How to Make Retractable Casters

[@robertturner557]

I love this. Back in the 1980's, I did something similar, yet very crude compared to what you've accomplished. This was a time when most of us homebrew robotocists used either differential drive/steering motors or separate drive and steering motors. I preferred the latter most of the time even though differential possessed motions completely unique to it. I thus built an octagonal (135 degree angles) base and gave it differential drive/steering motors. The two wheels that were normally casters in such an arrangement, one at front and one at back were connected via a steering linkage and could also be used for steering, or as you have displayed here, they could be retracted giving the device purely differential steering - it was the best of both worlds. Before anyone states the obvious, there were four ball casters that always served to balance the machine. Whether I'd do something like that in the days of omni wheels would likely be a big negative - but it was great 2.5 decades or so ago :) I am a new subscriber - love your work.

[@bixxkailey4351]

Nice work wildman I really like your attitude

[@dwaynethompson1885]

I am considering something like these but I want one set of caster and lock assemblies to be detachable (from separate mount plate, maybe) so I can use them one more than one piece of equipment. Y'know, move one work bench, transfer the casters to the second workbench, and so forth. Great work. I love your comment near the end. "I love being able to make stuff!"

[@stevebreland389]

Wow. Very clever. I admire your ability to analyze a problem and engineer a solution. Great work. Thanks.

[@WildmanTech]

Good artists borrow, great artists steal! ~ Picasso

[@kodiakwoodworks9359]

Wildman Tech I just loved that video. The best part was at the end when you held the finished product up and you had so much pride on your face. I felt so happy for you. I do the same things as you just did and I too, have had many of those moments thankfully. I'm happy because I am going to take that idea and use it on my work bench. It is going to be so nice to not have to bull that thing around any more. Thank you so much for sharing you skills and I wish you many many more moments like this. God bless you.

[@ramonatemple786]

Awesome recognize those Casters wish we saw this video BEFORE we replaced the casters on my little utility cart in my craft room .The cart will house my new grinder buffer! We agree we love that we can make things.

[@steveh8724]

Interesting to watch and might work for really light duty. Would not trust for anything very heavy though. Years ago my approach was to just place non-retractable non-swivel casters on the two legs on one end such that the wheels would only touch the ground when the other end of the stand was raised (kind of like a wheel barrow). When one end lifted slightly, the stand rolled on the two fixed wheels. When lowered, all 4 legs are on the ground and the casters are off the ground.

[@WildmanTech]

Well the saw only weighs 80 pounds. The best solution I've found so far is on my welding table. Cast iron wheels with precision-fit wheel chalks.

[@arnaldodoiarnaldo9965]

Wildman, that was amazing, thank you for sharing!

[@RustyGlovebox]

That is a slick job and works like a charm.

[@joeyaklic9002]

“I make my own” lol. And that’s why we enjoy watching your videos! This was really helpful thank you. I happened to notice the mount you made for your portable bandsaw. I can’t tell if there’s another stabilizing bar on the other side, but I think it’s the nicest and cleanest one I’ve seen so far. Do you have a video showing how you made it? If not, would be a great future video!

[@WildmanTech]

You're not the first to ask about the bandsaw hangar. All I did was bolt a piece of square tubing on where the front handle was and jam it into one of the tubes that makes my table top. It's held in place with a wedge. I use it quite a lot and in most videos, it gives a pretty good view of the entire setup. Very simple. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@davebashford3753]

Those swiveling casters don't roll very well if the bearing isn't absolutely horizontal, and a heavy load like a table saw is going to make that worse. You also need to account for the angle of splay on the machine's legs. To be useful, your mechanism needs to be adjustable. I have a similar set of factory made casters and the only reason I haven't replaced them with a simple scrap wood mechanism like those on my other machines is I never move that machine.

[@tymoyers5902]

I really like your porta band idea !

[@mibrahi05]

Well done. Any other notes you want to share with us? I saw you adjusting the width of the caster back and forth.

