Help-Double Locking Casters

[Stephen Edwards]

I'm seeking info on the double locking swivel casters. I bought some that are good, stout, well built, easy rolling casters. However, with the double locking brake engaged there's still a bit of play in the swivel action; perhaps 1/8". It's enough to be annoying.

Does anyone know if the casters sold by Grizzly are truly a locking caster? By that, I mean is there no play whatsoever in the swivel part of the caster when the brake is engaged?

Can anyone recommend such a caster? Perhaps I'm being unrealistic, I don't know because I've never bought any before my recent purchase. I want casters that, when locked, it's as if the tool or table or whatever isn't even on wheels. Completely stable.

For this particular situation I definitely want and need the function of 4 swivel casters. I do not want 2 that swivel and 2 that don't.

Thanks for your help.

[Grant Vanbokklen]

I think people shy away from the good casters because of price. But with casters I've found that you get what you pay for. I like the locking Wagner caster sold by Graingers. I bought a very heavy duty set for my very heavy steel workbench. They are awesome and I highly recommend them.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/productIndex.shtml?operator=prodIndexRefinementSea rch&originalValue=locking+caster&L1=Locking

I think these are the ones I got: xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Edit: I notice my link has timed out. I got the "Total Lock" caster, that means they lock the swivel and the wheel. I paid about $60 a caster and they are 1000lb rating each, gold in color, and solid phenolic wheel.

[glenn bradley]

I'm afraid Grant is correct as far as my experience. I have paid as much for a poor caster as a good one costs though, so apparently it can be done. Someone here at SMC was good enough to do a review on a popular style from two sources. Oh, here it is, I just used the search engine here and put in "caster review". . .

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=75281

All that being said, I took a Peachtree caster into Woodcraft and in this particular batch, they were the same as far as cog-tooth count and overall appearance. I do notice both providers get small variations in appearance although the part number never changes. I have bought Peachtree casters that have a small appearance variation between orders but the base unit is the same. I stayed away from the Hartville product based on the review.

At any rate, the Woodcraft / Peachtree ones have served me quite well. Let me go check . . . . I just grabbed my planer/sander fliptop and gave it a shake; there is some movement but it doesn't appear to be swivel related. It seems more like just a lot of weight on rubber casters that only have a very small footprint on the ground.

Unfortunately, Peachtree caught on and raised their prices to within a couple of bucks of Woodcraft’s so I only got a couple sets out of them at about 40% of the current price. You can just wait for a sale as both vendors have them off and on. If your floor is smooth enough for the small wheel, I imagine these (http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?ProductID=149511&FamilyID=21166) would solve your issue and they’re on sale right now.

[Jason Stein]

I have the Woodcraft double locking casters and couldn't be happier. They're on a 700 lb. jointer and it rolls very smoothly, no problem with the weight. I put locking casters on all four, but I really didn't need to, two would have been plenty. I usually only lock one and it won't move. I bought them for $16 each, and of course they went on sale right afterwards. Figures.

[Jim Becker]

I typically use the double locking 4" casters from Lee Valley. (gray wheels) I use them in the shop and also have them on the bottom of our mobile kitchen island. Terrific product.

[Ben West]

I have the 4" double locking casters from Grizzly, and there is no play in the swivel that I can detect. I haven't mounted them yet (will be doing that soon), but they feel solid and well made in the hand.

[Adam Slutsky]

I bought some total lock 4" SES casters on ebay for about $6/each (and not expecting much) but they seem to work great. I made a mobile stand for a 6" joninter with them and I don't notice any movement when all 4 are locked.

[Doug Shepard]

I typically use the double locking 4" casters from Lee Valley. (gray wheels) I use them in the shop and also have them on the bottom of our mobile kitchen island. Terrific product.
These? http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=40133&cat=1,240
I've got a set still in the box waiting for a sander stand to get built.
Seems like a no-brainer. Try them and if you aren't happy with them, return them, including the shipping charge.

[Jason Hanko]

I bought some total lock 4" SES casters on ebay for about $6/each (and not expecting much) but they seem to work great. I made a mobile stand for a 6" joninter with them and I don't notice any movement when all 4 are locked.
I second this. I have the same ones and they work great - virtually no play when locked. Ive never owned a set of "nice expensive" casters to compare them to, but they sure do beat the heck out of the Harbor Freight locking casters I picked up for about the same price.

[Kevin Groenke]

I've Installed over 1200) Shepherd 3"total lock casters in mobile workstations in recent years. These name-brand casters are surprisingly inexpensive in quantity... I think $6.23ea. The workstations are ~400lbs empty, the wheels lock positively and roll easily. These casters have been in regular, institutional use for 2+ years and I've not heard of a single failure.

#PGT30400ZN-TPU21(GG)

http://www.shepherdcasters.com/images/products/institutional3.jpghttp://design.umn.edu/current_students/leo/hall/images/umod.jpg
-kg