Machine Base---advise needed

[Mikegtr]

I am wanting to buy a portable machine base to move machinery (bandsaw / bobbing etc.) in my small workshop.
I want the machine base to swivel 360 degrees. Do I need to look for one that has 4 swivelling castors and not 2 swivelling and 2 fixed castors? If you know of a make I would be pleased to hear from you.

Many thanks.

 

[Fitzroy]

Yes would need with four swivelling castors. All my bases have two fixed and two swivel, the make I have do not make a four swivel version so can’t recommend a make. Mine uses a ply board (self supplied) rather than a frame and the kit bolts to the corners.

 

[jetsetwilly]

I've always thought most machine bases are pants - flimsy with small wheels and I've never seen one with four swivelling castors. I'm quite impressed by the Felder/Hammer system -

Been pondering bodging up a generic version, eg a square angle-iron frame with rear wheels out behind the machine and slightly off the floor, and a bracket at the front to accept a wheeled lifting bar.

 

[Sachakins]

I only have a narrow gap down middle of my shop, with benches, saw etc on one side and fixed lathes the other. All my stuff on castors are all 4 swivel and braked, as I need to rotate them as they get slid out.
Without them I couldn't get my saw, planer, bandsaw, bobbin sander in to positions to use, if they were 2 fixed and 2 swivel I couldn't get them easily into the middle.

 

[Cabinetman]

I've always thought most machine bases are pants - flimsy with small wheels and I've never seen one with four swivelling castors. I'm quite impressed by the Felder/Hammer system -

Been pondering bodging up a generic version, eg a square angle-iron frame with rear wheels out behind the machine and slightly off the floor, and a bracket at the front to accept a wheeled lifting bar.

that’s pretty much the same as on my SCM Minimax combination mc, and I have thought the same as you about making it fit all my kit.
Mine doesn’t have a bracket though, the towbar has a raised spigot and the mc (which has a higher- 100mm front edge ) just has a hole for it to locate into.
It’s very easy to manoeuvre anywhere which if it had 4 castors it would be very difficult indeed.

 

[Robbo3]

Carl Holmgren videos may give you some ideas
- https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlHolmgrenwoodworking/videos

 

[Sachakins]

Carl Holmgren videos may give you some ideas
- https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlHolmgrenwoodworking/videos

He's the master of the diy retractable castors too.

 

[scholar]

I am wanting to buy a portable machine base to move machinery (bandsaw / bobbing etc.) in my small workshop.
I want the machine base to swivel 360 degrees. Do I need to look for one that has 4 swivelling castors and not 2 swivelling and 2 fixed castors? If you know of a make I would be pleased to hear from you.

Many thanks.

I used one of these adaptable bases for my previous spindle moulder (quite heavy) and it worked very well - it pretty much spins in its own space and a bit of back and forth means you can get it into a precise tight space quite easily.

The main problem I found was getting the heavy machine inside the frame. Yes, the wheels are small and hard so it only works well on reasonably smooth flooring.

 

[scholar]

that’s pretty much the same as on my SCM Minimax combination mc, and I have thought the same as you about making it fit all my kit.
Mine doesn’t have a bracket though, the towbar has a raised spigot and the mc (which has a higher- 100mm front edge ) just has a hole for it to locate into.
It’s very easy to manoeuvre anywhere which if it had 4 castors it would be very difficult indeed.

I have two different types of this lifting arrangement:

- the Felder/Hammer one as previously pictured has the rear of the machine permanently sitting on the wheels;
- the Scheppach one on my big planer has the wheels on brackets at the rear so that when the lifting arm is disengaged, the machine sits on all four feet (the big Scheppach bandsaw, though, stays on the wheels at the rear).

Both lifting devices make moving these big and heavy machines remarkably easy.

Cheers