What size casters does everyone prefer?

[ivwshane]

I was going through some of the pictures here and it seems like everyone is using small casters >2.5". I picked up some 3" because I figured they were rated to handle the load better and would allow easy maneuverability.

Has anyone tried different sizes and come to a conclusion of whats best?

[Zobeid]

I used 3" casters, they work well (at least since I oiled them).

I used four fixed casters, no swivels.  To turn the cabinet, I just tilt it back a little so it's resting only on the two rear casters, then it turns easily.  Obviously they have to be able to take the weight for this to work.

[Ginsu Victim]

whatever size these are. Divemaster sells these. I believe they're from Happ (going by the art style)
Link

[shardian]

None.
That is what a Dolly is for.

[Ginsu Victim]

It would be nice to not have it on wheels, but when I need access to the back, the wheels are awesome.
Sure, they cause the cabinet to be a little shaky during fighting games / beat 'em ups, but being able to go behind the cabinet with ease is a must.

[ivwshane]

No one uses leg levelers?

http://www.happcontrols.com/accessories/49100200.htm

[Ginsu Victim]

Mine had levelers, but I took them off and put wheels on.

[ivwshane]

Mine had levelers, but I took them off and put wheels on.

What was your reasoning?

[Ginsu Victim]

Read my other replies above

[DeLuSioNal29]

Mine has 3 inch wheels, but it does make the arcade "shaky".  It also raised the height of the arcade unit and it's noticable.  I'm thinking of getting the ones that go on the back and only work when you tilt it back.  That should solve both the height and shaky problems.

They are similar to "Healys" sneakers.  Anyone know where I can find these type of wheels for my arcade cab?

~ DeLuSioNaL

[RoninEditor]

Mine are 3 1/2" I believe, but I 'sunk' them while building so about 1" is visible.  I have two fixed and two swivel... which I'm SO glad I did (vs. having all fixed or all swivel).  My front two swivel so I can 'aim' it and just push or pull... super easy. 

I've been building mine, literally, from the ground up, and checking the levels all the way up so it's pretty solid, not much rocking when you initially push it. 

[NickG]

I use 4 2-inch casters on my upright, all swivel.  They have 1-inch threaded posts and brass sleeve nut and they are made of a hard orange rubber the likes of which one finds on a pallet jack.  I got them on ebay, I think.  I like them so far, but I am considering going to a two-fixed / two swivel arrangement.  I might just add a removable piece of wood with two slots to hold two of them in line.  Do you guys swivel the front wheels and straighten the back wheels or vice versa?     

[Ginsu Victim]

Mine are all fixed. Keeps it from moving side to side during intense 2-player sessions.
I only need the ability to pull it forward and push it back into place.
My wife and I just bought a house, so it's not going anywhere.

[ivwshane]

Mine are 3 1/2" I believe, but I 'sunk' them while building so about 1" is visible.  I have two fixed and two swivel... which I'm SO glad I did (vs. having all fixed or all swivel).  My front two swivel so I can 'aim' it and just push or pull... super easy. 

I've been building mine, literally, from the ground up, and checking the levels all the way up so it's pretty solid, not much rocking when you initially push it. 

This is what I'm planning on doing. Four 3" casters, two rigid, two fixed with the ability to be locked. In order to stop the cab from rocking I plan on using a t-nut and a 5" 3/8 carriage bolt, which will allow me to adjust the height.

[paulscade]

I'm using these on my first build (Ultimate Arcade II):

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90995

I've adjusted the design of the base to allow the casters to be completely hidden.  The cab sits about 1" off of the ground.

You might say that this is overkill... but these MDF cabs are pretty heavy... add a monitor, computer, speakers/sub, etc... and it's easily up over 300 pounds.

I decided to go with fixed casters in the front and swivels at the rear.  Once the cab is pushed up against the wall, I'm hoping that movement will be at a minimum.  Worst case... I'll add levelers to keep it in one place.

[FrizzleFried]

Anyone know if they make Castors that have threaded shafts that will fit in to a standard leg leveler mount?

