Thread: Mobile base lifting mechanism

This is how I did a mobile base for my guillotine. There are no stability issues.
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Interesting... So the 2 fixed wheels are in constant contact with the floor and the other side sits on the floor but you made a tool which lifts the non-wheeled side? Do any of those wheels rotate?

I did the same with my two work tables that sit in front of the workbenches . Their both very heavy . One has three drawers full of screws and nails and a vice fitted to the Hardwood top . I used to be able to get it sliding around on the wooden floor it used to be on . But being on concrete now its the same as being glued down .

I had a box of these 200mm cast iron wheels given to me . The roller bearings in most were falling out but that didn't matter . Removing the bearings altogether leaves a machined 30mm hole in the casting . I made angle iron brackets with 30mm solid axle welded to them and screwed those to the tables legs . The T lever at the other end has casters welded onto the end.

At My wheel end the wheels hold the table 6mm off the floor constantly .
6 mm angle iron feet were added the other end to keep it level . Nothing moves when its just sitting there . Its stable . The T lever has to lift the end with no wheels to get rolling obviously . Its got great leverage and when the T handle gets to My belt height I find it most comfortable to push the thing around .

Its really good . I can shift both tables out of the way in 20 seconds where as before this it was a lot of work and limited to how far I could move them .

The other day I needed to get my heavy compressor up to work on replacing a broken pressure switch . I was swearing at the compressor. Has there ever been a more awkward thing to shift around and lift than a compressor !
I was able to hook and lift it with My block and tackle at the other end of shed and roll one of the tables under it . Lower it back down and wheel the table and compressor to the work area .

The thing I needed when making these tables moveable was not to raise them much at all . The 6mm is fine.
My favorite for moving stuff is the pallet jack . Most of My machines are on custom pallets but that meant raising them 140mm higher. I'm happy with the 140mm raise on the machines and there has been extra benefits from that as well . Like mounting dust extraction to the pallet as well .
I couldn't do that with the Tables though as they match bench height closely so big pieces placed on two tables or table and workbench sit level.

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I have been thinking of making a base for my compressor since working on it the other day and using the T lever on it .
And another project is making some hooks to hold the T lever possibly to the side of one of the tables so I know where to find it when I need it .

Originally Posted by qwertyu

Interesting... So the 2 fixed wheels are in constant contact with the floor and the other side sits on the floor but you made a tool which lifts the non-wheeled side? Do any of those wheels rotate?

The non-wheeled side has 2 adjusting feet that I bought at Bunnings. The moving tool is the mobility device from my bandsaw, I didn't make it.

Thanks all. I like the idea of the 2 fixed wheels + lever with wheels to move things around. Is it easy to turn with them given all the wheels are fixed?

I notice in both examples in this thread that the lever wheels are small - Is this how you would want it or is there a benefit to larger wheels?


Is there a name for this technique/mechanism so I can research in more detail?

Originally Posted by qwertyu

Thanks all. I like the idea of the 2 fixed wheels + lever with wheels to move things around. Is it easy to turn with them given all the wheels are fixed?

I notice in both examples in this thread that the lever wheels are small - Is this how you would want it or is there a benefit to larger wheels?


Is there a name for this technique/mechanism so I can research in more detail?

I basically copied my setup from my Laguna bandsaw, 2 wheels at the back and adjusting feet at the front. There is certainly no issue pivoting with the wheels on the 'bandsaw' lever so I doubt that there is any benefit with larger wheels other than if you don't have a level floor. No idea if there is a name for it. My Minimax C26 combination machine has basically the same setup although other than initially using it to position the machine I haven't moved it since.

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Thanks, I think I might have to go the larger wheels. My floor is really uneven. Can you guys send me a photo of a close up on how the handle/lever connects to the machine when in use? does the handle rotate at the point of connection to help turn the machine or is it fixed/always perpendicular to the side of the machine? Just trying to understand how it rotates

edit:
Just saw this video
Hammer N4400 Rolling Carriage Installation & Lifting Bar Assembly - YouTube

Makes sense now how it works.

