I’ve been reading through posts on setting up a small workshop and one of the suggestions was that you put everything on wheels. I’ve done this for my band saw and table saw and it works really well (and thanks to the person who posted that advice!) My question now is whether anyone has put wheels on their bench? It seems to me that even the expensive red polyurethane wheels that fully lock wouldn’t be sufficient in that they would move or slide or otherwise not be as stable as needed but I thought I’d ask if anyone has their bench on wheels. Being able to move the bench around would be very convenient (but of course not worth it if the bench doesn’t sit still while I work.)
Thanks in advance for any thoughts or suggestions.
Replies
I'm with you on this one--I don't want my bench rocking around either. One option to making it mobile is to mount the casters to wooden blocks that are hinged to the bench legs. You can then lift up a leg of the bench, flip the hinged block with the caster mounted to it so that the caster is now on the floor. I have some of my machines mounted this way.
Why don't we see these made commercially? I've thought this for years.
It's a pretty simple concept. Maybe not commercially available because it's so easy to DIY.
Shopsmith has used retractable casters forever. A foot lever rotates a cam that pushes a pair of casters down into one of two positions, or releases them. There's a pair at each end of the tool. Very fast and easy. No stooping or lifting. The concept should be easily adaptable and probably could be done without welding. Except as a Shopsmith replacement part, I haven't seem them available commercially.
Len, TKB, Great set ups. You have given me all the info I need to solve the space problems I have.
One easy way to make some things portable but stable is to put non moving castors on only two legs. You can move the bench like a wheel barrow, just pick up one end.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
I built this bench about 6 years ago. It's around 250 lbs unloaded. Double sheets of 3/4 ply glued and laminated together with West System epoxy. The brackets at the bottom were welded by a friend. (Certified welder friend) The casters are 500 lb each. I put provisions for leveling feet but never installed them. With the wheels locked this bench doesn't move.
I'll admit that I have to reach under to turn the wheels by hand to get them going in the right direction. But once it starts rolling it's easy to manuver. I'm guessing with all the tools in the bench and the clamps, this beast weighs more than 500 lbs.
Hope this helps,
Len
I think if your floor is level, large ( 5" or more ) fully locking wheels could do the job. My floor is uneven and a locked wheel floating in the air does not help, so I cobbled up a couple floor locks. Got the idea here: http://www.greatlakescaster.com/products.php?cat=209
Pomeroy,
I completed my bench last year and it is on a mobile base. The bench top is approximately 36 X 78 with 7 " aprons and 12" deep end vise. The bench top rest on a mobile base that is made of 8/4 hard maple base and verticals all together it weighs near 500 lbs.
To make this entire unit mobile, I utilized 4 locking rubber wheel and swivel castors. Each castor is rated to 150 lbs and the unit moves very easily. When I am using my hand tools there is no movement of the bench at all. The locking swivel castors hold the bench firmly; therefore, I have the best of both worlds - mobility and steadfastness!
The castors are from a local supplier and cost $7.99 each on sale. I have used these castors on several office tool cabinets and each time they meet and exceed my expectations!
Hope this helps.
Bob in Calgary.
Pomeroy,
I have had great success with this. I used casters that allow you to lock the wheel rotation and lock the caster from rotating (eliminates the swivel and the rolling.)
I don't have a lot of space, so my bench is against a wall. When I need to move it away to work all sides of the bench, the wheels are perfect. I also have two smaller tables that slide under the bench with the same type of caster. One has drawers for storage, the other is just an open stand. These can be rolled out and used for assembly as needed, then tucked back away to conserve space when not needed.
I'm going to try to add some photos for clarity if I can figure it out.
As far as stability, Using hand planes, I planed a 2" thick X 27" X 66" cherry table top flat on it last weekend. Rock solid. For that work, I rolled the bench away from the back wall a few feet to work all sides of the table top (still on the bench in these photos.)
I now have everything in my shop on wheels except my table saw (large footprint with 50" fence and outfeed tables) and drill press (stability.)
Good luck.
Frank
Thanks to everyone for sharing your photos and ideas! It sounds like a bench on wheels works well for a lot of you so I think I'll give it a shot.
Now if I can only get my bench to come out half as nicely as the ones in all the photos that have been sent......
Thanks again for the advice,
Pomeroy
Hi,
I built my bench with 3 casters. 2 fixed and 1 that swivels and retracts, like the ones on a delta mobile base. My bench has a 48' x 72' top, with 8 drawers and 4 cabinets under. Height just right to catch off cuts from table saw.
Jim
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