Good casters on the cheap

[robinson46176]

I have been acquiring and saving casters for years for the day when I could have the shop I am building up now. I have bought a bunch of sets of good quality casters at yard sales for under a buck. I have also bought several old benches for a buck or two just so I could get the extra good caster sets under them. I also saved some when I was allowed to scavenge some scrapped stored junk.
I save a lot of wheels of all sizes. I have a number of steel wheels that are over 4' tall off of old farm equipment. I just use those for decoration.

[tryinhard]

Not too long ago, I ordered replacement wheels for my SS caster assemblies. The wheels I got were not like the black hard plastic originals like the picture on the web site. Instead, the replacements were a softer rubber, and have a ball bearing swivel mechanism. They sure make it much easier to move the machine around. They might not be what you want, since they have a vertical post for mounting, but with these you don't need a metal socket to push the post into, because the post does not turn (since the wheel rotates on the ball bearings). $3.99 each.

[dusty]

Not too long ago, I ordered replacement wheels for my SS caster assemblies. The wheels I got were not like the black hard plastic originals like the picture on the web site. Instead, the replacements were a softer rubber, and have a ball bearing swivel mechanism. They sure make it much easier to move the machine around. They might not be what you want, since they have a vertical post for mounting, but with these you don't need a metal socket to push the post into, because the post does not turn (since the wheel rotates on the ball bearings). $3.99 each.

Part Number 522215

[bobgroh]

Woodcraft has a sale on heavy duty casters: http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2001989/2001989.aspx?refcode=09IN11RL

Still not cheap, but under $15 and appear to be fairly sturdy.

Roy

And they are on sale until 11/25/09 for a bit less than $12 each! Nice looking units.

[bucksaw]

I usually buy my casters from grizzly.com. Woodcraft are better quality but the 3" red grizzly casters have served me well on a number of projects.

Link to Grizzly casters

[tdubnik]

I just got a sale ad from Woodcraftwhere they have put thier casters on sale. If you're still looking this might be the place.

[roy_okc]

And they are on sale until 11/25/09 for a bit less than $12 each! Nice looking units.

I ordered 4 of the 3" swivel double-lock casters for a medium-height cabinet/work/assembly bench I have planned. While I won't have them on and using until probably after the first of the year, first impressions are that they are very good for the price. They use a fairly thick metal on the bracket parts, the urethane wheels use ball bearings and seem to turn smoothly, the axle is a 5/16" (carriage?) bolt and nylon insert lock nut, the swivel appears to also be on ball bearings, the double-lock locks the wheels from turning and the swivel from swiveling, total height about 4-3/4", each caster weighs about a pound. Bottom line, great heavy-duty casters at a steal of a price that will probably last a lifetime.

Online orders over $50 ship free (I added a Kreg Klamp plate/pliers that were on clearance and I think saved a few cents overall). Think I'll order another set for a short final assembly bench/dolly for my upcoming cabinets replacement projects.

Roy

[dkerfoot]

hartvilletool.com has the best quality/price ratio I have found. They have very good quality casters for less money that any other place I have found.

-Doug

[dkerfoot]

The caster on the left is from Hartville Tool:
http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/11883

The caster on the right is from Grizzley:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/h0693

The ones on the left cost $0.50 more.

[bucksaw]

The Hartville caster is definitely a better quality. Did they drop the 3" caster you used for comparison?