Post Your Home Made Mobile Bases

[Kevin Gregoire]

i have a new Grizzly band saw and would like to build
a mobile base for it and would like some good ideas.

so please post pictures of your home made mobile bases

[Jim Rimmer]

What kind of BS? I recently got a G0555X and used the Rockler kit http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2383&filter=mobile%20base
I supplied my own wood. It works great. A lot of people on SMC have them and love them. I happened to get it when it was on sale. BTW, Rockler is having a 20% off sale right now.

[Cliff Holmes]

http://www.thewoodnerd.com/workshop/mobileBases.html

[Paul Pavone]

i tried to make a mobile base for my GO555X and failed. So I picked up the shop fox base for $53. Four decent wheels will run you $20 - 30. Looking back, it wasn't worth it for me.

[Kevin Gregoire]

jim, i got the grizzly G0555

paul, i had seen your wood type you made before with the lever arm. why did it fail?

[Thomas Bennett]

It's a simple system made out of scraps. Stout enough to suppoert this Tannewitz

[Michael Heffernan]

I don't know if this will work for the G0555, but here is my custom base for the G0514X2. You may be able to modify the design to fit your saw.
This base is extremely stable, easy to make and rolls around with little effort.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=119068

[ken gibbs]

1 & 1/2 years ago I bought a new G0555 with Fox mobile base. Its great and a pleasure to use. I can push the bandsaw out of my way when not in use. Well worth the money.

[Kevin Gregoire]

the shop fox's look nice but i dont like the screw things, to much bending over for
my bad knees and back, but probably better then the wheel lock levers?

[Cary Falk]

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/caryincamas/DSC_0096-2.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/caryincamas/DSC_0306a.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/caryincamas/DSC_0191.jpg

[Scott Schwake]

Could be shortened for a bandsaw.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs319.snc3/28608_1349156807166_1178726221_30852706_4629825_n. jpg

[Jason White]

Here's one I built for my tablesaw a couple of years ago...



i have a new Grizzly band saw and would like to build
a mobile base for it and would like some good ideas.

so please post pictures of your home made mobile bases

[george wilson]

I'd post a picture of one,but I have a reputation to maintain.:)

[Matt Logana]

It's a simple system made out of scraps. Stout enough to suppoert this Tannewitz

Holy Mother of Pearl thats a big band saw.... lol...

This reminds me... I have to get a MB for my bandsaw... Not to steal the thread away from OP, but while on topic, is it easier to build your own, or buy a kit? The HF ones decent?

Sorry OP, didnt mean to steal your post..

[Steven DeMars]

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=94367

[Paul Pavone]

jim, i got the grizzly G0555

paul, i had seen your wood type you made before with the lever arm. why did it fail?
it failed mainly because i'm remodeling my shop and needed to throw something together in a hurry to keep moving the BS out of my way. It was too wobbly and the back wheels were metal and a bit too small. Also it needed two wheels on the lever arm.

[Kent E. Matthew]

Here's one I made for my table saw. I added in a nut and some threaded rod in case I ever have to lift it off the casters. So far I have not needed to do that.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c56/Goose5/misc/mancave2.jpg

And the jointer. Sorry my photos are not that great.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c56/Goose5/misc/mancave1.jpg

[Mike Cruz]

Quite honestly, I have made a few, but have come to the conclusion that I can buy them for cheaper or the same price than what I can make a good one for. When you figure in quality casters, hardward, and whatever material you make the rest of the base from, it is hard (for me at least) to make one for under $50. The Delta ones are usually $70-$100.

So, unless you want to make a mobile base because you can't find just what you need, want to make something out of pride, or just plain want the challenge and enjoy the process, I find it cost or time effective to make one.

That said, all three of the above reasons are darn good ones for making your own mobile base, and I don't pooh-pooh on anyone's desire to make one. Heck, some of the ones I've seen here on the Creek are practically furniture grade/quality! And while I have plenty of other things to spend my time on, my hat is off to and my respect goes out to everyone who builds one of these beautiful pieces.

