Need Help on Mobile base for General 780 Jointer

[Drew Pavlak]

Hello all,

The other night this popped up on CL for $500 and I jumped on it.. needless to say right now it is immobile... and I need to get it out of the bay of the my lift as I have some vehicle maintenance that is sorely needed on the wife's van and on my car..... I have seen plenty of designs for mobile bases, what I can't seem to locate are some smaller casters that will support 1200 Lbs... yup I checked the manual... it's 1200 lbs...... Any suggestions? I realize that each caster would only need to support 300 to 400 pounds... I just can't seem to locate any that are smaller like 2.5" or 3" most are like 4", 5" or 6".......

339550

[Mike Cutler]

In that weight range, you're looking at Zambus casters, or clones of Zambus. You'll probably have to fab up your own frame for the casters, or drill that base for a post type mount. They're expensive, but very nice. I think the lower rated Zambus casters are about 3-3 1/2" tall, with the leveling devices built in.

[Bruce Page]

Also check http://www.footmastercasters.com/

Be sure to check the specs. The weight calculation is not a simple "divide by 4". For example, the Footmaster GDR-60F that I ordered for one of my machines are rated at 550# each, but 1100# for a set of 4.

[Mike Delyster]

Looks like it's set up for a pallet jack right now, that's what I use on all my heavier machines.

[Matt Day]

Nice gloat!

I'm in the same boat (or should I say, aircraft carrier! I crack myself up....) with a 12" Northfield. I'm trying to decide about mobility. My shop is too cramped for a pallet Jack.

[Erik Loza]

Drill a hole in each corner of its feet and install Zambus casters, as someone else suggested.

Erik

[David Kumm]

A decent pallet jack will cost less than good Zambus will if you have the room to store it. I've got a lot of old iron on ZAMBUS or Carrymaster and I would never buy ones rated for less than 1100 lbs each for that machine. The heavier ones adjust much easier up and down and use a larger bolt. Ultimately a jointer should be leveled and kept in one spot. If it needs to be moved to use, I would mark spots on the floor and keep the 4x4 and a pallet jack for that purpose. You do want a jack that feathers down gently. Dave

[Drew Pavlak]

Unfortunately I don't want a pallet jack laying around taking up space... it would be nice.. I have had situations in the past where it could have come in handy.. but I just can't warrant the space of it... Zambus casters are quite pricey... not sure I could bring myself to bite the bullet on those. I will keep looking there is bound to be an option that I won't mind paying for.. I have a hard time spending almost as much for 4 casters as I did the jointer.

[Andrew Hughes]

Shoot that's a nice looking jointer.A fine piece of Canadian precision technology.Why don't you put some good shoes on it.
Your not likely to ever come across another one for that price again.Treat it nice and you will have a friend for life.Start dressing it up cheap well good luck!:confused:

[Tom M King]

Do you weld? I have a simple way to build a mobile base under a machine using two different sizes of angle iron. You just need to cut it to length, put the long pieces under the machine sitting on wood spacers to raise it how high you want it off the floor. The ends are larger angle iron that the casters fit under one side of the angle, and the vertical side of the angle for the casters gets welded to the longer pieces already under the machine. This way, you don't have to add a lot of height by putting casters under the machine, and even buying new angle iron it comes out less than some mobility kits.

[Matt Day]

I ran across a post somewhere about using uhmw to allow it to slide instead of roll. It might be worth checking out some more.

[Bruce Page]

Unfortunately I don't want a pallet jack laying around taking up space... it would be nice.. I have had situations in the past where it could have come in handy.. but I just can't warrant the space of it... Zambus casters are quite pricey... not sure I could bring myself to bite the bullet on those. I will keep looking there is bound to be an option that I won't mind paying for.. I have a hard time spending almost as much for 4 casters as I did the jointer.
I look at justifications differently. If I found a $3500 machine for $500 I would be at peace spending another $300 to make it mobile.

[David Kumm]

That jointer would be more like 7K new. Even large cast iron machines can be fussy to tune when moved. Small wheels tend to hang up easily with a heavy machine. Wiggling then to where you want usually means pushing and pulling on the tables. Crappy wheels will cost you a lot of time over the years with adjusting machinery and repairing hernias. Set it up right and wait on the spiral head until the spending doesn't hurt so much. Dave

[Drew Pavlak]

My welding skills are medicore at best. But this may be what I need to improve in that area. Have any pics of your mobile bases? I fortunately have access to a small stock pile of angle iron, various sizes... And other iron as well.. Flat stock, round stock.. Some tubing.. I will just have to dig to find what I need. I will probably go with a larger caster and separate leveling feet. I don't plan on moving it much.. I just don't have a good way to move it at all.. Once I determine where it will go in the shop.. I will probably never move it again. So I will use some kind of leveling feet just to take the pressure off of the casters so they don't get flat spots. At least that is my intention anyway.