[wbassett]

I used appliance casters.  They are low profile and can handle some serious weight.

[Bender]

Anyone know if they make Castors that have threaded shafts that will fit in to a standard leg leveler mount?

Woodcraft just came out with these available in 1/2 and 3/8 thread
I have similar ones on everything in my studio and they work great
They will be under my cab too(when I make one)

[Ginsu Victim]

That's one thing I wish mine had....brakes.

[SavannahLion]

Do you guys swivel the front wheels and straighten the back wheels or vice versa?     

Depends on which is more important, how you wheel the cab around or how it moves when it's in place. With a 2x fixed + 2x swivel arrangement, you want to the swivels to be on the side you would mostly push/pull the cab. It's really difficult to translate enough force on the opposite side to change directions with that much weight.

To see what I mean. Go to a store with a standard shopping cart with that kind of wheel arrangement. Now put something really heavy in the cart, like a couple of big bags of dog food. Now try to push the cart and change directions. If the swivels are in front and the fixed are on your side, you'll find it's not easy. Now turn the cart around so the swivels are on your side. You'll find it's far easier to change directions with the cart.

The thing with an arcade is the swivel side moving when playing an intense game. If you put it on the CP side, it's likely the cabinent will shift around during intense games. Putting it on the other side makes it more difficult to move during games, but also harder to steer into/out of place.

I put wheels on almost everything that weighs over 200lbs. They're worth the extra bucks. On most, I put the swivels on the side I'm most likely to use to move it around. If shifting is an issue, I find some way to lock the swivels into a fixed position.

I always seem to have trouble remembering how to measure their ratings though. 

[FrizzleFried]

Anyone know if they make Castors that have threaded shafts that will fit in to a standard leg leveler mount?

Woodcraft just came out with these available in 1/2 and 3/8 thread
I have similar ones on everything in my studio and they work great
They will be under my cab too(when I make one)

Unfortunately those are $11..89 each meaning each cab would be $47.56 and being I am at 14 cabs I'd be looking at $665.84 to put `em all on casters...and that is the sale price.  PLUS they are back ordered...

[ChoiceStriker]

Good advice here; more for me to think about.  What do you guys think of something like this?

http://woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=5114



Compared to the total cost of buying four of the casters mentioned above, the price doesn't seem bad.  Nice that it's also got leg levelers.  I assume you could attach it to the base of the machine, as well? 

[Bender]

Good advice here; more for me to think about.  What do you guys think of something like this?

http://woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=5114



Compared to the total cost of buying four of the casters mentioned above, the price doesn't seem bad.  Nice that it's also got leg levelers.  I assume you could attach it to the base of the machine, as well? 

those would be cool if you could conceal them inside the cab and press the leavers through the coin door or flip-down kickplate
Seems like it would be pretty solid too

[Paladin]

I saw those appliance casters the last time I was at the hardware store.  The weight rating was huge, and they were only $15 for a pair as shown in wbassett's pic.  My one concern is how they would work on carpet.  They're made for appliances, which usually sit on wood or vinyl floors.

I was thinking of placing them under the monitor section of my showcase cab project, and using furniture sliders under the control panel section.  That way I could roll the heavy monitor section to where I want it, and just slide the lighter control panel section next to it and bolt them together.

[ivwshane]

So now that I have everyones take on caster size (3" seems to be the standard).

How do you guys have them mounted? Are they hiding behind the front panel where the coin door goes or do you have them sticking out of the toe kick area?

I ask because I plan on using swivel casters with locks but I can't seem to find the best way to mount them but at the same time keep them as hidden as possible and still be able to access the wheel lock.

Any ideas or examples?

[amadama]

This is how I put mine in (recessed):


Swivel on in front. Fixed ones in back.

[ivwshane]

Thats how I planned to do mine but then how will I access the wheel break?

[amadama]

Hmmm, that's a good question. My casters don't have any brakes on them so I didn't have to worry about that. Your best bet, if you don't want to raise the height of the machine too much, would be to cutout the bottom front to allow access to the brakes.

