Main > Woodworking
Casters on cabinets - stability?
Druxar:
When people put wheels on the cabinet does it compromise the steadiness of the cabinet during use? Or do you have to make sure you buy the kind that can lock, or what about those appliance wheels, are they naturally stiffer? What should be taken into account when figuring out what to do for casters while keeping the cabinet stable?
ChadTower:
I'd put locking wheels on. They only cost 75 cents or so more each. A full sized cabinet is so heavy that it will be pretty stable unless the wheels are REALLY easy to roll.
miles2912:
I have casters on mine that are hidden because I really did not want the wheels to show. I wanted to get a locking caster.. but I would not have access to the lock. Sigh. Cheap and simple solution, I just lift the cab up a bit and put it on a 2x6 cut to length and that supports it and keeps it from moving. I know kind of cheezy but no one seems to notice or care as the cab is rarely moved.
D-
Druxar:
--- Quote from: miles2912 on December 13, 2006, 01:46:11 pm ---I have casters on mine that are hidden because I really did not want the wheels to show.
I just lift the cab up a bit and put it on a 2x6 cut to length and that supports it and keeps it from moving.
--- End quote ---
That gives me another idea...what about a cab with no casters but have a sort of dolly made up with 2 2x6's with casters, then lift the cab and put into place to move...
Or some sort of self leveling type of caster mock up, if they were bolted to the cab with wing nuts on the inside in a way that you can tighten or loosen them on demand to bring the wheels into play when it's time to move...
_) (V) (-):
Casters are a life saver when you have to move the thing around and are by yourself.
The only 'trick' I can think of is to put them as close to the edges as you can while remembering to allow for the 'orbit' of the wheels. You don't want them peeking out over the edges.
I mysely like to beef up the bottom of my cabnets with a hunk of 2x4 across where the castors are mounted, gives em somthing a bit more solid to bite into.