What do you use for mobile tool stands?

Purchased many years ago a roll around tool storage unit found most often in mechanical garages.

When I used to do woodworking places like Rockler and Woodcraft used to have tool stands with casters for different stationary tools. There were other woodworking tool places as well, but I can't recall their names.

I used to get catalogs from some of these places, but it has been a 15 years or so and I really don't know what all they have now days. And yes, I also thought some of these items were kind of pricey, even years ago.

Yikes, they are still pricey, I just looked as a few. Harbor Freight has some carts with casters, might be another place to look? Building something and adding good casters would probably be expansive as well, unless you could possibly make one cart for multiple items. Or maybe adapt a cart for multiple items?

One more edit: Harbor Freight has some at reasonable prices, but no casters. If you could cut a piece of plywood and add casters somehow at a reasonable cost they might be the least expensive.

I built my own work bench with six large casters on it. But like everything else I do in my train room the monster is a little over the top. The only time is gets moved is when I have to sweep under it.

The drive way idea is a great one Art and I do that all the time weather permitting. But I can build a work platform out of Ply and folding horses quicker then I can move the beast.

In any case I do have a four draw roll around tool box that I keep under my platform. I bought it at Sears that is a big help and is much more manageable then Godzilla the work bench.  Have fun! 

I had the same dilemma you did.  Most public schools are getting rid of the old overhead projectors and going to ceiling mounted digital ones.  The carts for the old overheads are being sent to salvage.  I bought mine for $5 each.  They are sturdy and work well.  Mnay different sizes are available. 

They are like these....  https://www.google.com/search?...7Y6JxwIVjlyICh2iMAUW

All of my woodworking machines are on roller bases, even including the full-sized table saw. Mostly I bought the bases with the machines, but a couple of them I had to get adjustable stands later. 

Woodcraft has adjustable stands on casters that you can sometimes find on sale for under $50. Also there are special casters that will attach directly to the legs of some contractor type table saws, etc. to make them mobile. Woodcraft or maybe Woodworkers Supply would also be where you would find those. 

I have one base that came in a kit that just had the metal frame and casters. You built the frame and then cut your own platform out of plywood or MDF. I think that came from Sears but it was a long time ago so my memory could be wrong on that. Harbor Freight would be another place to look for roller stands. They also have carts that might work for the bench-top tools. They also have an inexpensive mover's frame on casters that you could remove the carpeting and put plywood on the top for a platform if the machine isn't too big. I've made some rolling platforms for other purposes that way. 

If your machines aren't too awfully heavy, it wouldn't be difficult to make a platform out of 3/4" plywood with casters at the corners. If necessary, you could build a frame around the edge with 1x4 or 2x4 to handle a heavier load.

Art…... when it comes to casters or machinery roller bases, buy quality. Try used commercial machinery or tool shops.

Clem k

Hello

The HF moving carts are a good place to start .

With a coupon there 8.99 .This gives you a small roll away moving dolly/cart that can really hold some weight.

They come with a 1000# rating

I have 4 of them under my Landpride bush hog ,while weighs  about 800# and they hold up very well.

For the price I have not seen any better. One needs to grease them before using ,as they seem to have little or no lube in them.

I have also bought them just for the wheels too.

Can not buy a set of  wheels for they are going for

I took two of them and made a cart for the box blade and those wheels hold up just fine

Hope this helps 

Art,

I have several of my woodworking machines set on Delta Universal Mobile Bases.  These units are a kit that requires 1 1/2" hardwood stringers (supplied by the user) to connect the four welded corner supports.  Two of the supports have wheels and the other two have adjustable feet.  A step-down pedal with a wheel is mounted to the front rail to make the unit movable.  I like these uits because I can customoze them to the size of the machine I am using.  A little expensive, but its worth the convenience.  They are also well built.  When I look at the price I just paid for the Lionel GP30, I could buy several bases.

Tom

A bench with locking wheels would work. Go big, rubber, & heavy duty.

For machine tools I've welded my own stands.

I like two legs with no wheels, on the work side. You move it like a dolly.

It helps keep it planted, not rolling away because you forgot to set enough brakes.

I view 4 wheels as a safety hazard even locking ones.

An accident waiting for the right day, and your fingers  

I used Harbor freight Mobile Base

Please pardon my ignorance, but what does HF stand for?  And where do you get them?  Thanks, Art

Several jobs ago we used a Rubbermaid cart, but if I was in your shoes, I would check out the HF Harbor Freight cart first.

That was Skil. In an email that was passed around the company, the president of Black and Decker was quoted at saying "Our customers don't want quarter inch drills, they want quarter inch holes." True, so true.

(Nobody makes 1/4" drill anymore, minimum was changed to 3/8" even then.)

Hello

Harbor freight.com

They have stores and a web sight

try looking at lot #'s

61899,

60497,

62399,

96888

Like I said I have some really heavy and expensive equipment on the ones I have and they work great. 

Art, just be careful with tools on wheels. Even if they lock, they are still less stable than if they were just on their feet.

Maybe the better answer is just to get a two wheeler to move them around. If they have open bases, just mount them on a platform  so you can pick them up.

Harbor freight is the Dollar store of tools.

They have tons of low cost items. The secret here is, that you can find normally high dollar tools, made cheaper to sell cheaper, but not at a "last a lifetime" quality.

Some things work better than others. E.G. My pal bought a decent Sears angle grinder for himself, then and two cheap ones from HF for others to use.

 The HF #1 died first after about a week, The Craftsman about a year and half.

   The #2 HF was still kicking sparks & steel dust 4 years later.

They get used almost daily at that garage.

Another pal uses no wheels. He has a pallet jack, and some box-cribbing for tall stuff.

HF also has those on occasion too. Or similar HF jacks might work well if you made a bigger cradle, transmission, motorcycle, porta-power stuff (like the 'jaws of life") etc.

Not sure this applies to your question, but here is an old photo that shows a rolling platform I built to hold tools and components while working on the layout[at the time in 2010 it held Ballast and paint stuff]. I built it to park under the layout and equipped it with 4" casters for easy rolling on padded carpet.

  My planer is mounted on an old IBM typewriter( remember those) stand that has retractable wheels for parking and using it......DaveB