[ivwshane]

I think what I am going to do is get a pair of swivel casters without breaks and just use the levelers as a way to keep if from moving.

[fjl]

I'm putting in both lockable caster and levelers. The levelers will be keep it from tilting and or shaking and the lockables wheels to keep it from moving. As for accessing the lockable casters I plan to add an accessible hatch to the bottom of my arcade. Something like this...

[koinsatx]

Mine has 3 inch wheels, but it does make the arcade "shaky".  It also raised the height of the arcade unit and it's noticable.  I'm thinking of getting the ones that go on the back and only work when you tilt it back.  That should solve both the height and shaky problems.

They are similar to "Healys" sneakers.  Anyone know where I can find these type of wheels for my arcade cab?

~ DeLuSioNaL

DeLuSioNaL,  Did you ever find these casters that you were speaking about?  I purchased a pair from Happ that seem to match the description you are talking about. Here is the link.  http://www.happcontrols.com/amusement/acesor/33119800.htm

Koinsatx

[ahofle]

I wanted to add a very simple 'duh' discovery I had with my casters causing rocking under certain circumstances as mentioned by GinsuVictim above.  I tried pointing the two front wheels outward (they were pointing toward the front/back from all the moving of the cabinet).  I couldn't believe what an improvement that gave in the overall stability of the cabinet.

[shmokes]

Anyone know where I can find these type of wheels for my arcade cab?

Happ sells them, so Divemaster probably does too.

[kelemvor]

whatever size these are. Divemaster sells these. I believe they're from Happ (going by the art style)
Link

I have some like that that came on the back of my cab.  Nothing on the front.  I just tilt it up like it is its own dolly and can wheel it around.  I also put some sliders underneath the front corners and I can just slide it wherever I want.

[shmokes]

I put two of those on the back of my cab, and two swivel casters (with brakes) on the front.  I don't remember what size I used, but they're pretty big.  I'd guess 3" without going over and measuring.

[miles2912]

What I did and it it is working very well.... recessed all the casters so you can't see them.  The problem is that you can not get to the brakes.  I don't have brakes on my casters so that is a moot point anyhow.  The cab is on hard concrete so it would roll.  What I did was cut a 2x6 the width of the front of the cab and paint it black.  I just lift the cab up and pop it on the piece of wood.  Very stable and cost effective.  You can't even tell its there unless you look very hard.

[Twinpanther]

Hey guys.  Kinda new here but I wanted to ask.  What about two fixed wheels recessed in the back and either levelers in the front or maybe an extended kickplate for the front to sit on?  That way the cabinet will be more stable and shouldn't roll as easily during use but if you need to move it you can tip it back slightly and it should roll on the rear casters.

OK, back to hiding in the corner while I continue to plan my first cabinet.

Twin

[kelemvor]

Hey guys.  Kinda new here but I wanted to ask.  What about two fixed wheels recessed in the back and either levelers in the front or maybe an extended kickplate for the front to sit on?  That way the cabinet will be more stable and shouldn't roll as easily during use but if you need to move it you can tip it back slightly and it should roll on the rear casters.

OK, back to hiding in the corner while I continue to plan my first cabinet.

Twin

Exactly how my cab was when I bought it (and still is).  The two wheels barely extend lower than the base of the cab but I can rock it back and wheel it around.  I also slide some sliders under the front corners if I have to push it somewhere and it works great.  No chance of it going anywhere under normal circumstances.

[bigdog1977]

 

[cadmium]

I just got around to putting on some casters and man what a pain that was. I think I tried just about every caster they sell at big box emporium, and the base of my cab looks like swiss cheese.

Because my box is a converted phoenix, the bottom is actually sloped, which causes all kinds of problems putting casters on. I finally found that 2 1/2" swivels in the front and 2" rigid in the back is pretty stable and level. It's actually a nice perfect height for standing (I'm 6'), though a little high for the stools I have when sitting.

Anyway, I have about a dozen casters to return, gotta go.