Adding Wheels?

I’d like to put my type cabinets on wheels and am wondering if anyone has done this and has advice. Of course, the wheels would have to withstand the weight. I would also love to put my Vandercook on wheels, too. It’s a 215 (similar to #4). My studio is on a hardwood floor. Any advice? Thanks!

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For both instances I would recommend you use machine leveling plate casters, which convert from rigid feet to wheeled caster easily. That way you can secure things down, and then use the wheels only when needed. We have a few cases that have wheels, and even the act of taking out cases can shift the whole cabinet. Similarly, I would never run a Vandercook unless it was rigidly placed on the ground.

I would also recommend that you build a platform or a pallet and place the cases or press onto that platform so that it can still sit on a flat surface as intended. I’ve seen some instances where casters have concentrated weight, and caused some cases to wear or nails to become loose because they changed the weight distribution.

With type cabinets you have to worry about them racking. Especially if they are older wooden construction every time you move them you will subject them to leasing they were not designed for. It’s tough to say how much damage it will cause but it will cause some amount of damage and that damage will build up over the decades.

They made galley cabinets with wheels, I would recommend trying to locate one of those for your mobile storage needs.

As far as a press, you want to have a level secure press when you operate it. Wheels will ensure you have neither of those conditions.

The weight of the type cabinets on wheels will may “dent” the hardwood. Wheels concentrate the weight on four spots. You might consider putting the cabinets on pallets and using a pallet jack when you want to move them.

I once had a Challenge 15-MP on wheels (in a room with a concrete floor). But the extra height (4”) was too high for me. I had to build a platform to stand on which was awkward. I tended to step off it backwards.

LD

I have my SP-15 on a wooden base (essentially just a frame made from 2x4s, and then I have a set of heavy-duty wheels on one side of that, so they are off the ground by half an inch. That way, should I need to move the press, I can lift the other side and reposition the press easily, whilst keeping it 100% stable during operation.

I originally built it just for getting the press into my shop, but ended up never taking it off of it.

Don’t have photos readily available, but could grab a couple if you’re interested in the specifics.

Thanks for all the comments. Good food for thought. I have decided for now just to keep everything as is (no wheels). I thought the idea of the caster/rigid feet was really good. I may look more into that.