Wonky wheels

[knappers]

No wonder my saw/router table was getting difficult to move around...

These were bought from Axminster, and were subjected to less load than they were rated for. They have completely delaminated. They are even more egg shaped when under load.
Last night I replaced them with nylon wheels, and I can move my kit around again.

Si

 

[monkeybiter]

How long had they been on?

 

[knappers]

Less than 18 months

S.

 

[Benchwayze]

I did read somewhere that for heavy machinery, you should contact a specialist Castor suppliers who will recommend the right sort of material. The problem starts when the wheels are standing in one place for prolonged periods, so it pays to move the machine a few inches one way or the other every week.

That's a bit of a bother to be honest, so the other advice is once you have the machine where you need it, try putting a batten underneath it, to lift the wheels off the deck. I can only suggest a trolley jack to lift the machine whilst you push the batten under the machine. (If you are lifting a planer, don't put any stress on the beds. )

HTH

 

[shipbadger]

I would agree with Benchwayze about choice of materials for the wheels. Incidentally if you parked your car for 18 months and went to move it you'd discover your tyres (assuming some little tyke hadn't let them down) would also be mis-shapen, as would V belts left under tension for a similar period.

Tony Comber

 

[knappers]

It gets moved around plenty. It's just that the tyres have delaminated from the hubs. It's not like it's that heavy - a Kity 419 on a ply table with router in the RHT.

Pic (before I fitted the router)

Si.

 

[marcros]

knappers, any chance of some more pictures of that cabinet- looks good?

 

[knappers]

I will put some old and new photos together and start another thread, as it has progressed somewhat since then...

Si.

 

[Benchwayze]

Knappers,

I have a set of the 3" Axminster hard plastic wheels, that I'm putting on a cart for my Triton Work centre. That isn't much of a load, but even so,
I'll try and get some pics of the wheels. I am hoping they're not quite the same castors as yours.

On my old lathe bench, I have some castors with blue treads, that look very much like yours. That lathe was a heavy beast and difficult to move around, but although the wheels suffered, they haven't broken down just yet! When I get around to replacing them., I bought a set of the red, hard-plastic castors from Rutlands. They look the business, and they are not so susceptible to deformation because of standing in one position.
We shall have to see, but I am optimistic.

 

[knappers]

I have bought a set of identical castors from Axminster, but with hard plastic wheels, rather than the tyred version. That way I could just swap the wheels out of the castors by withdrawing the axle bolt, rather than upending the trolley to get the castors off.

Si.

 

[Benchwayze]

Good thinking Si.

Hope it goes well!