[@WildmanTech]

You just want to make sure the swivel of the caster is parallel to the ground.

[@malcolmoxley1274]

So glad you made this video because I made the same only out of ply and hardwood,you only have to try to acheive is my moto well done sir

[@WildmanTech]

I'd like to see them. Are you on Instagram?

[@malcolmoxley1274]

no but I'll see if I can get my daughter to try

[@genaldocaspaarteseferramen9825]

Até que enfim achei alguém que realmente se interessou a enssinar algo tão essencial,obrigado 😀

[@Aalsayyed]

very nice job. i always wanted to build casters for router table.

[@gregperez7367]

Amazing! Thanks!

[@tinycuisine6544]

"l love knowing how to make things" Yes Sir, you do know how to make things ;) Thanks for great vid. SUBSCRIBED

[@JimDockrellWatertone]

Interesting engineering. I like the way you think!

[@thomastieffenbacherdocsava1549]

Great innovation!

[@carlfraz9392]

How much weight can each leg support? Thanks. Excelente trabajo.

[@WildmanTech]

At least 60 pounds.

[@tooljunkie555]

good stuff brother like I always say why buy when you can DIY

[@circuit-maker7971]

Dude, awesome. Thanks for making this video.

[@thebookofcurtis]

Amazing! Thank you so much for posting awesome stuff like this!

[@WildmanTech]

Nothing but the best for my peeps!

[@MitchellDeitrich]

they work and they look great too! exhalent work!

[@lensherman6242]

After watching this, the Rockler deal looks pretty good to me.

[@WildmanTech]

For me, it's more about the engineering challenge.

[@opasworkshop8373]

great idea Marsh those seem to work very well keep on creating my friend.

[@WallysPlace66]

I love it. I want to make some but I don't have a use just yet. Could you tell me about your bandsaw? I don't have one and that looks to me like the prefect solution. Thanks

[@WildmanTech]

It's the Harbor Freight knock-off of the Milwaukee Porta-band. Got it for $30 on Craigslist.

[@WallysPlace66]

Wildman Tech No way!! What a bargain.

[@samehdarawshi3537]

great vid. just came across your channel and subscribed. one question though: seeing amazon link you provided i see that the locking lever is flat at the bottom, is that is the case or the hump is hidden inside as a second layer? thanks

[@MarshWildman]

It's flat.

[@mannyfilmsinc]

Great video! Thanks! When you welded the thin plate of the caster to the hex nut, I think that is a very weak point, you think? I think, I will weld a thicker plate to it, and then drill the holes from the casters to the welded plate, more work , but I think it will be more secure? what do you think?

[@WildmanTech]

In my case, the saw only weighs about 80 pounds. It hasn't given me any trouble and it's been nearly two years.

[@gunnerb47]

Love it wish I would of seen this about 5 yrs ago before I spent the money on the base I bought.

[@gotzolones]

That good. the 1st video I see someone who dares to make retractable wheels. Because commercials for sale are expensive

[@kadenfraser4525]

Hey , wow ... Is anything like this in production today ???? trying to come up with a raising caster system under two huge dressers , so it can be moved and then sat down again as room is often changing configuration , they need to be hidden .this exact thing would work /

[@WildmanTech]

There’s a link to buy them in the description

[@kadenfraser4525]

@@WildmanTech Thanks i found it eventually and ordered 4 sets . thank you ....

[@ecaff9515]

great job..thanks for sharing...

[@ecaff9515]

Great job Thanks for sharing.

[@danlopez4226]

Just a note, if the plane of the swivel is not parallel to the floor then it is not a swivel.

[@GilCadwell]

Congrats, I was waiting for someone to notice.

[@Majorvideonut2]

Fantastic!

[@buzzsah]

Good work.

[@ozzyozzy6728]

Great

[@bonfacemugo2924]

woow thts great

[@lourias]

That is awesome!

