Thread: Bench/Machine wheels.

These are slightly cheaper at $121
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Taytools...4383.l4275.c10
Much higher load rating as well.

These ones from Hare and Forbes are on sale for $66
https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W935
Also higher load rating than the Rockler.

Wish I had known about the H&F wheels when I made my bench. Look to be just what I needed. I got by with using bunnings castors. Two to a bit of wood. Pry up one end and roll the two wheels under the bench. repeat on other end. Less than $40 at the time.
Regards
John

My only doubt with using these (which I have seen in action and love how they work) is the concern that the weight is being carried "sideways" so to speak... the force of weight is running down the mounting side of these wheels, and I fear on heavy workbenches that these might tear out?

"Traditional" under-mount casters, which also can have brakes to stop movement have the weight bearing down on top, and seem to me to be much more sturdy as a result... or am I missing something?

The best design would be one lever to lift the entire thing up,in one action, as those levers you mention are better for tall bandsaws and similar things that could topple over.
Look up Carl Holmgren's designs on youtube, I made a similar design for my cabinet saw, but from metal, and it lifts 200kg+ with no effort whatsoever.
You might have better luck if you search for "retractable caster" designs on YT
Wow! plenty are utilizing it for their workbenchs since I last looked

Tom

I purchased the ones from Rockler. With the removable brackets so I could have one set of wheels for all the things I wanted to move around. I made up a linkage to pair two wheels together so that when I activate one it activates the other so two go up or down together.

I just bought 2 sets of the Hare and Forbes ones BobL mentioned. Will see how they go once I get them fitted. I think the Rockler ones are a better design, but not by enough to justify the extra spend. The weak spot in these looks to be the bend in the foot plate, it's pressed in the centre to give some stiffness but I'll probably make a timber tread to reinforce them. Hurcorh's idea to link them in pairs is good though, might have to do that.
image.jpg

Wow some great ideas and tips there, thankyou everyone.

I have two sets of the H&F wheels in action, one set on my bench and the other on my lathe. The way the design works means that the force is directed squarely over the wheels by the mounting brackets. The key thing is that when the wheels are disengaged, the bench or lathe is directly on the floor.

In the case of a bench, anything between the leg and the floor is a potential source of bounce.

I only move the bench and lathe about once a month for a deep clean of the shop so activating four levers is not a big deal. The back pair can be a bit awkward though.

I tried quite a few ideas on my old lathe, which was much lighter and the bench castors are way ahead of anything else I have tried. I think the lathe is probably right on the load limit, but have not worked it out.

The lift is not very high, so you need a goodish floor surface and it does not take a very big chip of wood to snag a wheel, but that probably goes with moving upward of 150 kg on your lonesome!


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