Adding Casters to UAII????

[Ldsfunaz]

i got a question about this issue.

[MiKman]

not the ideal solution, but I cut 4" diameter holes where my casters are (2 of them swivel and needed the 4" to spin around) I mounted the casters to two 2X4's which are inside the cabinet over the holes raised up about 1.5" so my cabinet looks like it's virtually on the floor but it rolls :-) This worked for me cause I don't have anything but my coin box and subwoofer on the floor of the cabinet and they both fit perfectly down the center between the 2X4's.

hope you can see it in the two pictures...

[Ldsfunaz]

very intresting, and creative.... is there any reason why you just didn't move the whole base up the extra 1.5 inches?

[commandcom]

I built a UAII and bolted casters to the bottom of the cabinet.  Here's a couple of things I ran into.

• You could move the "floor" of the cab up 1.5 inches.  However, if your planning on installing a over/under type coin door, the raised floor will interfere with the coin door's installation (at least it would with my coin door)
• The UAII's plan calls for the lower sides of the cab to the screwed to the floor using three wood screws on each side.  I followed the directions to the letter (drilling pilot holes etc).  The 3/4" MDF still partially split when I bolted the sides on.  I should have taken care of this issue then and there.  After the cab was completed, the weight of the cab pushing down on the floor caused the MDF to fail completely.  The floor and casters were pushed up into the inside of the cab. I managed to fix things up somewhat, but now the cab rocks slightly.  This drives me insane.

If you want use casters, I would double the amount of screws used to attach the sides to the floor.  I would also get a number of study "L" brackets and mount them to the floor and sides inside the cab.  Cheap insurance.

[stratjakt]

On all of my cabs so far I've replaced the leg levellers with "appliance gliders" from home depot - they look and act just like leg levellers, but have that smooth plastic "magic slider" stuff on the bottom. 

The cabinets (even the 25" data east pedestal monstrosity I have) move effortlessly across the carpet and laminate floors I have, are less likely to leave tracks or scratches, and stay put when actually being played.

They're meant for installation on fridges and ovens and the like, so they're certainly heavy-duty enough. 

My only beef is that the threaded bolt is 5/16" and the original leg levellers look more like 3/8ths or 1/2, which meant replacing the hardware they mount to - it would have been nice to just unscrew the old and screw in the new, but most have rusted solid over the years and needed to be cut out anyways..

[Ldsfunaz]

coin door isn't really a problem, because I don't even think I'm going to have one... this puppy isn't meant to look authentic....SO i guess I'm just gonna move the bottom base up a little....

my next 2 questions

1) the base is 1/2 inch from the bottom of the Cab now, how far up should it be so the 2 "(or 3 inch) casters stick out the bottom..


2) How far away from the edges should the casters be...



and as for commandcom's advice.

I am not going to screw into the sides of the MDF, I am going to use 2 by 3 "framing" to screw both sides into...

thanks again

mike


and if you want to check out my "progress"

[commandcom]

Answer to 1:

I guess that would depend upon the size of the casters you get and where the ultimate resting spot for your cab will be.  On carpet, you'd probably want at around an inch of caster showing.  That way the weight of the cab will sink the casters into the carpet and provide you with a solid playing surface.  Of course there are a number of factors to consider: cab weight, carpet type/pile, etc.  I think you'll just have to make a guesstimate as to the depth/offset of your casters.

2:
Obviously, the closer you place the casters to the outer edge of the cab, the more stable the unit will be.  I'd place them as closely to the edge as possible.  I think all you have to consider is if your casters are of the swiveling type; in that case make sure to leave enough room to allow the casters to pivot freely.

[SUB ZERO]

My 2nd custom UAII cabinet was 7/8" off the floor when it was on concrete in my shop.

When in my house ... it's about an 1/8" into the carpet.

[Ldsfunaz]

well heres my problem,

i plan on starting to put this baby together tomarrow, but i didn't buy the casters.

i understand that i want about 1inch of clearance (it will reside on carpet) once the casters are on there, but i need to know how high to put the bottom base panel to get the casters at that proper height....

kinda confusing, but i hope you guys followed...


thanks again
mike

[SUB ZERO]

Mount Height = Caster Height - Clearence Height

For example ...

Lets say you bought your casters from Happs.

- Caster height = 2.58" (*substitute your measured value here*)
- Clearence height = 1.00"

- Mount Height = 2.58" - 1.00"

- Mount Height = 1.58" or approximately 1-19/32" (from the bottom each of the cabinet)

... so in this particular case ... you would need to install your base panel 1-19/32" (or 1-9/16" close enough) from the bottom edge of your two bottom cabinet sides.

[Ldsfunaz]

thanks, that helps alot....

since i don't have the casters i am going to use at the moment, and wont have them for when i start the build, i guess its good to  err on the side of too much wheel sticking out.... ill just go with 1.5" to be safe... and the worst case scenario, i gotta order them from happs....

thank you all

[Ldsfunaz]

ok really quick question....

from top to bottom does it go


Stud
MDF
Caster

or is it

MDF
STud
Caster?

lbasicly does the screw of the caster go through both the mdf and then also through the stud  and then a nut is placed on top...


or is the caster screwed directly to the first peice of wood it touches...??

im confused here...

[SUB ZERO]

Actually ... I cut my bottom base panel out ... then cut three 2x4 to the same width then screwed and glue them into the base panel.

I then mounted the castered into the MDF (in between the 2x4's).

2x4's faced the floor when mounted ... that's how I made my base ... worked out perfect

[Ldsfunaz]

hmm,  that looks nice...

2 things though

1) i dont have that luxury of moving my base panel up that high because of the back angled part of the UAII plans


2) i was under the impression The studs were there so the casters are into soumething solid...

im still confused

[SUB ZERO]

Some people assume that logic

I found the casters to be quite solid in the 3/4" MDF.

I done a little bit of testing and found the casters able to bend metal and still not tear out (I rolled the base over a metal floor grate (loaded with 400lb. of sand) and bent to living crap out of the metal and still the casters where solid

[Ldsfunaz]

thank you sub zero, you have been so helpful

I have just decided to "wing it" and see how it goes..



and if it comes out terribly, Ill just have to Forward>Down>Forward>High Punch somebody....;-)