Casters yes or no....

[divemaster127]

Do you guys think a cocktail with a particle board base would hold casters or do you guys think the casters would tear out being particle board, just curious....
dm

[ChadTower]

Reinforce the spots where the casters are going with actual wood.

[leapinlew]

Allow me to be the first to answer the actual question:

I think the casters would tear out or sag badly over time. 

[xmenxmen]

If you want caster, I would see if there's enough room to sandwich 2 plywood between the partical board.  This way, it would give it some strength.

[ChadTower]

Allow me to be the first to answer the actual question:

I think the casters would tear out or sag badly over time. 

If I had said that, rather than giving him a better option, I'd have been accused of raining on his parade, top tanking him, making his mom and his sister cry, sending his brother to Iraq, stealing his kids' Xmas, and possibly killing his hopes and dreams.

That's why I gave him a better option rather than specifically answering his question.

[SavannahLion]

Allow me to be the first to answer the actual question:

I think the casters would tear out or sag badly over time. 

If I had said that, rather than giving him a better option, I'd have been accused of raining on his parade, top tanking him, making his mom and his sister cry, sending his brother to Iraq, stealing his kids' Xmas, and possibly killing his hopes and dreams.

That's why I gave him a better option rather than specifically answering his question.

It's too late now, but I wanted you to know that I voted against you in both elections.

[leapinlew]

Allow me to be the first to answer the actual question:

I think the casters would tear out or sag badly over time. 

If I had said that, rather than giving him a better option, I'd have been accused of raining on his parade, top tanking him, making his mom and his sister cry, sending his brother to Iraq, stealing his kids' Xmas, and possibly killing his hopes and dreams.

That's why I gave him a better option rather than specifically answering his question.

Ha!

When people are inviting an opinion - it's not really raining on someones parade. However, when a topic is up for discussion and the only thing you bring to the topic is the negatives, and you do it consistently (say 20,000 posts) - that may be looked upon as rain. 

[Dmod]

Is particle board weaker than MDF?  When I built my (Project Arcade style) upright, I just bolted the casters through the MDF base.  

In that case, there are a few pieces of MDF mounted vertically underneath the base to help keep it rigid and avoid sag.  For tearout, I suppose it's possible that the wheels could push up through the base but it seems kind of unlikely.

[ChadTower]

Is particle board weaker than MDF?  When I built my (Project Arcade style) upright, I just bolted the casters through the MDF base. 

Substantially weaker.

[BobA]

Bolting thru rather then screwing will give alot more strength to your casters.   Screws will pull out from ply or sold wood if the casters are stressed.   Solid wood with lag bolts is good.

[Crowquill]

I'm thinking bolting through the particle board should work, but I'd add some material on the inside for reinforcement. Scrap plywood or a couple 1x4s should work and be cheap.

Why put casters on a cocktail? Most people want them to be very stable. Usually they're light enough to move fairly easily anyway.

[Disturbed013]

I agree about the why? question.  Unless you put casters with the little lock mechanisms on them it would be really unstable when playing.  Even things (carts, dolly's) that normally have that type usually have two fixed direction casters and two swivels, but it would be a real hastle to get a foot under there to lock it down every time you move it.  That would be the reason for casters to begin with.  There are probably hundreds of ways to mount and reinforce them that would work if you are really comitted to the idea.  Would particle by itself hold them, probably, but not well, and not over time.  Reinforcing it with any of the ideas mentioned would probably work better.  Overall cab weight is another factor. 

Just to throw another idea at you:  If you want it easily movable and stable why not use two standard corner mounted upright cab wheels mounted (vertical) inside on one end and 4 leg levelers underneath.  By mounting them to the inside they would be just barely visible.  Make sure you build it stable enough to pick up the other end and you could wheel that sucker anywhere you want and set it down nice and solid in place again.  Just an idea.