Buying a Mobile Base & have some questions

[Tim Morton]

The base of my PM60 jointer is 17x22 (plus 3" on the 22 side for the bolt down tabs). I have looked at alot of posts and have researched alot of bases. It seems that most people like the Shop Fox bases, whihc brings my first question On these universal bases, has anyone cut down the metal posts to shorten the demensions. How did it work? my goal is to have the base snug right up against the base of the jointer for a custom look.

I love the delta in bruces thread, but its a little to wide for my jointer and I worry the jointer will slide around.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=10507&highlight=mobile

Which leads me to this new one I found from Jet. its almost a prefect fit, and if I shave off a little of the ears on the base of the jointer it will be perfect. but i am confused by the description of it being a 3-point leveling system, even though all pictures i have seen show 2 fixed wheels and 2 castor wheels. I don't want a 3 wheeled base, because I have heard they can be tippy. Am i just reading it wrong, can a 4 wheeled base have a three point leveling system? I am trying to call jettools now but they aren't answering the phone and I want to order soon.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0006IHHPM/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-7425607-7324612?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

[Ted Shrader]

Tim -

There is an HTC three wheel base under the PM 50 in my shop. No instability problems what so ever. The third wheel (pivoting) is on the outfeed end. The other two wheels (stationary) have locks on them, but they rarely get used. And they don't stick out very far so they are not a trip hazard. There is a ¾" piece of plywood in the bottom of the base. The jointer ears are bolted to that.

Just something else to consider.

Regards,
Ted

[Tim Morton]

Thanks Ted for that. I just got off the phone with jet and the mobile base in question is in fact a 3 wheeled unit. So it may be similar to your base. I will try and find a picture of that one.

[Jim Becker]

I also never found any instablity with the HTC three-point bases and they are actually better when you don't have a perfectly flat floor. I actually had more issues with "tipping" and flex with the "universal type" bases and have pretty much banned them from my shop over time. (Only one remains...under the DP and it will also eventually go away) Now, those were all very light duty bases; the ShopFox and the Delta kit (using metal rather than wood) should be much more sturdy. So buy the base that you are most comfortable with. You could also build the WOOD Magazine machinery mover or consider the Vega; the Vega has NO wheels on the floor when you are not actively moving things. I use one for my 800 lb Stubby 750 lathe when I need to move it, although I take it out from under the machine and store it since for that application the front rail interferes with my feet.

[Frank Pellow]

... You could also build the WOOD Magazine machinery mover
...
.
Jim, I am interested to see what this is all about. A search for "machinery mover" at the WOOD web site turned up nothing. Can you give me a pointer?

[Tim Morton]

I actually had more issues with "tipping" and flex with the "universal type" bases and have pretty much banned them from my shop over time.

I have the delta universal with the wood sides under my contractor saw and find it not be very stable, and I want my jointer when in use to be solid on the ground, and when I move it I want it to be easier to move than my CS. I found a picture of another jet 3 wheeler and it looked to be very solid and got good reviews.

[Jim Becker]

Frank: http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?woodstore+NM6Snx+roltoolbas.html

[Frank Pellow]

Frank: http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?woodstore+NM6Snx+roltoolbas.html
Jim, the specs on this are quite meagre :( (without paying for the plan). Do you know what kind of wieghts it will support?

[Jim Becker]

Frank, the article/plan (also available in the Best-Ever Workshop Solutions 2003 newstand special) does not specify any weights, but the tool is carried on angle iron that is inside the wooden frame. It's likely able to support a lot of weight, although I'm always more comfortable with a welded base...

[John Weber]

Tim,

Your best bet is a HTC base, they have (I believe) a custom sized base for your jointer with the tabs. My Bandsaw has tabs as well, and HTC cuts a slot for the front tab to slide through in the base. I have mostly HTC custom sized bases and think they are the best, other good bases include Delta's and Vega's. I not a fan of universal bases, I think there are flimsy, look crappy, and overly priced. I custom base will run around $90, while a univeral might run $40 - $70 depending on sales and mfg. If you don't have a HTC catalog, you might need to call and ask. They will likely need the model number and serial number to date your jointers base for the correct type. My DJ-20 sits on a HTC base, rock solid and easy to move.