[Chip Lindley]

Over the years I scrounged up a few mobile bases from scrap iron acquired at the friendly local neighborhood junkyard. I have a little Sears 4x6 metal-cutting bandsaw that comes in handier than a zipper on a banana! My stick-welding is only passable, but enough for applications like these:

Grizzly drum sander stand made from 3" stamped channel, 4" channel for the stationary wheel brackets, and a thick piece of 6x6 angle for the tricycle wheel bracket.
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz142/zzarus/Mobile%20Stands/GrizSanderALL.jpg
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz142/zzarus/Mobile%20Stands/GrizSanderWheel.jpg
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz142/zzarus/Mobile%20Stands/GrizSanderSwivel.jpg

Back in the day, those HTC tricycle stands were IT! I made my own for a Delta 14" BS from some 1-1/2"x5/8" channel, the 4"x2" channel for wheel brackets, and flat sheet for the gussets and bridge over the tricycle wheel. I made several of these for various machines.
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz142/zzarus/Mobile%20Stands/HoMadeStandFront.jpg
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz142/zzarus/Mobile%20Stands/HoMadeStandAngle.jpg
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz142/zzarus/Mobile%20Stands/HoMadeStandWheel.jpg
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz142/zzarus/Mobile%20Stands/HoMadeStandRear.jpg

Just a month ago I scrounged up some heavy 3" channel, 1-1/2" sq. channel, and 4x2" channel for wheel brackets to make a base for Delta RC33 planer. The locking swivel wheel is from Rockler.
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz142/zzarus/Mobile%20Stands/RC33Stand.jpg

My ShopFox 20" Planer needed a mobile base. The same 1-1/2" sq. channel was used to make a base which just fits the footprint of the big planer. Looks almost store-bought! Another Rockler locking swivel caster.
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz142/zzarus/Mobile%20Stands/ShopFox20base1.jpg
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz142/zzarus/Mobile%20Stands/ShopFox20base2.jpg

As we speak, I am lowering my PM66 onto it's very own heavy-duty mobile stand of 3" channel and 3" angle. This one won't SAG even with a bank of heavily-loaded drawers under the extension table! Will add pix tomorrow when I can wheel it out into the open!
~chip~

[Kevin Gregoire]

everyone is so creative but i would like to see some more made of wood.

[Cary Falk]

Quite honestly, I have made a few, but have come to the conclusion that I can buy them for cheaper or the same price than what I can make a good one for. When you figure in quality casters, hardward, and whatever material you make the rest of the base from, it is hard (for me at least) to make one for under $50. The Delta ones are usually $70-$100.

So, unless you want to make a mobile base because you can't find just what you need, want to make something out of pride, or just plain want the challenge and enjoy the process, I find it cost or time effective to make one.

That said, all three of the above reasons are darn good ones for making your own mobile base, and I don't pooh-pooh on anyone's desire to make one. Heck, some of the ones I've seen here on the Creek are practically furniture grade/quality! And while I have plenty of other things to spend my time on, my hat is off to and my respect goes out to everyone who builds one of these beautiful pieces.

I have to move all of my tools to 1/3 of my 3 car garage every night. I need bases that can turn on a dime and fit into tight places. To accomplish that I need all 4 wheels to swivel. I have not see any company making something like that. I can make mine for about what you can buy a welded non-universal base. They work so much better.

[Mike Cruz]

Ok, so you are making yours out of necessity, not for "creativeness"...gotcha. Seems reasonable to me!

One of the reasons I moved to bought bases was that I tried the "making my own" thing and wasn't really satisfied. Chip's ,BTW, look awewome...they make me wish I had a welder, but that would open a whole new can of worms.

The reason I wasn't happy with home made was two fold. First of all, even when I bought what I thought were very good casters (and cosequently paid pretty well for them, too) I found that they had enough "slop" in the swivel casters to allow the machine to move enough to wobble...not nearly enough to make it unstable, but enough that I could rock it around. Upon analysis, it was the casters, not the base. Also, when you have 4 swivel casters, you get sort of a dead zone in the movement. For example, when you move the equipment up to a wall, to move it back out, the wheels need/want to swivel/spin back around. This can make initial movement difficult, with a slight side motion to boot.

I have found simple fixed mobile bases much more steady than ones with 4 swivel casters. That is why I use them. I'm not a real fan of universal ones...

I don't see a reason why the bought ones won't work for you. The only challenge is that the foot pedal would stick out...but they flip up, so it really shouldn't be that much of an issue. I mean, hey, you are already inconvenienced by having to move your machines out of the way each time you use them. Believe me, you are doing your part by lugging these things back and forth. I am lucky that I don't have to do that, but if I did, I would seriously have to consider whether to continue this thing I love so much. My hat is off to you and anyone else that goes through those motions!

