swiveling casters, locking, squishy
December 26, 2021 7:31 AM Subscribe
Does anyone here know about casters? Specifically, I think I want pneumatic / air-filled casters to give a smoother ride to the shelves I'm building (the floor is a little bumpy), I want them to swivel, I want to be able to lock the shelves so they don't usually move, and I'd prefer to spend <=$100 for four wheels. I'm striking out at Home Depot and Lowe's, Grainger's choices are very expensive, and the other options are overwhelming me.
It looks like it's possible to add a locking mechanism to casters after they're installed. I'm interested in this if it will give a very solidly immovable result and be easy to activate/deactivate. It looks like this might cut the cost of the casters -- is it worth it?
The casters I've worked with already are hard plastic wheels -- large, heavy duty -- from Woodcraft. However, they don't absorb shocks at all, and I'm wanting to roll around glass terraria on these shelves.
My question is approximately:
- Can you recommend a specific caster or caster manufacturer or retailer?
- Should I stick to buying casters with brakes, or try to add a brake myself? (I know about some alternatives, e.g. raising/lowering casters to park/move the object, but I'm trying to be time efficient here.)
It looks like it's possible to add a locking mechanism to casters after they're installed. I'm interested in this if it will give a very solidly immovable result and be easy to activate/deactivate. It looks like this might cut the cost of the casters -- is it worth it?
The casters I've worked with already are hard plastic wheels -- large, heavy duty -- from Woodcraft. However, they don't absorb shocks at all, and I'm wanting to roll around glass terraria on these shelves.
My question is approximately:
- Can you recommend a specific caster or caster manufacturer or retailer?
- Should I stick to buying casters with brakes, or try to add a brake myself? (I know about some alternatives, e.g. raising/lowering casters to park/move the object, but I'm trying to be time efficient here.)
I think the main downsides to pneumatic casters are they compress differently if the load is uneven, and they go flat (at different rates) on their own unless you top them off every few months. (We’ve all seen the permanent food trucks on totally flat tires, right?). Maybe those things are worth it for your use case, but you also get a smoother ride with just bigger diameter wheels.
posted by aubilenon at 8:48 AM on December 26, 2021
posted by aubilenon at 8:48 AM on December 26, 2021
I spend a lot of my life moving stuff around that has casters mounted to it, and have replaced/repaired no small number.
It looks like it's possible to add a locking mechanism to casters after they're installed
Depends on the frame/manufacturer of the caster, IME.
very solidly immovable result and be easy to activate/deactivate
Kinda depends on your definitions of "solidly immovable" and "easy". Which are kinda opposite wishes? Like, the more solidly the caster locks the stiffer the mechanism is - to loosen the heavy-duty locking casters requires either a sharp kick or a good prying motion with the tip if my safety-toe boot. And it's definitely possible to shove a piece hard enough to force the wheel to turn despite the lock, although I doubt you're gong to do that with something holding terrariums.
IOW, nothing with casters is going to be "immovable", more like, "won't roll away if left on a slight slope" and "can be lightly bumped and not go anywhere."
they don't absorb shocks at all, and I'm wanting to roll around glass terraria
MMMmmmmm . . . even softer casters and rubber pneumatic tires aren't going to give you a TON of shock absorption, if I were you I would definitely consider some additional methods of shock absorption and/or securing the terrarium while transporting.
Can you recommend a specific caster or caster manufacturer or retailer?
Industry standard for my industry are these Penn Elcom 4" swivel casters, available in locking or non-locking. Obviously these are meant to support hundreds of pounds, but they have a few smaller models, and like chasles I'd recommend looking for "rubber" casters.
And in general if we're looking for cheap casters for a project we take a look at what Harbor Freight has to offer.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:49 AM on December 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
It looks like it's possible to add a locking mechanism to casters after they're installed
Depends on the frame/manufacturer of the caster, IME.
very solidly immovable result and be easy to activate/deactivate
Kinda depends on your definitions of "solidly immovable" and "easy". Which are kinda opposite wishes? Like, the more solidly the caster locks the stiffer the mechanism is - to loosen the heavy-duty locking casters requires either a sharp kick or a good prying motion with the tip if my safety-toe boot. And it's definitely possible to shove a piece hard enough to force the wheel to turn despite the lock, although I doubt you're gong to do that with something holding terrariums.
IOW, nothing with casters is going to be "immovable", more like, "won't roll away if left on a slight slope" and "can be lightly bumped and not go anywhere."
they don't absorb shocks at all, and I'm wanting to roll around glass terraria
MMMmmmmm . . . even softer casters and rubber pneumatic tires aren't going to give you a TON of shock absorption, if I were you I would definitely consider some additional methods of shock absorption and/or securing the terrarium while transporting.
Can you recommend a specific caster or caster manufacturer or retailer?
Industry standard for my industry are these Penn Elcom 4" swivel casters, available in locking or non-locking. Obviously these are meant to support hundreds of pounds, but they have a few smaller models, and like chasles I'd recommend looking for "rubber" casters.
