Thread: Castors for workbench

I have used both and found the fixed castors the most convenient.

Originally Posted by rustynail

I have used both and found the fixed castors the most convenient.

Thanks...would you expand a bit on that? why?

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.

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

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

Originally Posted by EagerBeaver71

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

These look really great.

Just one question: do you need to kneel down everytime you want to retract them?
Also, there is no way of locking them in place without retracting them, right?

Originally Posted by Jekkil

These look really great.

Just one question: do you need to kneel down everytime you want to retract them?
Also, there is no way of locking them in place without retracting them, right?

Yes you have to kneel down, bend at the knee's, keep a straight back and turn the red dial until the feet make contact with the floor. Like I said though, once they're in contact with the floor, there's no budging it, no locking required.

Originally Posted by orraloon

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

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.

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

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

This link shows CAM operated feet small bench I made about 6 years ago. It might give you some ideas.
Small surface plate bench

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.

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)

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 ok