Here is a link to where I have gotten mine. Good service, and million to choose from. They even have more if you call with a size not shown...maybe some for/from other manufacturers.

http://www.deltaportercable.com/Products/AccessoriesCategoryOverview.aspx?catPath=4275.4377 .4386.3892

[Cary Falk]

I don't see a reason why the bought ones won't work for you.
Using a mobile base with 2 fixed wheels is like trying to parallel park a car. It's a total PITA. You do this zig zag dance just to get it close. I have an 8" jointer with a built in moblie base and 78" tables. To park that flat against the wall I have to make a big arc. I don't always have a path clear to make said arc. I also don't have to remove everything to get to that one machine in the back. I go to the row I need and remove the one or two tools in front of it and I am ready. They can be stacked in any orentation and removed the same way. I find the Woodcraft wheels lock down solid and the big wheels make them roll easier.:D

[Rod Sheridan]

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=88687&highlight=a3-31+mobile+base

I made a similar base for my 17" band saw, however I don't have any photographs........Rod.

[Curt Harms]

Quick 'n' dirty was the order of the day but it works well. I found the Rikon 10-325 table too high for my tastes and the saw had to be mobile. I built a 2X4 and plywood box to lower the saw and screwed the box to an unused Delta mobile base. If I didn't have the unused mobile base, I'd have attached wheels or casters directly to the plywood base. I reworked the lifting mechanism on the mobile base to use 2 smaller casters rather than the 1. To lift the saw I step on the T hinge, the casters rotate and the "tongue" locks under the ledge. To lower the saw step on the hinge, lift up on the rope and the saw lowers and rests level on 2 blocks fastened to the front corners of the mobile base.

Mike has a point about fixed wheels. You'd need to do "5 point turns" to move sideways. Mine is pretty much straight out and straight back so fixed wheels are not an issue for me. An advantage of fixed wheels is when most of the pushing force is perpendicular to the wheels, they don't move at all. I don't have to bend over to lock or unlock brakes which is nice.

158005

158006

158007

[Steven DeMars]

This one has "zero" non-swivel casters . . .

Steve:)

[David Cefai]

I made this 10 days ago. My Ferm contractor's saw needs to be moved around continuously to allow me access to various parts of my tiny workshop.

The design parameters were that the saw could be moved in any direction and the mechanism would be foot operated. The base is attached directly to the legs of the saw but the mechanism (inspired by others I have seen) could be adapted to fit a separate base.

Photos 1 and 3 show the front and back. The weight of the saw pushes the legs down. The lever is up. When the lever is pushed down the hinged wooden bar locks it down (photo 4). Photo 2 shows the back with the legs lifted about 1cm of the floor.

The frame is made out of 60 x 20mm aluminium box section. The wooden bar is "hinged" with duct tape.

To Do: Replace the wooden bar with a properly hinged aluminium one and cap the ugly open ends.

It works.

[Tom Wassack]

Greetings from NC!
I have attached pictures of a bandsaw base constructed from birch plywood and the mobile base from ash. The band saw is a 1946 model Delta purchased at auction back in the late 90's. The bandsaw and base have served me well.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m150/TomRandNC/BandSaw/P8290022.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m150/TomRandNC/BandSaw/P8290023.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m150/TomRandNC/BandSaw/P8290027.jpg

Respectfully,
Tom Wassack
Asheboro, NC

[pat warner]

Just one corner (http://patwarner.com/images/stand_corner.jpg).
250 pound casters.

[Kevin Gregoire]

Pat,
where did you get these casters? i really like them and especially because the lever
is made of metal, so many are plastic these days.
did you make the aluminum mount?

http://patwarner.com/images/stand_corner.jpg

[pat warner]

"Pat,
where did you get these casters? i really like them and especially because the lever
is made of metal, so many are plastic these days.
did you make the aluminum mount?"
***********************************
Swivel/lock casters from Caster City.
Mending plate (aluminum) provides threaded hole for studded caster and crosses the joint to weld-up the corner. Yep, plate was culled from 1/2 MIC6 Alum. scrap, routed to size and drilled & tapped x me.
An indestructable connection.

