivances for keeping things mobile.
I did not want to raise the height much so I made this skate board. It only raises the height of the saw about 1/2".
It does not lock down as I move it frequently - for cutting angles or long pieces.

 

[Nutria]

Does anybody have experience with this monolithic style of leveling/locking caster that extends a foot below the wheel? If so, do you get any noticeable play once the feet are down?

I like the idea of having a leveling function integrated into the locking caster, but want to make sure they're not going to be all wiggly in actual use.

I use some like that for several pieces of shop machinery, except that mine use a single bolt instead of a plate with four bolts. They are pretty good. With the locking foot extended, I get a bit of movement, which is sometimes noticeable on the wood lathe. But not much, and having four extendable feet is great for uneven concrete. I imagine that plate casters, like in your photo, would be even more stable.

 

[rustyzman]

We use those on automated assembly and inspection equipment at work. They are very nice to use and very compact. The center foot pad is a high durometer rubber, so it has a little give to it. When our machines are running, you can feel a little movement as slides on the machine shuttle back and forth, but it is not extreme. Also it provides a little isolation to the floor for vibration and impact, so overall I like them a lot.

If I could scrounge a 4 spares I would mount my workbench on them.

 

[no704]

I have used that type of caster on some test rigs at work before. Roll well if you have a clean flat floor. Not bad to deploy the stop pad, might require some extra effort depending on the weight. I used them on commercial door cycle testers. A full sized sold door cycles 1mm times to test Hardware. Those feet held up very well.

 

[whateg01]

My solution has been to use regular locking caspers that are easily available and at leveling feet in the corners. The leveling feet prevents any wobble from an uneven floor. The casters don't even have to be at the very corners since they will not be the primary means of support. I have found that to be far more economical than combination units

 

[rsanter]

Build it stationary with leveling screws.

make it where you put a floor jack under one end and use a HF dolly. Then you either use the floor jack on the other end or another HF dolly

 

[jives]

Timely thread. I just had my two oldest boys (home for T-giving) lift up a welding table I have (~320 lbs) onto a temporary gerry-rigged caster platform just so I can move the thing around the shop. But, as you know, too much movement. I just ordered the lever style retractable casters (black Friday) and see how well they will work. It needs to be quick to move, set, quick to move again. I thought about coming up with a better/cheaper idea, but sometimes ya' just gotta buy what is available.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Timely thread. I just had my two oldest boys (home for T-giving) lift up a welding table I have (~320 lbs) onto a temporary gerry-rigged caster platform just so I can move the thing around the shop. But, as you know, too much movement. I just ordered the lever style retractable casters (black Friday) and see how well they will work. It needs to be quick to move, set, quick to move again. I thought about coming up with a better/cheaper idea, but sometimes ya' just gotta buy what is available.

Are the casters steel?
I would not want anything plastic or rubber under my welding table. Slag from the torch and sparks from welding would melt them

 

[Mainiac Mat]

these work well... I have them on several machines. Don't cheap out and buy the tiny ones.... bigger is better with these.

 

[pcmeiners]

these work well... I have them on several machines. Don't cheap out and buy the tiny ones.... bigger is better with these.

These are great but they cost. Ebay has the bigger ones. Have them on a 1400 lb bandsaw and (2) 48" belt sanders.

 

[KwikFab]

I am building a new workbench and want it to be both stable and one-person mobile.

It doesn't have to be easy to roll since it will be mostly stationary, but I do need to be able to push it a short distance a few times per year.

However, it absolutely needs to be totally stable and solid when in place. I don't have much patience for benches that rock and wiggle when I'm trying to work.

My prior experience working on any bench with conventional locking casters is that (even when locked) there's enough play in the mechanism and/or the point contact with the ground that there's still noticeable movement from the work surface.

I'm familiar with the type where the wheels retract up and then deploy downwards when you step on them. these look like a good solution from a stability standpoint but I'd prefer not to have the assembly sticking out the side of the legs if I can avoid it.

Does anybody have experience with this monolithic style of leveling/locking caster that extends a foot below the wheel? If so, do you get any noticeable play once the feet are down?

I like the idea of having a leveling function integrated into the locking caster, but want to make sure they're not going to be all wiggly in actual use.

While I'm normally big about quick DIY jobs, I run similar casters myself on my welding tables.



They do wobble the slightest when sitting on the rubber pads but otherwise they're great.

 

[jives]

Are the casters steel?
I would not want anything plastic or rubber under my welding table. Slag from the torch and sparks from welding would melt them

Caster wheels are not steel. Frankly, I had not thought much about it, other than my floor would not roll metal wheels very well. The lever on the caster actually covers the caster, which could provide some protection from sparks, but I'll need to keep and eye out.

 

[whateg01]

I have plastic/urethane casters on my welding bench. It's never been a concern.

 

[LopezBart]

A friend is giving me a welding bench for our new shop; he's closing out a business and no longer has room for it. It weighs about 400 lbs and is about 4'x4', so it's going to get casters that come down for moving it around the shop. I'll may make/get four sturdy 3 caster dollies and just lift it w/ a floor jack initially; those would be handy for moving work benches, etc.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I have a single post lift in the middle of my garage. I built a frame out of 4" by 2" steel tube and leveled it in both directions with the lift supporting the ends. Then tacked welded a 4'by8' piece of steel on it with level to measure and keep any bow out of the top in all sides and center. Then I welded 2 & 1/2 half inch pieces of receiver hitch on ends of the long tubes and made "T" shaped bracket to hold casters and be removable and then able to use the receivers for mounts for bench vise, pipe vise, benders, tube benders and ring rollers. I located two holes for 3/4" inch eye bolts and use a 500 lb electric hoist on a swivel jib crane to set bench up right and on caster brackets when I need the hoist for car work. Lets me roll the top outside the shop, clean up and use the hoist for cars and SUV's. Installed a power strip with Individual GFCI to control power to bench. After a couple of years it's still about an 1/8 inch out, that is within the accuracy I need for just about all the stuff I weld up. I use the table top just about every day and still find the big problem getting it clean enough to set anything else on it.