Thanks: 1
Likes: 9
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 15
Thread: Castors for workbench
-
17th April 2024, 12:20 PM #1Member
- Join Date
- Oct 2017
- Location
- Melbourne
- Age
- 40
- Posts
- 96
Castors for workbench
Hey all,
I'm building my new workbench and it will be on wheels as I need to be able to move it around in my small garage.
I need hear some suggestions about what type of castors I should use.
The two options are:
1. Retractable castors like this ones:Just a moment...
2. Heavy duty fixed castors like this ones: Just a moment...
The obvious benefit of retractable castors is that when in use, the workbench will lay on its feet. But the downside is that the castors will protrude outside of the workbench which is not really ideal.
The fixed castors seems to be pretty solid when locked and I was wondering if I can get away with them, considering that they will also simplify the design of the workbench.
Do you have any experience in regards?
Let me know your opinions.
Cheers!!!
-
17th April 2024, 01:12 PM #2GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Aug 2011
- Location
- bilpin
- Posts
- 3,165
I have used both and found the fixed castors the most convenient.
-
17th April 2024, 01:53 PM #3Member
- Join Date
- Oct 2017
- Location
- Melbourne
- Age
- 40
- Posts
- 96
-
17th April 2024, 02:21 PM #4GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- Albury
- Posts
- 2,903
I've used a lot of this style - 4X 3" Heavy Duty PU Swivel Castor Wheels 800KG Trolley Furniture Caster 2 Brake | eBay - mainly in 50mm and 75mm sizes and have been more than happy with them. The retractable ones have never appealed due to their appearing to be lightly built, your aforementioned getting in the way and my suspicion that they would require you to lift the bench to help them extend. I have read some less than glowing reviews of them.
-
17th April 2024, 03:55 PM #5
I love the castor system I have on my workbench. I wish I had known about these things before because they're excellent, made like a tank and have a load capacity of 1400kg. they're height adjustable (100mm-120mm) casters and when retracted make the table rock solid, as in you can quite happily plane all day on it without it moving a millimetre , I picked them up on Amazon for $50.
Just be sure to remember if you have lowered the table because I've on several occasion gone to move the bench with my foot or arm thinking that the feet are retracted when they're not and ended up with a bruise!.
Building A Work Table/Bench without a Worktable/Bench to build it on...
21IMG_9045.jpg 20IMG_9046.jpg 19IMG_9044.jpg
Traderight Leveling Casters Wheel Swivel Workbench Adjustable 1400KG GD80F 4PCS - Heavy-Duty Swivel Casters for Easy Movement, Adjustable Height, Durable Construction : Amazon.com.au: Home Improvement
-
17th April 2024, 05:23 PM #6
I would want the bench sitting on the floor while working so either the leveling ones EagerBeaver put up or some kind of leaver up arrangement. To be permanently up on wheels they would have to be very solid and also lock solid as well.
Regards
John
-
17th April 2024, 05:54 PM #7Member
- Join Date
- Oct 2017
- Location
- Melbourne
- Age
- 40
- Posts
- 96
-
17th April 2024, 06:03 PM #8
-
17th April 2024, 06:12 PM #9
Hi John, I found with my old makeshift workbench which had wooden legs in contact with the floor would move when planing and so forth. So I had a rubber mat underneath to stop this from happening. With my present Workbench the feet are large solid rubber things and once they're down its rock solid. When I did my research on the castors I found out they're widely used in hospitals for large machines.
-
18th April 2024, 08:17 AM #10Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2013
- Location
- Geelong
- Posts
- 414
Agree with all that is said so far.
there are plenty of retractable designs to copy on YouTube for fold down type systems for castors.
when buying castors they are rated for a maximum kg, so if you have a 100kg bench you will need 4 x 25kg wheels. BUT…. as this is the maximum you are better to get 4 x 100kg wheels then you bench moves smoothly and easily.
I built a 3mtr x 3mtr workbench (a specific production bench) ended up with 16 wheels under it and two fingers would spin it
the retractable one you linked could be installed inside of the leg hence within the bench foot print.
the levelling castors look like the bomb but in my shed that leg in the back corner would not be an easy reach.
just my 2 cents
cheers
-
18th April 2024, 09:25 AM #11Senior Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2014
- Location
- Geelong, Victoria
- Posts
- 217
The key point that is missing in this discussion is the purpose of the bench. As a hand tool woodworker, I want a solid bench that is directly contacting the floor. I don't want anything between my mallet and the floor that is not as solid as the bench legs. That is why I have chosen retractable bench castors, and the legs of the bench are set in enough to eliminate any problems with them protruding.
If you are using the bench for general tinkering, or light assembly work, you probably don't have the need for the mass that hand-tool joinery requires, so the key may become how successfully the castors lock.
At my Men's Shed before I arrived, all the workbenches had been built by metalworkers and machine woodworkers. They were great assembly benches The first time I tried to chop a mortice, my mallet bounced like it was made of rubber. When I made a 'proper' bench, I had to do all the mortises on the concrete floor!
Bruce
-
18th April 2024, 09:38 AM #12.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 24,746
This link shows CAM operated feet small bench I made about 6 years ago. It might give you some ideas.
Small surface plate bench
-
18th April 2024, 12:27 PM #13
Falling short of screwing a bench to a floor, you wont get more solid than high friction rubber feet. As stated the weight has alot to do with it but rubber feet will stop sliding and absorbing vibration or impact.
-
18th April 2024, 01:51 PM #14
I think Cklett had a great idea for making his bench mobile. It looks like it would work particularly well on a really heavy bench.
Free Workbench (Brisbane)Franklin
-
19th April 2024, 10:51 AM #15SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Nov 2007
- Location
- Victoria
- Posts
- 630
I've the retractable ones and they work well. If my bench is against the wall surrounding by other crap I use a stick to lever the handle up to drop the bench.
Bought off amazon and the screws were utter cheese so if you get this sort buy decent screws upfront.
Wouldnt trust the other ones you linked where the wheel is in contact with the ground all the time to be rigid enough to hand plane on for example. If your bench is just a general table they might be okYou boys like Mexico ?