[Matt Logana]

"Pat,
where did you get these casters? i really like them and especially because the lever
is made of metal, so many are plastic these days.
did you make the aluminum mount?"
***********************************
Swivel/lock casters from Caster City.
Mending plate (aluminum) provides threaded hole for studded caster and crosses the joint to weld-up the corner. Yep, plate was culled from 1/2 MIC6 Alum. scrap, routed to size and drilled & tapped x me.
An indestructable connection.


Give me a plasma cutter... and ill make you eat your words... :) lol..

[Chip Lindley]

Here's the finished base under my PM66 as of TODAY! I used some "junk" 3" channel and 3x3" angle for the big members. It's nothing special, but it IS Heavy Duty! No sag here!

Legs at the outboard end allow for adjustment bolts to raise/lower the end height. 2x2 heavy tubing runs beneath where a drawer bank will reside. The drawers will have to allow access to the tilt crankwheel and router lift at the end. I need to utilize drawer space to the max for blade and accessory storage, plus router bits.

http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz142/zzarus/Mobile%20Stands/PM66standsml1.jpg
http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz142/zzarus/Mobile%20Stands/PM66endfullsml.jpg

[Kevin Gregoire]

anyone else have any hand made mobile carts to show off? preferably wood?

[Mike Cruz]

Mobile carts for what? There are a million uses for carts... clamp cart, project cart, tool cart, shrimp cart, beer cart, snack cart, a la carte...

[Kevin Gregoire]

Mobile carts for what? There are a million uses for carts... clamp cart, project cart, tool cart, shrimp cart, beer cart, snack cart, a la carte...

mike, you should go up top and read my first post

[Myk Rian]

No need to be too complicated.
http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad222/MykRian/Rockwell-Delta%2028-380/Img_0395.jpg

[Mike Cruz]

OMG, Kevin, I don't know what the H$%% I was thinking. I must have really been spacing. Your original post is perfectly clear. Not only that, but I've already responded to this thread...:o Sorry...

Not that I think about it, maybe someone else started another thread that was similar, or I clicked on the wrong thread... I clearly remember seeing a topic that just said show me your mobile cart. :confused:

[Kevin Gregoire]

no worries mike, probably partly my fault since the title of thread just says show me your mobile bases but then my first post said what i was using it for.

no biggie.

[Kevin Gregoire]

anyone else have any home made mobile bases you want to show us?

[Ben Martin]

I do, I do!

This is what you called over engineered, but I have them under my drill press, table saw, jointer and band saw. Cheap and easy to make with what I have around. 3/4" ply base with 2X3, except where the caster mounts, that is a 2X4. All utilitize Woodcraft total lock casters.

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp325/martbj/Powermatic%2060%20Restoration/IMG_1903.jpg

[Devon Hubbard]

Here is mine. Made from two pieces of angle and two pieces of strap. It is not attached to the bandsaw.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/devonhubb/100_1582.jpg

[Kevin Gregoire]

ben, your base looks like it would hold a tank! but maybe hard to get close to work
at the machine or easy to trip over?

devon, yours is a nice clean fit and i might go that route if i had a welder.

[Devon Hubbard]

devon, yours is a nice clean fit and i might go that route if i had a welder.

Kevin, after I built mine, I realized that just the angle iron end pieces would have been sufficient. It would have to be bolted to the bandsaw base, to keep it in place. I would go with a 3"X4"X1/4" angle and put the longer leg underneath. Just an idea.

[Alan Schaffter]

I dodn't know how I missed this thread originally.

I didn't build a mobile base structure or frame and except for the mobile base on my TS, I made my machines mobile an easier way that results in a simple, elegant mobile base. A few of the manufacturers, like Grizzly, must have liked what I did and copied me (:) maybe?)

I mounted two fixed wheels (from Hartville Tool) in sections of steel tubing and attached them directly to the machine sub-bases.

