Replies

1. 
   jackiechan | Aug 19, 2004 06:43am | #1

   Forest Girl,

   The ball casters work well on rough, but unobstructed surfaces.  e.g. They aren't able to roll over an errant extension cord that may be in its path, etc...  Forget trying to use them on any outdoor surface unless its paved.

   Here's a link to a web site that has excellent deals on surplus casters, as well as materials handling, electric motors, and more.

   http://www.surpluscenter.com/trailer.asp?UID=2004081002064035&catname=trailer

   Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.

2. 
   nikkiwood | Aug 19, 2004 08:10am | #2

   You can try them, but I don't think you'll like them. They are noisy, and because they are so small, they don't do well with rough surfaces -- and you will probably have to lift the cart over any obstructions (like an electrical cord).

   I bought a whole case of them years and years ago, and tried them on lots of different things. But I always replaced them with more conventional casters, and eventually sold them at one of our neighborhood yard sales.

   I see you already have big casters on your sheet goods cart (big to me means 4" or more). Unless they are crappy casters, or the cart weighs a ton, they should work ok. Are they good quality -- with decent ball bearings between the bracket and the thingy that holds the wheel -- or are they fixed?

   In any event I really don't think the Acmes will work in the setting you've described -- even if you put a hundred of them on the base.

   But let's see what others have to say........

1. 
   forestgirl | Aug 19, 2004 06:58pm | #4

   Well, thanks guys for saving me a lot of trouble!  Doesn't sound like I'd be happy with them at all, especially after unloading the cart, replacing the casters and reloading, LOL!!

   Nikki:  The casters on the present cart may not be big enough.  I don't think they're 4".  I didn't build the cart -- got it at that big auction awhile back, paid $15 for it, and it's really "built" but possibly needs larger casters for my floor surface.

   Thanks again!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   AlanTurner | Aug 20, 2004 05:01pm | #7

   Jamie,

   MSC Direct has a million or so casters, of all sizes, flavors, materials, weights, etc. I generally find their prices for such things pretty fair.Alan

   http://www.alanturnerfurnituremaker.com

3. 
   GeoA | Aug 19, 2004 05:12pm | #3

   How well it works will probably depend a lot on how much weight you plan to put on them.  Since the ball's contact to the floor is only at a small point, the pressure is quite high.  One of my friends tried them on his 20" bandsaw (probably 500#), and said that they caused an indentation in the floor, enough to make it difficult to move.  So I suspect that blocking won't be necessary, but you may need some shoulder pads to get the cart to move.

4. 
   CRAIGCONEY_M | Aug 20, 2004 07:41am | #5

   FG,

   I just purchased the Tel-Pro cart for sheet goods.  They have the 8" cast alumninum? wheels with the rubber tires.  It is alot easier to move with the larger casters than carts I have made with smaller casters.  I opted to purchase than make since I had coupons to use which reduced my cost to below $300.  I saw a similar caster on the link for the caster surplus.  I have it loaded with 16 sheets of 3/4 mdf core wood veneer and PB core melamine and can move it fairly effortlessly on my uneven concrete floor.  

   Now if I can just figure out how to get 20 sheets on the cart......

1. 
   forestgirl | Aug 21, 2004 12:09am | #9

   Eight-inch casters?!  Whoa!  I should say, it would move easier, LOL!  Gives me thought of building something (someday.....) like a go cart for plywood.  tee heeeforestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   IanDG | Aug 22, 2004 08:30pm | #11

   Have you thought about tackling the disease rather than fiddling with the symptoms??

   I'd use a self-levelling compound on the concrete to give you a glass-smooth surface. Mapei make an extremely good one and the preparation work and application are eminently DIYable.

   IanDG

1. 
   forestgirl | Aug 22, 2004 11:25pm | #14

   Thanks for the suggestion, Ian, but levelling the garage floor is so far down on my priority list, I can't see it with a telescope!  Way too many other things that are critical to get done this year.  I'm hopin against hope that after Nick retires, we might move into a different house.  If we don't, I'll keep that levelling possibility in mind.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

5. 
   nikkiwood | Aug 20, 2004 08:12am | #6

   FG,

   I started off with those inexpensive 2 - 2 1/2" casters you can get in any home center.

   I saw these casters in a Lee valley catalog, and bought a set:

   http://tinyurl.com/3z9l5

   They ain't cheap, but boy, do they do a good job moving stuff around. I especially like the lock mechanism -- push it down with your foot to fix, flip it up (with your foot) to unlock. Sure beats bending over. I bypassed the rigids, and use all swivels for their greater flexiblity of movement.

   I eventually junked all the other cheap casters in favor of these. They may be out there, but I was never able to find a comparable quality caster with this style of brake pedal for less money.