Cant find any suitable wheels at bunnings all have very low load ratings. I think my planer is 400kg +

This might be the most suitable option
Easyroll 125mm 150kg Blue Fixed Rubber Castor - Bunnings Australia

Another option I was thinking is using M20 couplers on each corner
Pinnacle M20 Galvanised Hex Coupler - Bunnings Australia

with an M20 bolt which screws (pushes down on a castor to lift the machine. I could screw it up/down with a impact wrench. Thoughts on this idea?

Originally Posted by qwertyu

Cant find any suitable wheels at Bunnings all have very low load ratings. I think my planer is 400kg +

I didn't want castor wheels because of their height. Don't limit yourself to Bunnings, check out Fallshaw Wheels | Fallshaw Wheels & Castors

I have a set on my big drum sander that I think are called “porta-mate”. I meant to take photos yesterday but was too busy chewing the fat with Tom. They were on a bobbin sander I bought but it never moves so i bought some steel square tube snd put them on the drum sander which easily weighs 450 kg and they handle it easily. They’re a good system that pushes an adjustable rubber foot down onto the deck to take the weight off the wheels using a simple foot lever. I’ll try and find a link. It’s definitely not the Bora portamate ones, they are rubbish compared to the one I have.
At one stage I also fabricated up a few different versions of a mobility cradle for the little Woodfast sliding table saw, it worked well but for the time it took and the pain, I would have been better off buying a kit like I’ve got for the sander.

This is a post on Instagram showing the method for shifting stuff using timber for the fittings and some cast iron wheels bolted on .
There's a second picture in there showing the lever.

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No reason you couldn't laminate up some plywood and make your wheels what ever size you need as well. If you have a wood lathe with a face plate attachment to turn and finish them true it would be good.
With the right size bolt for axles they would last many years. Its not like they will get wheeled around all day every day.
Press a small length of pipe the thickness of each wheel into the center of each wheel for the Bolt axle to rotate on and it wont ware out. You can buy 22mm threaded rod at Bunnings for axles and boxes of 22mm Nuts and Washers.

BORA Portamate PM-3550 Super Duty Mobile Base - All Swivel Wheels : Amazon.com.au: Home Improvement

this is the same one as I have, or very similar, it works well.

Originally Posted by riverbuilder

BORA Portamate PM-3550 Super Duty Mobile Base - All Swivel Wheels : Amazon.com.au: Home Improvement

this is the same one as I have, or very similar, it works well.

$309 at carbatec. I might have to go have a look. If I can get something off the self for that price it would be worth the time saving I think instead of making something myself. Looking at pictures, the wheels look small - you think they could run over an extension cable? Wonder if I could upgrade them to larger wheels... will need to cut off the bracket holding existing wheels and weld a new bracket for larger offset I think

Originally Posted by qwertyu

$309 at carbatec. I might have to go have a look. If I can get something off the self for that price it would be worth the time saving I think instead of making something myself. Looking at pictures, the wheels look small - you think they could run over an extension cable? Wonder if I could upgrade them to larger wheels... will need to cut off the bracket holding existing wheels and weld a new bracket for larger offset I think

with 450 kgs on them, I wouldn’t want to be running over anything, especially an extension cable, more so if it had juice running through it. They work fine. I think if you tried to muck around with the wheels you would end up in the situation you are now and might as well build your own from scratch. You’d encounter issues with the support feet not being long enough and having rotation clearance etc. What I like about these is you can take the machine out if you find you don’t move it and simply cut the connecting tubes, or make new ones as I did, to put them under another machine. $309 is cheap, if they are those super duty ones with the 60 x 30 connecting tubes. The other one with the two fixed wheels and two lifting wheels is rubbish, i had one and it was hopeless, waste of money.

Dont plan on running over an extension cable - just an easy to to portray the size of debris that may be on the ground I might need to run over.