John

[Ted Shrader]

Tim -

Some pictures for your reference. Please ignore the dust (no collector yet) and the chipped paint on the floor. Hey, it gets used. :) :)

Rear, Front and Top views.

Regards,
Ted

[Tim Morton]

Thanks for all the help. I ordered the jet 3 wheeler from Amazon last night. Along with the link belt and replacement motor, this is turning into real money, but hopefully it will also be one sweet jointer when complete. :eek:

[Bob Johnson2]

What's HTC stand for?

[John Weber]

What's HTC stand for?

It's the name of the company that makes mobile bases, fences, and other accessories.

John


P.S. They are in Michigan and make good stuff...

[Ted Shrader]

Tim -

It will be. Remember, you ot a good deal on it initially. :)

Ted

[Tim Morton]

It will be. Remember, you ot a good deal on it initially.

Not as good a deal as I originally thought, I was banking on the motor not needing to be replaced, and hoping that I wouldn't need to spend hours and hours cleaning it up. Wrong on both accounts, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Quick update..amazon had no real expected ship date for the Jet mobile base, and since i DO have a "finish restore" date, I canceled the Jet and got sensible and ordered the ShopFox HD mobile base from woodcraft...they have it on sale for $55 and with the 60 bucks I saved i bought a GRRRipper system(also on sale at woodcraft) :cool:

[JayStPeter]

Tim,

I think you made a reasonable decision. I like welded bases best. But price and availability are sometimes problematic. I couldn't find anything in the right profile for my BS. HTC will make custom welded bases for about double the cost of one of their stock bases. They probably do make one specifically for your jointer as they seem to have stock items for most Jet/PM equipment and are the OEM for the Jet/PM welded bases.

The ShopFox is my favorite of the adjustable bases. There are two downsides to it. First, it adjusts in large increments (2" I think). So, if your machine is right on the verge, you wind up having some space that you have to fill. I have 1/2"+ blocks all the way around my G1018 jointer to make it fit tight in the base. Second, it tends to catch on small obstructions on the floor. I don't really understand why as the wheel sizes are the same as my other bases. But, something about it makes it catch on small chips and such.

Like Jim, I have banned most adjustable bases from my shop. I currently have two ShopFox bases that are acceptable as they are very stable and on rarely moved equipment. If I had to move those units every time I used them, I'd opt for welded.
Also like Jim, I have my only weak base under the DP. It is a Rockler with the wood sides. If the DP was any heavier (or if I moved it more), it'd be gone by now.
No more erector set style bases for me. My eventual plan is to weld my own (just a few minor details like getting a welder and learning to weld to get to first ;) ).

Jay

[Alan Schaffter]

Something to consider if you want to put a mobile base on any machine and don't mind drilling a few holes in the machine base. I've used this on my 300#+ Delta industrial belt/disc sander, my NYW router table, small 4" jointer, and will add one to my Delta DJ-20 jointer and shaper soon. Essentially you use a lift caster just like the Delta which you can get from Rockler (caster only is available from Rockler online, it is not in catalog) and two wheels (different options here). Cut the top tab off the caster bracket and bolt it to to the existing machine cabinet base. Add wheels to the back of the cabinet and leveling spacers in the front. It works great (I really like the action of the step-lift caster)!!! and it is cheap- the caster is less than $20 and other wheels are cheap also. Keeps the footprint of your machine small.

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

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

<img src="http://members.cox.net/aschaffter/Trimmed caster"width="400">

<img src="http://members.cox.net/aschaffter/rear wheel"width="400">

[Tim Morton]

Good to know Jay..thanks!! I started thinking about how much i would ever move the jointer, and I came to the conclusion that it would be "hardly ever", I plan on it being on a wall with plenty of space on both ends. The SF base I bought will be locked in on the minimum depth and I will beed a 1.5" spacer behind the jointer to keep it snug, and on the width it should snug right up to the sides for a custom look.

[JayStPeter]

Tim,

One of the other benefits of the SF is that you can position the wheels in whatever orientation you desire (same is true with some other adjustable bases also). I've been considering building a tall "bench" for my planer and positioning the wheels so the jointer will slide out from under it like on a drawer.

Jay