And in general if we're looking for cheap casters for a project we take a look at what Harbor Freight has to offer.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:49 AM on December 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
What exactly are you trying to make "temporarily mobile"? I know you said "shelves". But how heavy? What dimensions? Are we talking about garage toolchest size? Larger?
posted by kschang at 11:39 AM on December 26, 2021
posted by kschang at 11:39 AM on December 26, 2021
I've been very happy with the ones from IKEA and have used them for heavy shelving units on bumpy floors. Just get the biggest ones available to you.
posted by DarlingBri at 12:15 PM on December 26, 2021
posted by DarlingBri at 12:15 PM on December 26, 2021
Response by poster: - Yes, garage toolchest size, maybe up to 8' high (don't worry, I'll handle weight distribution and proportions so it's safe), but made out of wood and much more attractive. Also maybe small dresser / double file cabinet sized (for the terraria).
- It doesn't have to be _that_ immovable. Just not super cheaply made -- I'd like to be able to bump into it accidentally and not worry.
- I'd say solidity of stationary location is more important than easy to unlock, but I don't want to have to use a lot of finger strength to unlock them.
- These are what I've been using. I like the locking/unlocking mechanism, but I really want a less bumpy ride.
Thanks for the links! Looking at them now.
posted by amtho at 12:39 PM on December 26, 2021
- It doesn't have to be _that_ immovable. Just not super cheaply made -- I'd like to be able to bump into it accidentally and not worry.
- I'd say solidity of stationary location is more important than easy to unlock, but I don't want to have to use a lot of finger strength to unlock them.
- These are what I've been using. I like the locking/unlocking mechanism, but I really want a less bumpy ride.
Thanks for the links! Looking at them now.
posted by amtho at 12:39 PM on December 26, 2021
Response by poster: Y'all, I am seeing a lot of very nice casters with no brakes. I need brakes or some kind of braking mechanism.
posted by amtho at 12:58 PM on December 26, 2021
posted by amtho at 12:58 PM on December 26, 2021
It might totally blow out your budget, or be hard to fabricate, but for locking mechanisms where the surface has to be super solid, I like ones which lift the entire table on the casters when it's unlocked, and lower the legs onto the ground (so the casters aren't even in play) when locked.
I don't see a good way to get sub a hundred bucks on this, but I've built a big heavy workbench (since disassembled) that did this (I still have the hinges that I used to put the casters on levers, and I way over-torqued those poor things), but a mechanism like the DeWalt planer stand (just one caster, and 2 rigid wheels, so it only has to push down one wheel) or, less conveniently, the screw-down legs of the Harbor Freight mobile base might be a way to use the casters of your choice in conjunction with (if it lifts all 4 wheels) something that can be rock solid when locked despite a pneumatic ride.
Products like this one make me think that a little more poking around might find the locking lever feet separately from the integrated frame, so you can just bolt them on to whatever frame you've got...
posted by straw at 1:48 PM on December 26, 2021
I don't see a good way to get sub a hundred bucks on this, but I've built a big heavy workbench (since disassembled) that did this (I still have the hinges that I used to put the casters on levers, and I way over-torqued those poor things), but a mechanism like the DeWalt planer stand (just one caster, and 2 rigid wheels, so it only has to push down one wheel) or, less conveniently, the screw-down legs of the Harbor Freight mobile base might be a way to use the casters of your choice in conjunction with (if it lifts all 4 wheels) something that can be rock solid when locked despite a pneumatic ride.
Products like this one make me think that a little more poking around might find the locking lever feet separately from the integrated frame, so you can just bolt them on to whatever frame you've got...
posted by straw at 1:48 PM on December 26, 2021
How OFTEN do you need to move it?
If you only move it VERY infrequently, I'd use a lever to slide on a set of wheels onto each of the four corners, move it, then remove the wheels when you're done.
posted by kschang at 1:51 PM on December 26, 2021
If you only move it VERY infrequently, I'd use a lever to slide on a set of wheels onto each of the four corners, move it, then remove the wheels when you're done.
posted by kschang at 1:51 PM on December 26, 2021
If you do move it relatively often, then something like mountable "mobile base" where the casters can be raised / lowered as needed to help move the item around may be a better choice. But again, depends on the weight of the chest.
posted by kschang at 1:57 PM on December 26, 2021
posted by kschang at 1:57 PM on December 26, 2021
One or two floor locks per shelving unit (depending on whether all four casters are swivel, or just two) might work. McMaster-Carr sells them as well, but they'll be on the expensive end.
posted by sriracha at 2:10 PM on December 26, 2021
posted by sriracha at 2:10 PM on December 26, 2021
Keep in mind that casters with brakes can still wobble if they are swivel casters, they just won't roll. You can also look into caster chocks or stops; there are permanent ones to attach to the floor and moveable ones. They can also be DIYd.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:33 PM on December 26, 2021
posted by oneirodynia at 3:33 PM on December 26, 2021
Best answer: I've been very happy with everything I've gotten from servicecaster.com.
They have models including wheel brakes and "total lock brakes" which I think is what you need.
posted by bink at 3:19 PM on December 28, 2021
They have models including wheel brakes and "total lock brakes" which I think is what you need.
posted by bink at 3:19 PM on December 28, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
I once built a theatrical set piece on swivel casters and we made airbags by gluing chunks of rubber inside off tubes and putting casters on the bottom of that. Very soft rolling, and we used the air to lift and park the thing. I've never really seen a finished product like this but they were easy to build...
What you can get are pneumatic tire casters although they tend to be more like 6" and larger...
Amazon link for rubber casters
https://www.amazon.com/Headbourne-8269E-Designer-Casters-Rubber/dp/B076FLGWP7
Amazon link for pneumatic swivels
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CSHZGKC/
posted by chasles at 8:24 AM on December 26, 2021