   Weight capacity? I think they'd do ok for your plywood cart (capacity is 150 lbs per caster). I used six on a very heavy work bench, which includes 4 drawers with tools and junk, and they do fine.

   The wheels are made from a soft, non-marring rubber-like stuff. My shop floor is smooth concrete. I do have a cart for the garage, where the concrete surface is pretty rough -- old and beat-up. How the wheels would hold up over time, I can't say, since the garage cart doesn't get moved around a lot. Around here (MN) you have a pretty brief window for any garage activities.

   BTW, I ran the LV link (very long) through the "tiny url" site, which I think I learned about from you. Is there any way I can change the label to remove the "tiny url" and write in my own description?

1. 
   forestgirl | Aug 21, 2004 12:06am | #8

   Hi Nikki, thanks for the link.  Wish I could claim credit for the tinyurl link, but nope, it wasn't me.  Being a Windows and IE user, I get around the long URLs by using the hyperlink feature in this here composition tool-bar (to the right of the "indent" icon).  Am I remembering correctly that it won't work with Mac?

   I think you'd have to look around at the tinyurl site and see if they provide a way to use your own words and hyperlink them.  Sorry!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

6. 
   PhillipB | Aug 22, 2004 08:24pm | #10

   Jamie,

   The ACME casters bother me for three reasons:

   (1) The diameter of these casters is too small and will hang up on very small objects which we seem to all have on our work shop floors. This is the natural tendency of small diameter wheels;

   (2) The finer debris which we also have on our shop floors may soon contaminate the cavity which these caster-balls ride in. This will quickly result in unwanted friction which will further restrict movement;

   (3) You cannot lock them down, which you already are aware of.

   Directly to the right of the photo that your ACME Ball Casters are on (pg 77) in the Rockler catalog are casters which I believe would be a better choice. If you do not have the catalog the item number is 31845. These will not be affected by debris as mentioned above.

   The casters I use on my band saw and router cabinets are those sold by Lee Valley. My band saw cabinet stores my Craftsman tool chest in the lower half. This cabinet is very heavy. My work shop is also on a concrete floor which is far from level.

   The LV casters are less expensive that the Rocklers. I use both the rigid and the Lock/Swivel styles so I can steer my cabinets just as the LV photo shows. If you place the swivel caster on the side that you will be pulling from, the locking mechanism will face you so that you can lock it down when in position to work. I only lock-down when working and never do so when storing either cabinet so this works fine for me. The wheel diameter is 4" and the complete assembly is 5" in height. These casters have served me well. I couldn't be happier. Take a look at them.

   http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.asp?SID=&ccurrency=2&page=40133&category=3%2C40888%2C41279

   Lastly, IMHO, putting these ACME's on your sheetgoods cart is not going to improve matters at all. The reason your cart is difficult to get moving is due to its mass not the casters it's on. If you replace your 'hugh casters' with these smaller ACME's, you are going to have more difficultly in moving your cart - not less. These 'carbon steel' casters will also be much noisier on your concrete floor than rubber tired casters.

   Hope this helps. Take care.

   Regards,

   Phillip

1. 
   forestgirl | Aug 22, 2004 11:23pm | #13

   Thanks, Phillip, for all the info and links.  It only took a few responses above for me to realize the ball casters weren't the way to go, LOL.  I order from LV periodically, so will keep their casters in mind for the next time.

   I like the idea of storing something heavy in the bottom of a bandsaw cabinet.  Darned thing is so top-heavy!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

7. 
   Steinmetz | Aug 22, 2004 10:58pm | #12

   FG,

   Go to Pep Boys, Get four offset casters (The type used on 'Creepers')

   They come with a mounting plate which attaches with four screws.

   These puppys will roll over any surface

   If your chair has five legs, buy eight use the remainder on your milking stool'

   ED (Stein) 

   Make sure they are STEEL!

1. 
   forestgirl | Aug 22, 2004 11:26pm | #15

   Hey, Ed, thanks for the tip on creeper wheels.  That's exactly what I need for another project, and I hadn't seen any offset casters in catalogs.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   Steinmetz | Aug 23, 2004 03:35am | #16

   Jamie, They'l work on your chairs, but you'll have to attach a 2"x2" plate to each leg first, Then drill four holes for the casters and then use nuts and bolts

   I was kidding about the milking stool (everybody KNOWS they only have TWO legs. 

   Stein.

8. 
   Steinmetz | Aug 23, 2004 04:02am | #17

   J me, Try:  http://www.tedhorsen.com/PDF/350,352.pdf

   They're called Steel Disc creeper casters

   $2.97 ea (if you buy 16) Any less ,add $.50 ea.

   Ed.