[Drew Pavlak]

That is another reason I am not leaning towards the Zambus casters... The wheels look to small for it to roll easily... I do admit they would have several practical applications in the shop.. Just not sure at the cost that they are the best option IMO. Once I get it cleaned up and ready to go I doubt that I will me moving it. But in the event that I do.. I would like it to roll smoothly and fairly easily. I really appreciate everyone's comments... This helps me work through some things and get different perspectives.

[David Kumm]

The heavier load Zambus are the exception to the small wheels are hard to move statement. That is why they are popular and expensive. Not trying to talk you into them, just saying that if you want a wheel less than 3", Zambus or Carrymaster are the way to go. Once you get to the 1500 lb range, the wheel also needs to swivel easily. I have some heavy machines on welded bases with 4" rubber covered steel wheels and the hardest part of moving them is turning the wheels. I sometimes need to turn them with a big wrench to get things started. Dave

[Chris Fournier]

Google levelling casters and I think that it is Access Caster in Chicago IL where I have bought them.

[Erik Loza]

Assuming the casters are adequate, it's the floor that makes the difference. We have Zambus casters on a 1,000lb. bandsaw. If the floor is perfect, moving it is a breeze. If the floor has seams/irregular texture/etc. it can still be hard to roll. Just be aware that buying the best casters is only part of it.

Erik

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi, a semi-live skid design with a tow bar is the best solution for machines that size.

It's the most cost effective manner, and can use large wheels without raising the machine more than a few mm above the floor. In addition the machine is self locking when the tow bar is removed.

It's how all I move all my heavy machines................Rod.

[Mike Cutler]

My welding skills are medicore at best. But this may be what I need to improve in that area. Have any pics of your mobile bases? I fortunately have access to a small stock pile of angle iron, various sizes... And other iron as well.. Flat stock, round stock.. Some tubing.. I will just have to dig to find what I need. I will probably go with a larger caster and separate leveling feet. I don't plan on moving it much.. I just don't have a good way to move it at all.. Once I determine where it will go in the shop.. I will probably never move it again. So I will use some kind of leveling feet just to take the pressure off of the casters so they don't get flat spots. At least that is my intention anyway.

That's a little different then. I thought that it had to be mobile all the time.
I have seen, and I can't find it any longer, a mobile base that lifted the machine up.( It was under a Bridgeport.) The person made it, in such a manner that it assembled over the base, and had four casters, looked like Tractor supply type.
The angle iron had holes drilled into it that lined up with holes in the base of the machine.The machine base was drilled and tapped to accept some thread stock.There was a locking nut on the thread stock to tighten it into place on the base.
These lengths of thread stock went through the angle iron frame and were used as "jacking" screws to lift the machine up by having corresponding nuts and washers that were tightened to lift the machine.It only had to come a few fractions of an inch to move it. Once he was done, he took everything off the machine. ( I have no idea how the person leveled a Bridgeport. It can't be easy.)
If you need to just move it once, or maybe twice through the years. I think I'd just rent a pallet jack, or some Johnson bars with a set of machine dollies.
I see you have a nice two post lift setup, any change you have engine hoist and can move it into place?

[Rick Fisher]

That is a great machine . . nice score.. I'm jealous..

[Robby Tacheny]

I looked on Amazon and have turned up some steel casters that are pretty cheap, supposedly rated to 1500lbs, and well reviewed. These are cheap enough that you could give them a try and not really be out much of anything if they don't work. . . except maybe a toe? :confused:

https://www.amazon.com/Large-Steel-Swivel-Caster-1500lb/dp/B00HYEZOLK/ref=sr_1_3?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1466772467&sr=1-3&feature_five_browse-bin=3006895011&refinements=p_n_feature_five_browse-bin%3A3006895011 (https://www.amazon.com/Large-Steel-Swivel-Caster-1500lb/dp/B00HYEZOLK/ref=sr_1_3?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1466772467&sr=1-3&feature_five_browse-bin=3006895011&refinements=p_n_feature_five_browse-bin%3A3006895011)

-Robby