Alternative to Metal Casters

teacherman · Post by **teacherman** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:03 pm

I fought the tiny wheels on my table saw for years. I kept them lubed and clean the best I could, and it was always a fight to move or more accurately, scrape the saw across the garage floor. I did the concrete myself, but it wasn't THAT bad. Really. So here is what I did. It works wonderfully, and there are four of the little wood wedges, one of which is shown, that I kick under the plywood to anchor the machine in place for use. I manage to keep the height about the same as before. I like it so much, I think I might do this to my green machine, rather than buy a metal caster kit. What do you folks think?

db5 · Post by **db5** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:12 pm

UGLY but effective. But I don't have a pretty garage either.

teacherman · Post by **teacherman** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 11:45 pm

db5 wrote:UGLY but effective. But I don't have a pretty garage either.

It's like the guy I saw once who put a Fram oil filter on an old Panhead. He'd ridden across three states on a thirty plus year old motorcycle, and he was not there for the show. Hard to argue with that.

So how well do the SS retractable metal casters work anyway? The Craftsman ones were absolute junk, which led me to the above solution. I can do this without drilling any new holes.

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:15 pm

I still have the original metal casters on my '55.

They still do the job. Are they as smooth as the new urethane ones? NO. But I can still move my SS around the garage with no issues. Except that I goofed the under mount storage dimensions and since my floor is not flat, the bottom of the cabinet drags in a couple of spots. I do wish the throw of the casters created more clearance.

teacherman · Post by **teacherman** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 2:18 pm

terrydowning wrote:I still have the original metal casters on my '55.

They still do the job. Are they as smooth as the new urethane ones? NO. But I can still move my SS around the garage with no issues. Except that I goofed the under mount storage dimensions and since my floor is not flat, the bottom of the cabinet drags in a couple of spots. I do wish the throw of the casters created more clearance.

Do they give an inch of clearance on a flat surface?

db5 · Post by **db5** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 9:08 pm

[ATTACH]24399[/ATTACH]I just replaced the castors on my 1990 510 with the larger ones I got from Bill Mayo. Amazing difference. The original castors are in good shape and you may have them for the shipping cost if you want.

An alternative is adapting some very good castors with the other parts to make it work from a 1960's Mk. VII. I have those also but they are not free. Can be had for a reasonable fee.

I no longer have the grey metal parts of the frame so you would need to just adapt the castors to what you have. If interested PM me.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:28 pm

db5 wrote:[ATTACH]24399[/ATTACH]I just replaced the castors on my 1990 510 with the larger ones I got from Bill Mayo. Amazing difference. The original castors are in good shape and you may have them for the shipping cost if you want.

An alternative is adapting some very good castors with the other parts to make it work from a 1960's Mk. VII. I have those also but they are not free. Can be had for a reasonable fee.

I no longer have the grey metal parts of the frame so you would need to just adapt the castors to what you have. If interested PM me.

Thank You for the 'exploded parts' pix.

Now I know what to expect when I tear into mine!:D

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:34 pm

terrydowning wrote:I still have the original metal casters on my '55.

They still do the job. Are they as smooth as the new urethane ones? NO. But I can still move my SS around the garage with no issues. Except that I goofed the under mount storage dimensions and since my floor is not flat, the bottom of the cabinet drags in a couple of spots. I do wish the throw of the casters created more clearance.

The wheels may be worn down(but then maybe not with the steel ones!;)).

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:35 pm

teacherman wrote:Do they give an inch of clearance on a flat surface?

A half inch is more likely!;)

db5 · Post by **db5** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:37 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Thank You for the 'exploded parts' pix. Now I know what to expect when I tear into mine!:D

You don't even tear into an envelope - probably use something to slit it. However, I hope it helps, as if you needed it.

Please, on a separate post reveal to us how you get everything to be so shiny and pristine clean. Pictures with details would be fawned on (appreciated by those who aren't into fawning).