Just replaced the casters on my clamp rack, and will be building a few mobile bases and cabinets soon. Looking for opinions on the 4-bolt style v. the center threaded spindle type. The latter is much easier to install, for sure.
Also, if you use the spindle type, do you use a simple pound-it-in threaded insert to receive it, or do you use something heftier?
Sarge: Are you out there? I know you like the 3-wheel configuration. What kinds of limitations do you put on using that. I figured a 6′ tall clamp rack with a ton of Jorgenson and Jet parallel clamps might be a bit unstable.
forestgirl — you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can’t take the forest out of the girl 😉
Replies
OK, newly "Charged". Try http://www.casterconnection.com They have more casters than Carter has pills.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
So Bruce, no opinions re: spindle v. bolts in heavy duty applications?? Thanks for the link. Glad I'm not rolling something that weighs 40,000 lb.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 11/18/2007 11:03 am by forestgirl
Stem-mounted casters are usually used when you don't have a flat surface to mount against, such as a cart with legs made of steel tubing. I think plate-mounted casters are easier to install: No need to drill a deep hole, no need to thread said hole, etc. Just lay the plate down, mark the holes, and drill.
-Steve
I actually found the stem casters easier to install, and less expensive. No bolts/washers/nuts needed, just a threaded insert to receive the stem. If there's a downside to them, I'd be interested in knowing about it. I guess I'll either find out from someone here, or from the clamp rack after a few weeks/months of use.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I would be much more comfortable with a good flange mounting instead of the spindle mount. Experience with spindle mount is that when there is any appreciable amount of axial thrust the leg likes to split. Anyway I like to build 500% in excess, a tank to do a jeeps job.
As a side note; Did the DVD help any?Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
"Did the DVD help any?" I'm sure it will, Bruce, but I haven't had any chance at all to try my hand at turning. The shop's been almost as big a mess as my life the last couple of months, getting the electrician scheduled made me get it cleaned up. Not to make excuses, but hubby's been extremely high maintenance for some time now (family problems) and we lost a friend to cancer just a couple of weeks ago; we were very involved in planning, in advance, and conducting his memorial. Spent a great deal of time with his family afterward, it's just been exhausting, especially since it's the third such event we've dealt with over the last year.
So, Thanksgiving is going to be my New Year's Day -- I'm making it mark the end of an extremely stressful 12 months, and a launch into a new and better time to come. Just have to shake off this cloud of cynicism that seems to have gathered recently.
I was going to spend Turkey Day reformatting the hard drive in my computer and reinstalling all the programs. Maybe I should spend it at the lathe instead? ;-)forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Girl !!! You deserve a break today(as the McDonald's add goes!) Take a ME,ME,ME DAY. Sometimes called a mental health day ;-)Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
"Take a ME,ME,ME DAY." I've been trying, LOL. Usually, hunting season provides me with a bountiful supply of mental health days, but poor hubby's been stymied at almost every turn. At least he did get an elk a couple weeks ago! He left yesterday to get in the very last day of deer season, and then to take our newly-sorta-trained Golden Retriever off for his first hunting trip for pheasant (not sure if it's a real "hunt" or just a "look, see, and track" -- I can't keep the seasons straight).
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forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 11/19/2007 12:49 pm by forestgirl
I gotta agree with the 4 bolt plate mount folks. I install lots of casters in the work I do, and they're all I use.
In really extreme cases, I will bolt them, but for the application you are describing, I have found # 12 or 14 pan heads to be perfectly adequate, given an adequate substrate. As the man said: just mark, drill and drive.
BTW, if you come up with a source of 3" two way locking casters that are all metal (no plastic foot treadles, please) that are both heavy duty and more affordable than the $25 per that I buy from Grainger or McMaster Carr, let us all know. (I did buy some cheapies once from Hartville, but they were next to worthless....)
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