How to Choose a Set of Casters

castor wheel
source: casterconnection.com

Every single invention or discovery people have made throughout human history has gotten an upgrade and the same can be said for the wheel. Referred to as the most important human invention, the wheel has, not long ago, been upgraded with the help of a bearing and a bracket. This is what is known as a caster.

Casters still make use of a wheel but the wheel itself is more versatile and capable. No longer do you have to struggle pushing a heavy item be it on a trolley or flat platform of any size. As long as the casters that are used provide enough support, you are able to move anything from one point to another.

Benefits of Casters


heavy duty castor wheel
source: etwinternational.com.ar

Convenient

Thanks to its simple design a caster is able to make pushing or pulling anything you can't otherwise do so by yourself, much easier. Casters are free rolling which means they make any load-handling solution a breeze to use. You can also find the correct castor wheel online for any type of equipment be it one that you're making out of scratch or one that needs that upgrade.

Durable

It's again because of that simple design that castor wheels for sale are also quite durable. They can withstand quite heavy loads, no matter the conditions and still be as good as now even after years of use. That is if you take care of them which is not too much of a burden as they don't need more than the occasional cleaning to stay in good shape. 

Versatile

Just because something is limited to a certain type of action, doesn't mean it's not versatile. In fact, a castor wheel found online can be added to anything you want to make mobile. It doesn't have to be a load-handling platform, it can be a piece of furniture or your old TV that you want to add casters to.

What to Consider

Mount

The type of mount a caster has can be either a stem or a plate. A stem-mount caster is made to be easy to replace and maintain as lubrication and cleaning is not something that will take a lot of time. However, they are not the strongest either which makes them ideal in applications where there isn't a lot of weight involved.

Plate-mount casters, on the other hand, are the real deal when it comes to handling heavy loads but they are not the best when it comes to being a temporary solution. That's because their installation process is not as straightforward as that of a stem mount caster.

Capacity

The load rating or capacity of castor wheels for sale is what determines its use. The higher the amount of weight a caster can withstand the more rugged and heavy-duty it is but keep in mind that it's also probably more expensive than its less capable counterparts. A good rule of thumb in this case is to go for a caster that is able to support slightly more than what you need it for.

Diameter

What determines the ride and manoeuvrability of a caster is its size. The larger the diameter of the casters you go for the easier it is for them to go over bumps and uneven surfaces but the harder it is for you to move around your load-handling equipment. The smaller the diameter of the caster the more manoeuvrable it is but the more difficult it is for you to push the platform over bumps.

Width

The width of a castor wheel affects stability and maneuverability and the wider it is the more stable it is. Guess what? Wider casters are also not as good for tight turns as their narrower counterparts are.

Brakes

Having brakes on your new casters is key for a safe user experience. Especially if you have to move heavy items around. What's also beneficial is the use of a locking mechanism which keeps the wheels from moving when on an incline.

Rigid vs Swivel

Depending on the direction you can move with a castor wheel it can be either fixed or swivel. Also called rigid casters, fixed casters allow you to move only forward and backward. They are made for heavy-duty use and that's why they are so limiting. Swivel casters allow you to move around in 360° which means they make for more versatile equipment.

Types of Caster Wheels


heavy duty castor wheel
source: casterconnection.com

Neoprene

Neoprene wheels are well cushioned and quiet which makes them great for soft floors.

Fibreglass

Fibreglass caster wheels are excellent for heavy-duty and in environments with high temperatures.

Rubber

Rubber wheels make for the longest-lasting and quietest wheels that make for a comfortable ride.

Stainless Steel

With stainless steel castor wheels for sale, you get strong and durable casters that are corrosion resistant.

Phenolic

Phenolic resin wheels are best on smooth surfaces and in wet conditions.

Polyolefin

A set of polyolefin wheels makes for an impact-resistant solution that is also non-marking and great in wet conditions.

Popular posts from this blog

How to Buy a Domestic Water Pump that Will Satisfy Your Needs

Stylish Success: Must-Have Essentials for the Modern Working Woman