Wheels for trolley - lods of advice needed please

**TORB** · 7th November 2012, 01:29 PM

I am making a trolley for my Dad's 91st birthday.

It will have three main shelves that will hold a total of 12 plastic folder trays. The top with have space and dividers for pens, staplers, change, keys etc.

The one component I am not sure about is the wheels that are required, hence this thread.

I could buy wheels from the Big Green Shed or make my own, which is my preferred option. But, if I do make them what is the easiest way? Rough cut using a jigsaw and then clean up by hand? Or cut them using a jig on the router? Or is there a better way?

Then, what is the best way to attach the wheels to the legs?

Thanks in advance

**John Samuel** · 7th November 2012, 04:54 PM

Did a similar thing years ago.

Cut out the wheels using a hole saw on my drill press (from ply). I forget the ply thickness, but it was chosen to match the tyres my son had found for me (rubber tyres are a very good idea).

Then I ran a long bolt through all four, and tightened the nut. The end of the bolt went into the drill press and I used sandpaper glued to a board as a sanding stick. The wood was sanded down to match the diameter of the tyres.

I used machine cut bolts, nylon washers (and dry lube) to attach the wheels to blocks about 1/2 the size of the wheel. Two of these blocks were glued and screwed to the unit. The other two were fastened to a timber axle held in place with a single bolt in the centre of the axle (to make it steerable).

For a completely different and very pretty approach, look here. HOW I MAKE A WOODEN WHEEL part 1 - YouTube

**Handyjack** · 7th November 2012, 07:07 PM

Are the wheels to be functional or decorative?

If functional consider the type of flooring, hard or soft, and they weight they will carry.

If decorative you can cut them free hand using a scroll saw, band saw or jig saw. You can also use a router with the right parts. Years ago I made some wheels for a toy box. Cut them with a jig saw and then had a mate true them on a lathe.
Then again if you have access to a lathe it will solve a heap of problems.

**TORB** · 7th November 2012, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Handyjack

Are the wheels to be functional or decorative?

If functional consider the type of flooring, hard or soft, and they weight they will carry.

If decorative you can cut them free hand using a scroll saw, band saw or jig saw. You can also use a router with the right parts. Years ago I made some wheels for a toy box. Cut them with a jig saw and then had a mate true them on a lathe.
Then again if you have access to a lathe it will solve a heap of problems.

The wheels will be a necessary accessory. The trolley will need to be pushed on carpet.

No access to a lathe, but I have a jigsaw, router and bandsaw.

**ian** · 7th November 2012, 11:46 PM

I did something similar for my own father some years ago

I settled on 4 x 35kg 60mm casters with rubber wheels from the Big Green shed. Anything smaller /lighter wouldn't move over his carpet

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