To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Swivel VS. Fixed Casters

To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

vlpronj

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 28, 2008
Messages
263
Location
Wharton State Forest, NJ
Not that I've lost sleep over it, but I like the method of fixed on one end, swivel on the other - it lets you swing the item into a spot like parallel parking.
 

kbs2244

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2006
Messages
14,065
I prefer a swivel at each corner
I have some top heavy stuff, but no tipping problems.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Cryptic1911

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2008
Messages
2,884
Location
Willimantic, CT
I hate straight casters.. Our toolbox has 6 wheels, 4 of which swivel, and it's a ***** to get it maneuvered into anywhere tight because of those two stupid fixed casters
 

Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
For my toolboxes, I would rather have 4 swivels. With that, you can shove the box in between things. With two fixed casters I find myself having to see-saw the box into a spot to get it against the wall without damaging either the box or wall.
 

smschriefer

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2009
Messages
841
Location
Yorktown, VA
I've seen them elsewhere, but I learned of them in the military. We used those on AGE equipment on the flightline. It was the best of both worlds and in some ways it was better. You can lock one wheel perpendicular to the others and that item is a pain to move.
 

rharman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
8,742
Location
SoCal
Four swivels. The ONLY way to go. Like Kevin said, you can park it anywhere.
 

Hardline4

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
46
I prefer TSC or HF. HF has sales often you just have to be careful and use your brain when buying. You can tell the quality just from putting them in your hand. Stay away from the plastic types HF sells. Even though they list some of them as rated for several hundred pounds they are junk.
 

454ragtop

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2008
Messages
5,011
Location
Carver, MA
Yep, just cut the 2 fixed wheels off my HF 1 ton folding engine stand, and replaced with 2 more casters. Much better. Cool thing was, I didn't like the caster wheels, so replaced the wheels in the casters with the fixed wheels I cut off.
 

metalmagpie

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 1, 2011
Messages
796
Location
Seattle
If you take real casters to a real caster store, they can sell you the swivel locks and/or brakes that fit your casters. If you use $1.99 junk from Harbor Freight you get to drool and dream.

The older I get the bigger the casters I use on my projects.

metalmagpie
 

NUTTSGT

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 14, 2009
Messages
50,864
Location
Northern Central Ohio
I'd prefer have 2 of each, especially if I'm moving something over a longer distance and trying to go straight.

If I was going a short distance and needed some manuverabilty, I'd probably be happy with 4 swivels.


If I had to pick one, I'd take 2 of each.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom