Utah Jointer/Planer Mobile Base fab help wanted...

[BikerDad]

I recently acquired a Mini-Max FS30, a fine Italian 12" jointer/planer, that's currently on a completely inadequate mobile base. By "inadequate", I mean it's visibly flexing and has 2" (maybe 2.5") wheels, which makes it a major PITA to actually move the thing around.

Before I go designing the base, I'd like to line up some help fabricating it. The reason for the help is simple: I'm a woodworker, not a metal worker. While I have actually heated metal to join it to other metal, I suspect that mediocre soldering skills don't really translate into much useful skill when it comes to welding. Not that I have any welding gear in the first place. So yes, much of the work would actually be done by whoever volunteers to help out, although I would do whatever my skills would allow.

 

[A_Pmech]

If you sketch out what you have in mind, I'm sure someone can make it and ship it your way.

 

[usa#1]

Check out the harbor freight mobile base kits. You can basically make them any rectangular size you want. For extra strength used rectangular tube steel. I used them for saws, jointers , blast cabinets, etc. Very strong when using the tube steel. I don' t know what base shape you need, so they may not work for you.

 

[Just_George]

An FS-30 is NOT an insignificant machine! They're bigger & heavier than what most people think of when you say 'jointer'... OP, check your PM's.

 

[mstewart]

How about some leveling casters?

http://www.greatlakescaster.com/products.php?cat=262


How often do you move it? I don't know if you have any bolt holes in the bottom to mount them?

quick google search on sawmillcreek.org:

https://www.google.com/search?sites...lakes+caster&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&gws_rd=ssl

 

[Rusty Musket]

Here's the base on my 14" Mini-max. Its a cheap mobile base kit which works great as long as you weld it together! You can see some of the welds on the fixed wheel corner. The welds near the adjustable foot are on the bottom but you get the picture. If you don't weld yourself, just build the kit to the right size and take it to a welder. The foot pedal is awesome for moving it around on 3 wheels but it is rock steady when dropped on 4 points.

 

[tarbellb]

Take some pics of the machine, list the features you would like for the base to have and let us know how you see yourself using it.

Im here in Denver CO, if you want we can talk about fabricating and shipping it over to my four corner neighbor.