Welding Tips and Tricks

Hello again, I'm building a welding table and was wondering what size casters I should use. The table is 60 inches long and 24 inches wide with 1/8 x 1 1/2 in square tube. The top will be 3/8 inch plate. I need to move it around my garage so when I'm finished it can be stored. Thanks for any feedback and happy welding Steve

Steve,

I'm sure everyone here will have a different answer for you but I'd have to say get the biggest, easiest rolling, all swiveling, with locks casters you can find/afford. If you're going to be moving it around your garage shop a lot you'll want the larger casters that wont hang up on small shavings or cracks in the concrete. Having all four wheels swivel will make life much easier maneuvering into tight storing places. Good locks are obvious... Another personal preference of mine is to bolt the casters rather then weld them... Easier to remove a bolt and replace than cut out welds, but each to their own.

If you forsee using this outside, or in a rough driveway, pneumatic-tire casters are a big plus.

If it will never be off concrete, hard tires are fine, but RedIron881 has a point about all four swivelling. It can be annoying when going from one end of the shop to the other, but it sure does make "parking" nice.

Steve

It depends on the weight of your table, but I would recommend at least a 4" wheel. A 4" wheel should be able to take about 300 pounds without jamming. We've had very good success using casters with a polyurethane wheel and a cast iron core. A double bearing caster would be best, double bearing meaning both the wheel axle and stem ride on bearings. Make sure they are locking casters, too!

You can probably expect to pay at least $25 to $30 per caster if you go with the above, but I highly recommend putting money into good quality casters for something like this. You will quickly regret buying a cheap Harbor Freight type caster!

Steve

Thank you for the input ,I was looking at home depot the other day at casters I just don't know if these are decent or junk. Do you guys know where else I might be able to find quality casters( I live in new York ) besides the Internet? I will definitely be using a swiveling and locking caster for more capability. thanks again Steve

Try Mutual Hardware, they are near NYC.

http://www.mutualhardware.com/Casters-Triway-Swivels


look for the 180 series,they have the red wheels with locks. We use these casters for heavy road cases and they work beautifully.

Awesome, thanks Delray Della I am going to contact them and make a road trip. Thanks again steve

I buy most of my casters in the metal recycling yards.
They typically charge me $5 for a five gallon pail full of them.

BTW,
If you need to move heavy items around in the yard,
I like the large garden carts with 26" wheels. They make my life easy.
http://www.groworganic.com/wooden-garde ... -8972.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLfxVI7CxIM

I built a cart for my 180 dual mig machine that I havent seen one similar to. It's big (8") wheels are mounted at the center of the frame that the welder sits in. Not shown is a frame that bolts in to raise the welder (and slightly tilt it), when I roll it around outside on uneven ground (so I dont tip it over!!) I use -so far- only flux core wire so I dont need a gas bottle with it. centered front & rear are caster wheels. 'Cause its pretty much balanced on the big wheels, it dosent need 'super' strong caster wheels, tho these are supposedly rated at 150-175 lbs. The handle (the red riser w/ leads on it) is in the front. It is NOT in the way for the 2 control knobs. I originally intended for the handle to be at the back, but a simple 180 deg rotation of the welder changes that. It "spins on a dime" and with everything at the front, it is so EASY to park. (yes, the side door clears the tire and frame by 1/4" or so) -corn-