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/data/500/medium/P5070066.JPG

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/data/500/medium/P1310145.JPG



I use a Delta-style step caster on the front- you can get the step caster by itself from Rockler (see link in Jim Rimmer's post).

http://images.rockler.com/rockler/images/92051-04-500.jpg

On a 15" planer (I added a cross bar to mount the step caster):

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/data/500/medium/P6080031.JPG

On the jointer:

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/data/500/medium/P1310146.JPG

On disc/belt sanding station:

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/data/500/medium/Sander8.JPG

TS (I added new front and back rails made from angle iron and braced the extension table leg so I could eliminate the lower mobile base frame- future home of rolling cabinet)

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/data/500/medium/P5220039.JPG

TS cabinet (fixed casters and leveling feet):

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/data/500/medium/P5080008.JPG

TS extension table leg with step caster:

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/data/500/medium/P5160023.JPG

[Chas Richter]

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x275/c2rower/SHOP/100_2832.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x275/c2rower/SHOP/100_2832.jpg

[ken gibbs]

I used a Shop Fox mobile base for my rebuilt Unisaw applied to a 3/4" sheet of CX plywood and added a set of casters to the right side extension table so the whole saw is mobile. I made extension tables for each side of the saw table and a hinged outfeed table. This Unisaw has the dust pickup on the right side of the cabinet so I had to leave the space directly to right of the access door open. I built a cabinet under the right side past of the opening for blade storage and jigs. I can turn this saw 90 degrees for ripping long stock. Works great.

[Nino Maini]

Do not want to hijack the thread, but I think this still will fit. Does anyone had a mobile base to drill presses, they seems to be more top heavy. I have two old rockwell/delat drill presses and thinking to add the mobile base, but worried they will not be stable enough?

[Daryl Henderson]

Since my shop is fairly small (30 x 30) almost everything is on a mobile base of some sort. My PM table saw and shaper along with my Grizzly G0454Z planer all came with factory bases.

I usually build all my shopmade bases around the same concept--
4" x 3" angle iron frame with the 4" leg as the verticle wall. 5" channel iron welded to the top edge of the 4" leg for the casters. This keeps the increase height to a minimum and allows the casters to swivle 360 deg.

Casters-- 2 fixed, 2 swivle, all locking..size depending on the weight of the machine.

Construction time about 2 hours + painting.

I have a HTC base on my drill press which I am not happy with. That will be my next project.

G0566 21" Bandsaw, G01071 OSS, G09983 15" Open End Wide Belt Sander, and a base for a G0609X 12" Jointer which is backordered until November!!

[Neil Brooks]

Do not want to hijack the thread, but I think this still will fit. Does anyone had a mobile base to drill presses, they seems to be more top heavy. I have two old rockwell/delat drill presses and thinking to add the mobile base, but worried they will not be stable enough?

As I've been thinking about making my DP shop stand mobile ... the thought occurred to me ... of simply putting a "shelf" down low on the stand, and -- if need be -- literally putting sandbags, or lead weight on that shelf.

Simply lowering the center of gravity should do the trick, and -- at least on my concrete shop floor -- I don't worry that pushing the extra weight will be a problem.

[brian c miller]

This one has "zero" non-swivel casters . . .

Steve:)

How did you mount your leveling casters? Is it just angle iron?

[Harry Niemann]

On my Grizzly bandsaw, I used 2 15" pieces of 2" angle iron and bolted 4 casters ( 2 swivel and 2 with brake) from the big box store to them. Bolted these to the base of the saw stand.
Total cost about $18.00.

[brian c miller]

Here's mine. 3" by 3" by 1/4" angle with 3" by 6" 3/8 caster brakets. the joints are lapped and fully welded at all the seams.

The casters are leveling casters from the bay. and make the saw a breeze to move.

I am going to build a cabinet and fill up the empty space.

205061

[Kevin Gregoire]

anyone else have a new base they have made for a certain tool?
if so, please post some pictures to show us.

[Jaze Derr]

227408227409

[Darin German]

Kevin,
Here is the one that I just completed for my 14" bandsaw. You can see the build at this thread: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?183026-Greene-and-Greene-What!-My-first-build-along-thread
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[Kevin Gregoire]

Darin, that is an awesome stand and i loved your write-up on it.
come on everyone, lets see what you got?

[Jim O'Dell]

I didn't post here before because I have only made one for the TS. I've adapted Hurk-U-Lifts for wooden stands, but this is the only home made mobile base.227452227454227455227456
The first picture shows the spot I routed out for the saw to sit down into. Second with it painted and the saw on it and the mobility parts in front, then with the casters bolted to it, and then a closer shot to show how the casters lift the saw off the adjustable pads. The final shot is of the storage cabinet mounted in the extension part.227457 The casters store in the bottom of that cabinet. One of these days I need to paint them.:rolleyes: The base frame is made out of 4X4 Douglas Fir. Jim.