Thread: Mobile Workbenches

Originally Posted by zelk

Hi Brian,

It's hard to tell from the picture which one of the many Fallshaw castors you are using.

My castors have a 100 mm dia wheel with blue rubber for the outer contact surface on a black plastic structure. The wheels use roller bearings. The overall height is 130 mm. I believe they are rated at more than the 95 kg I specified. They also cost a bit over $40 each.

Your bench is a nice and weighty one, could the sheer mass refuse movement when planing?

Zelk

Mine are Fallshaw OUR100/JZPTB.
Your castors should be fine for a rolling bench. I'm positive you won't need any devices for lifting your bench off its wheels.
I did not think I needed 200kg rated castors but that was the lowest rated castor with a roller bearing.
My bench is quite easy to move, so I don't think it is just mass that keeps it stationery for planing.
FWIW I have my tablesaw on 75mm castors (small shed & too much equipment) and I rarely lock more than 2 wheels.

Brian,

Just looked in your other thread. Nice bench, along the lines of what I have considered for myself. Do you have any plans/drawings etc?

Peter

Hello Peter,

Did you read the long-winded article that was linked in my post?
The bench pretty well follows one illustrated in a 2-page spread in a past FWW "Tools & Shops" annual that I borrowed from our library.
I do have some basic dimensioned plans on the computer and my cut lists. You are welcome to these. I'll be in Brisbane most weekdays from tomorrow until Easter (Grandad duties).
I've sent my mobile number by PM. Call me by tomorrow morning if you'd like what plans I have & I'll drop them in during the week.

Originally Posted by Wizened of Oz

Mine are Fallshaw OUR100/JZPTB.
Your castors should be fine for a rolling bench. I'm positive you won't need any devices for lifting your bench off its wheels.
I did not think I needed 200kg rated castors but that was the lowest rated castor with a roller bearing.
My bench is quite easy to move, so I don't think it is just mass that keeps it stationery for planing.
FWIW I have my tablesaw on 75mm castors (small shed & too much equipment) and I rarely lock more than 2 wheels.

Hi Brian,

my castors seem to have a somewhat weak brake as I can still hand-rotate the wheel, with not too much effort, resulting in tears to the rubber surface.

I'm not sure if the polyurethane material on your castors improves the efficiency of the braking.

As my castors are also available with roller bearings, was there any reason for choosing the polyurethane wheels.

Regards,

Zelk

Zelk

I have put some more thought into this and i figure i will build the bench (Steel framed) at each end i will have a full width hinged bar with the wheels under the table. in the centre i will have a tag with a 10mm rod coming up to a cam/lock that will fold the wheels down and between the legs of the table. At the top of the rod there will be a pin/catch of some sort to keep the wheels in the down position. Hare & Forbes have 4 wheel sets (march special sale) for $49 capable of carrying 70KG each. (2 swivel and 2 fixed wheels in the set.

Thanks for the thread and the ideas i now have a picture in my head on the best way for me to do it.

cheers

Hi Zelk

That does not seem right for a brand-name castor and not for one costing $40. When locked, my castors cannot be budged.
As for why polyurethane, I think the alternatives were dearer and this one was more than adequate.

Originally Posted by Wizened of Oz

Hi Zelk

That does not seem right for a brand-name castor and not for one costing $40. When locked, my castors cannot be budged.
As for why polyurethane, I think the alternatives were dearer and this one was more than adequate.

Brian,

I rang the supplier today to ask about the braking efficiency. The salesperson was convinced that one could not turn the wheel on my type of castor when braked, until he tried it himself.

Although he did not try this with your type of castors he was trying to convince me that both castors used an identical braking mechanism, however, it was more efficient on the castors with the blue rubber.

Somehow I am not convinced. I am tempted to ask the saleperson to try the brake test with your type of castor.

Regards,

Zelk

Originally Posted by Calm

Zelk

I have put some more thought into this and i figure i will build the bench (Steel framed) at each end i will have a full width hinged bar with the wheels under the table. in the centre i will have a tag with a 10mm rod coming up to a cam/lock that will fold the wheels down and between the legs of the table. At the top of the rod there will be a pin/catch of some sort to keep the wheels in the down position. Hare & Forbes have 4 wheel sets (march special sale) for $49 capable of carrying 70KG each. (2 swivel and 2 fixed wheels in the set.

Thanks for the thread and the ideas i now have a picture in my head on the best way for me to do it.

cheers

David,

If you attempt something, please send photos.

Admittedly, if I can't get a castor with effective braking then I will attempt something like what your thinking.

I was just wondering whether having swivel castors at both ends would make the bench just more manouverable, particularly in tighter spots.

Regards,

Zelk

Check this vid out for an idea [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZyguUCdw4s"]YouTube - Tablesaw Outfeed Table[/ame]

Originally Posted by Harry72

Check this vid out for an idea YouTube - Tablesaw Outfeed Table

Thanks for that Harry72. We are getting some great ideas.

This table is well made for the application. The lever system used, probably works better for lighter tables and I reckon in this set up a lot of effort is required to engage the castors, explaining the length of the levers.

With a slightly different design using a cam system I believe it would be more effective and require less leverage to engage the castors.

Although it would be great to make a mechanism out of timber I think that some metal will have to be used in the construction.

Regards,

Zelk

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

This chap suggests he has it licked
http://www.workbenchworld.com.au/top-of-the-range.html

cheers

At 8,300 bucks

Originally Posted by Wongo

I don't like it because Norm uses it.

Who's Norm?









Looks like a Canadian lumberjack to me.

Originally Posted by Waldo

Who's Norm?









Looks like a Canadian lumberjack to me.

Waldo, I wouldn't ask, might be bringing up a terrible past between Wongo and Norm

Zelk

Ok, I chickened out, I didn't make a mobile workbench, but instead I mobilised one.

This way, I have the option of removing the mobilising platform for when I want a sturdy no- budge workbench.

I also make use of that expensive german bandsaw lift bar.

The workbench bench is not finished and you may note that the bench top is upside down ie. reversed.

Regards,
Zelk