Bent caster on unisaw mobile base

[Paul Comi]

Guys, I have a new unisaw with the 52" extension on a Delta factory mobile base. I'm on the second caster that Delta has given me and the base plate of this one has also bent under the weight of the saw. I don't understand what's going on but I'm wondering if I'm the only one having these problems with their mobile base.

[Rich Konopka]

Paul:

If you bought your base at a local dealer you might want to have them broker a meeting with the Delta Rep. The rep in my area is a very gracious guy who helped me with a issue with my TS.

[Jim Becker]

Paul, sounds like a defective base to me. As much of a pain as it would be, I'd ask the dealer to replace it in total if you've not been able to solve the issue by replacing casters. There is no way things should be "bending" or deflecting on that base.

[JayStPeter]

Back on the pond, there was a couple guys who build drawers and shelves under their extension tables and had that problem because of the extra weight. If I remember correctly, they welded some reinforcement over the offending piece.
But, I used to keep my planer on the end of my extension table and move the whole shebang around regularly. No problems. So, I agree w/Jim.

Jay

[Paul Comi]

I keep a couple things under the extension like my EB3 miter gauge and my tenoning jig, but no cabinet-yet. I was planning to put a 2 drawer storage cabinet under there but with the caster base plates bending twice I'm reluctant. Since Delta already replaced it once I was just curious if I'm alone in this and if its my fault somehow.

[Byron Trantham]

Paul,
I have the same saw. My caster is fine but I have bent [albeit slightly] the plate that contacts the caster to raise the table. It's the plate with the arm welded to it that you step on. I pretty sure it was the weight I had on the extension table while moving it. :o Noticing the bend, I am very careful about not putting anything heavy on the wing while I move it. ;)

[Joe Scarfo]

I've had mine, w/ the 52" Beis fence, for a number of years now. I've been very dilligent in lowering the base unless the saw is in motion.

Nary a pblm here....

Good Luck
Joe in Tampa

[JayStPeter]

Paul,
I have the same saw. My caster is fine but I have bent [albeit slightly] the plate that contacts the caster to raise the table. It's the plate with the arm welded to it that you step on. I pretty sure it was the weight I had on the extension table while moving it. :o Noticing the bend, I am very careful about not putting anything heavy on the wing while I move it. ;)

That's the part that I understood needed reinforcing to work with the extra weight. As I said, I think the two who had the problems welded some additional steel on there. Apparently the welded arms did OK (even though they look like the weak point to me). I've kept it in mind as I have been considering building a cabinet under mine.

Jay

[Paul Comi]

I'll probably just end up getting some thin steel and laying it on top of the existing plate to reinforce it since the replacement casters are going to be the same cheap metal base place as my last two have been. After my first caster plate bent, I have been extremely careful to lift up on the end of the bies rail to help offset the torque it takes to raise the saw onto the caster. After moving the saw to its position in the middle of the shop or out of the way to the side I have always raised the caster so that its not resting on it. In spite of that the plate that is part of the caster is what has bent now twice.

[mike lucas]

That must be some kind of cheap mobile base, because we know that the saw isn't all that heavy.
I have the Powermatic on a HTC mobile base. going on 12 years now, and everything is holding up like new.
And the Powermatic out weighs the Unisaw by about 33%

[Paul Comi]

I must say that once again dealing with Delta has been a good experience. I called reluctantly today but the customer service person is sending me a replacement caster and didn't give me any problem about it. Other than this one issue the saw is excellent and I have been very happy.

[Steve Evans]

Paul

Sorry to hijack your thread. Does anybody know where you can just buy the caster unit on it's own. I gutted a base a few years ago for the caster unit, and I could use another base. All I need is a caster unit.

Steve

[Alan Schaffter]

You can get the lift caster only from Rockler: http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/findprod.cfm?sku=2383&DID=6

I've used them on my router table, and on other tools where I just attached the caster directly to the tool base and added non-castering wheels to the back. Result- instant mobile base.

<img src="http://members.cox.net/aschaffter/images/base.JPG"width="400">

Here are more some pics: http://members.cox.net/aschaffter/mobile_base.htm

[Steve Evans]

Thanks Alan.

[Bruce Page]

Paul, I have the same setup on my Unisaw, without any problems. I don't move it very often tho