What do you think is the best rolling base for heavy tools?

[Bill Wyko]

I have a Baileigh 25" surface sander on the way and I need a rolling base for it. it measures 41 x 12.5 at the base. It weighs around 600 lbs. I would like it to fit the base, not one size fits all if it hangs out too much other than the wheels.

[Frank Pratt]

The SawStop ICS mobile base is excellent and if the dimensions of your sander fit, would work well. It has a hydraulic lift and all 4 wheels swivel.

[Mark e Kessler]

I have the portamate pm3550 and the 3500. I had a Felder ad941 on the 3550 and it rolled around no problems, i think it weighs 1300-1400 pounds. I will tell you on that heavy of a machine i would have preferred the two fixed wheel version of the 3500

mark

[Matt Day]

I’ve been very happy with the grizzly bear crawl bases. I have 3 and installed a few more for a client. They have three or four different versions now.

[David Davies]

Mount it to some 4x4s and use a pallet jack...
Dave

[Wakahisa Shinta]

Mount it to some 4x4s and use a pallet jack...
Dave

The above ^.

[Keith Outten]

I agree, use a pallet jack.

[ChrisA Edwards]

I have the portamate pm3550 and the 3500. I had a Felder ad941 on the 3550 and it rolled around no problems, i think it weighs 1300-1400 pounds. I will tell you on that heavy of a machine i would have preferred the two fixed wheel version of the 3500

mark

I have these under a few machines. With the extension bars you can go to 44" (Bora Portamate PM-3036) or two extension bar sets and the coupler (Bora Portamate PM-3014) all the way to 78" .

I'm trying the 4 wheel turning casters, versus the two wheel swivel and two wheel fixed, on my Shaper (800lbs) for the first time, so have no experience as of yet.

But they make rolling the tool around very easy.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhJdhiH71JA

[andy bessette]

The Bora 3500 is a nice, heavy duty, mobile base.

[Edward Dyas]

I like a pallet jack. I have a planer that weighs 2 tons I can move with it.

[Greg Parrish]

I have a narrow pallet jack that I use for my Felder saw and my laguna lathe as needed since they don’t move much, but for my hammer jointer/planer, nova DP and MM16 bandsaw I use the portamate 3500 base as it is much easier to move them a little during use in my small shop. The pallet jack takes too much logistical movement to get in place due to my shop size. So, I vote both. LOL

[Rob Charles]

+1 on the Portamate 3500 & 3550 depending upon how many wheels you want to pivot. I have several & all work wonderfully. I am on my 1st Grizzly Bear Crawl HD "Papa Bear". It appears to be an excellent base for the price. I will probably buy more of those as they appear very comparable but at a lesser cost. I have a Shop Fox Super Heavy duty base under my drill press (probably over kill, but I wanted the metal wheels as I do significant metal work on it. Enjoy the shopping.

[David Powell]

I also recommend the Grizzly Bear Crawl Papa Bear base; have it on my 500# bandsaw.

[John K Jordan]

The SawStop ICS mobile base is excellent and if the dimensions of your sander fit, would work well. It has a hydraulic lift and all 4 wheels swivel.

I bought that base for a milling machine. The hydraulic foot pedal lifts the machine with just a couple of toe presses and lowers with a toe on a release lever. Well made, I think rated for 1000 lbs. One nice thing about this base is when lowered the load is solidly on the floor with just 1/4" of steel underneath.

JKJ

[Mark e Kessler]

I do agree the Pallet Jack is best which is what I now use for the j/p and the slider but i like the mobile base on the bandsaw and the drill press which get moved around more. The saw and j/p don't move that much. the other issue i had with the mobile base on the j/p was that the little it sticks out I kept wacking my ankle on the outrigger that supports the wheel on pm3550


I have the portamate pm3550 and the 3500. I had a Felder ad941 on the 3550 and it rolled around no problems, i think it weighs 1300-1400 pounds. I will tell you on that heavy of a machine i would have preferred the two fixed wheel version of the 3500

mark

[Jeff Monson]

I always make my own so I can get the dimensions exactly to the machine. I use mainly 1 1/4" angle iron and gusset the corners if the machine is really heavy. Cut short sections of angle iron and flip them over, weld them on for the casters (this helps keep the machine low). My heaviest machine on this style is my Felder AD741 it works very well, and locks down nicely.

[Frank Pratt]

The down sides of using a pallet jack are that you have to have room for the jack, maneuverability is not as good as with 4 swivel casters, and many machines have to be raised enough to get the jack under.

[Gilbert Vega]

On my Stubby lathe I use ratcheting machine leveling casters with a 600# capacity each. My lathe does provide a mounting point so I used a piece of Baltic Birch plywood to attach the casters ( Similar to the Footmaster caster below)

[Derek Arita]

Maybe a little late on this one. I just discovered the Shop Fox Mobile Base with steel wheels. I've had other types of wheels disintegrate on me over time. I now have them on a few of my heaviest machines, one of which is 800#. With the steel wheels, it rolls very nicely and wheels won't go bad.
By the way, I also have the Footmasters. They are great. Only issue is the cost and mounting.

[william walton]

In the past I've made my own from steel, have also used several brands but the only one i'll use now is the Rockler all terrain base. Wheels are I think 5"; very adjustable, easy to maneuver and holds 800 lbs. Pallet jacks are good if you're not limited on space.

[Erich Elfeldt]

Another vote for the PortaMate 3500. We have one under our MiniMax FS30. The 3500 makes it easy to move the machine around in our small, crowded shop.