Castors that can be raised?

[xraymtb]

I'm following the lead of a lot of people on here and building a cabinet to hold my Axi TS200 saw and contain the router table. As I intend to fit an Incra fence to the router table, its turning out quite large and I reckon its going to be heavy.

I did want to have it mobile as its usual position won't be much use once the timber gets much over 1.5m long but I would rather it sits on its own base rather than castors when I am using it.

Does anyone know of any castors that you can raise up to lower the cabinet onto its own base that dont cost a fortune?

Small model of the cabinet to give the idea...

 

[wizer]

Mike I've never seen a commercially available solution to this problem. Good casters should be fine when locked and are normally rock solid.

You may get some DIY ideas here:

http://woodgears.ca/mobile_base/index.html

 

[CNC Paul]

Mike,

Google "Jockey wheel for trailer" most of them have the handle on the top, but there are a few that have a side mounted handle, trouble is they are expensive......Why can't you use locking casters ?

 

[mtt.tr]

coud you put them on threaded stud then adjust them by screwing it?

 

[Shultzy]

I seemed to recall that a forum member made a router table with an arrangement to raise and lower the legs, a cam action I think.

 

[wizer]

coud you put them on threaded stud then adjust them by screwing it?

The problem with that is it'd take an age to screw 2 or 4 castors down and up and if the cabinet it heavy, it becomes harder still.

 

[mtt.tr]

coud you put them on threaded stud then adjust them by screwing it?

The problem with that is it'd take an age to screw 2 or 4 castors down and up and if the cabinet it heavy, it becomes harder still.

Good point.

 

[Shultzy]

I found Neil's posts with the router table with a "wheel raising technique"


https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3369
http://forums.ukworkshop.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3795

 

[xraymtb]

I think the problem with any wheel raising is going to be the weight - if the drawers are full, with a heavy router table top and router, the incra fence and the table saw, I don't fancy trying to lift it even to drop wheels down.

I might have to just sit it on castors - would you recommned four or would six be better (with two half way along)?

 

[xy mosian]

How about?

Wheels one end, legs the other.
At the leg end attach a sort of sack cart, in a manner so that when the handle is pulled a pair of castors drop to take the weight off the legs. This has the advantage that the pulling force is at a low level where it is needed, rather than a tipping force higher up.

xy

 

[RogerS]

I'd take off the Incra fence...far too much weight for it's worth :wink:

I've got the Twin Linear. Have I used its' accuracy and repeatability? Ever?

Nope!

 

[Jake]

I saw them in that catalogue - you know, the unmentionable one, but they are £50 a set and look pretty unimpressive (small photo though).

 

[Jamesc]

I have a similar problem with my table saw stand, I've decided to go for 'total stop brake' castors. These lock the wheel and the swivel. I've not tested them yet as I haven't built the stand. The ones I'm using I get through work from Moss Plastics but I am sure they are available elsewhere.

Regards

James

 

[xraymtb]

I saw them in that catalogue - you know, the unmentionable one, but they are £50 a set and look pretty unimpressive (small photo though).

do you mean these ones?

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/machinery...lity-castors/DKMMC/machine-mobilty-castor-set

I'm not convinced these would take the weight

 

[cambournepete]

I'd take off the Incra fence...far too much weight for it's worth :wink:

I've got the Twin Linear. Have I used its' accuracy and repeatability? Ever?

Nope!

Well, if you ever want to sell it...

 

[Jake]

That's the ones - they look even more flimsy in the big picture.

 

[xraymtb]

Yep - my original worry about castors was the weight of the unit - with those Rutlands ones I can only imagine a bad ending...

 

[beech1948]

I think that non of the usual suspects supply good quality castors eg Screrwfix, Axi etc.

Try the following [urlhttp://www.rosshandling.co.uk/jacking-castors.asp[/url].

The link is to their jacking castors but have a look at their full range.

I use 4 of there 3 inch swivel and lock castors on mu P/T and they work very well indeed.

regards
Alan

 

[JMcK]

Another link. Not cheap but...

http://www.castors-online.co.uk/acatalog/Footmaster_Self_Leveling_Anti_Vibration.html

 

[eoinsgaff]

I seem to remember Norm having a very simple solution to a problem like this where a quick/slight lift in a table allowed castors to drop and some hinged piece to also drop and lock the castors down. All it took was a pull on a piece of rope to disengage the castors when positioned. One was then easily able to work with the full weight of the table on the ground rather than castors.