I am *again* looking for casters - should I consider Harbor Freight?

[Corbettprime]

I've been buying my casters from Grizzley, been very happy with them.

[SVS]

Easy there Tex…..

Fireproof casters…

[Doozer]

You pallet jackoffs are leaking from your rear main seals! You are hijacking this thread big time! I freely acknowledge that pallet jacks can be used and can be useful. OK? I designed my own method for moving machines. See http://www.nwnative.us/Grant/shop%20articles/mtd.

And pallet jack guys DO use pallets when they move machines. They lag machines down to pallets to widen the stance to keep from tipping, and of course they load them using pallet jacks.

metalmagpie

Grant- You roller skates are super cool. Truely. It looks like you put in a lot of thought and fabrication time.
But it sounds like you are telling me how I move my machines. It sounds like you are telling me that I use pallets.
I assure you friend, that I do not use pallets. Just a pallet jack or maybe 2 of them. If someone is putting a
machine on a truck to transport a machine using a commercial trucking carrier, then yes, someone may
put a machine on a pallet. But you are making universal assumptions and assertions that are not true.
In my own goings on, I moved from Buffalo to Charlotte and I took about 12 machines with me.
I owned a 38 foot flatbed trailer, onto which I loaded all of my machines myself. I did not use any pallets.
Just chained down my machines on the wood deck of my trailer. 2 chains minimum per machine.
Not sure what point you are trying to make, but just because you assert something does not mean the world
follows suit. I am sure you realize there are many ways to do things by the age you have attained in your life.
Perhaps your pride in your roller skates is driving you all encompassing assertions that pallet jack guys use pallets.
What ever a pallet jack guy is, perhaps another contrived notion. But I assure you, the world we all live in does not
represent the construct in your mind. That is clear to me, it might not be clear to you. But anyhow, you keep doing
what you do to satisfy the voice in your head. And we will keep carrying on the best way we know how.

-Doozer

[Dan Dubeau]

I use a pallet jack in my small single car garage shop. Not an actual "pallet" to be found anywhere, except under my wood piles. And I move those with good old fashioned child labour.

We all work different and solve similar problems in different ways. I always enjoy the threads that display that.

Sorry for being a pallet jackoff

[MichaelP]

I strongly prefer cast metal wheels for heavy items rolled on a concrete floor. I also use pallet jack and a few Bora Portamate machinery bases and find them to be well suited for heavy tasks, versatile and reliable.
I used HF wheels on a few occasions: some work acceptably for modest tasks, some lose their thread quickly, so I cannot suggest them for your purposes.

[GladMech]

My specs have always been:
Casters SHALL BE Northern Tool or Tractor Supply.
And always (if possible) size the casters for the total load EACH. This allows for momentary point loading, impact, motion, etc...

[RB211]

I went into HF the other day, underwhelmed by their castor selection

[Doozer]

My specs have always been:
Casters SHALL BE Northern Tool or Tractor Supply.
And always (if possible) size the casters for the total load EACH. This allows for momentary point loading, impact, motion, etc...

Where to buy something is NOT a specification.
Something like, the caster must have ball bearings
above and below the swivel axis on the king pin
is a spec. An attribute spec, but a spec none the less.

-Doozer

[Glug]

My specs have always been:
Casters SHALL BE Northern Tool or Tractor Supply.
And always (if possible) size the casters for the total load EACH. This allows for momentary point loading, impact, motion, etc...

Pfft. The casters at my local tractor supply mostly looked like the junk at harbor freight/menards/etc. The online search tools at their sites are terrible. Industry does not buy casters from those sources. I usually buy casters at industrial auctions.

Surplus center has a large selection, with a very useful selection tool. They are name-brand casters and the prices are a small fraction of the above mentioned stores. They provide good specs on each caster. Though shipping for casters tends to be high.

[TaperPin]

I think the key to cheap casters is keep to simple designs, go up a size, pay attention to load ratings, and don’t spend time worrying if they are going to wear out before you do. Some very similar looking casters have drastically different load ratings - often the bearing type, but sometimes the whole thing is more robust. For small low profile casters about 2”, the casters made for car dollys hold something 750lbs each. I have some 4” urethane casters that are rated for 600 lbs and they seem to work well for almost everything.

For this type of thing I’m reminded of a mentor years back who used to say if we wear the part out we can change to a different design then. Rarely have I ever worn out a caster. Lol

[Paul Alciatore]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!

Easy there Tex…..

Fireproof casters…

[SVS]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

You’ll have to expand on that comment Paul. Not sure wether I’ve been complimented, denigrated, exculpated, excluded, ejected, or neglected…..

[wierdscience]

My specs have always been:
Casters SHALL BE Northern Tool or Tractor Supply.
And always (if possible) size the casters for the total load EACH. This allows for momentary point loading, impact, motion, etc...

That load calculation is spot on, caster mfgs, even the domestic ones, lie with impunity.

[wierdscience]

You’ll have to expand on that comment Paul. Not sure wether I’ve been complimented, denigrated, exculpated, excluded, ejected, or neglected…..

Cost to repair a hernia?