[@malcolmoxley1274]

well done with the project,i made some similar ones but using hard wood,why buy when you can diy catchy

[@FredMcIntyre]

Cool!

[@kmonz90]

good job doing it yourself, but jeez for myself, whatever rockler is getting for them is worth it

[@WildmanTech]

Rockler has good stuff, but for me it's the challenge of the task.

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Neat, I could have used that idea on my table saw. Too lazy to go back and do it over.

[@GregsGarage]

Cool! I may have to "borrow" this one! :D

[@hurleymatthew44]

Hi there just wondering if you have plans for this design I can not buy them as I live in Australia mat

[@WildmanTech]

Plans? First off, the purchase link in the description should work anywhere in the world. The video provides a detailed description of how to build them. What else could you possibly need?

[@DivineMisterAdVentures]

Okay, well your planner comes by and says - "why didn't you weld a tab to the caster plate and weld the bolt to the tab, because then - it would lock vertically, and roll around better, and have more clearance too, when it's unlocked?" But I say, "God Bless Ya, Man! Yer goin in my Shop-Hacks file!"

[@alexmalinovskyi7037]

Excellent

[@SIMANAMA]

thanks for guide

[@TheBirdman66]

do you sell plans?

[@WildmanTech]

This video should be the only plan you need. I don't provide measurements so that you can use whatever materials you have on hand,

[@louierivera871]

I have a dilemma. I want to make wheels that do the same but on an outside yard. With a 1 foot wheel w/ air. How do I build it .

[@WildmanTech]

Just the same as this, only bigger.

[@louierivera871]

@@WildmanTech that's what I kinda was leaning towards.

[@ken5439]

Great job, can you provide the specs for the two metal pieces? thanks

[@WildmanTech]

Specs? Not sure what you mean by that.

[@ken5439]

sorry, meant the dimensions of the mild steel parts. You said the cam was a 1" x 2" but not sure about the piece that attaches to the table.

[@WildmanTech]

That was made from 1.25" square tubing.

[@akivazohar2502]

Looked good but I don’t have welding capacity

[@WildmanTech]

Make friends with someone who does.

[@rogermccaslin6750]

akiva zohar You could use hinges and bolt it together. It would take a bit of redesign but I could see it working, at least for the parts shown in this video.

[@remco6007]

mee to 👍🏿👍🏿

[@richardmilner4392]

I need that with 6 or 8 inch pnuematic caster

[@WildmanTech]

Keeping it Real totally doable!

[@ltsgarage7780]

Now do one for an 8 inch rubber wheel. This would be for an outside heavy metal welding table.

[@WildmanTech]

I would never use rubber wheel son a welding table. I do this kind of work on commission if you would like me to build one for you.

[@ltsgarage7780]

@@WildmanTech what would you use for out door. The ground is rough. Plus rocks. You're not going to roll one of these little wheels over the ground. I don't need a table built. I have a laser flat 4x8 now. Why would I need a new table? I don't want an air tire. I want a solid rubber tire. What difference does that make? Once its moved. You lower it off the rubber wheels. Metal on the ground agin. Your theory is??

[@ltsgarage7780]

@@WildmanTech could you imagine shipping a half inch plate 4x8 feet across the country? Where are you located. Not that I'm thinking about it.

[@WildmanTech]

@@ltsgarage7780 If it's a welding table, I would not use rubber because it will melt. I would use 6" cast iron wheels with locks on them.

[@ltsgarage7780]

@@WildmanTech I'm confused. Melt from what. You can make your mounts. Prefab. remove 1 bolt (axle) Weld it the the cart or bolt it to the cart. Replace the wheels & axles. Rubber will roll easier over rocks or rough surfaces. They come as casters with locks! So I'm kind of lost per your statement. I'm pretty sure you know everything I've just said to you I really am missing the melting point??? Your melting point is??

[@mightyeagle]

One thing they protrude onto the outside face I will do one a bit different and send it to you

[@dkzlslx7690]

Im nt dave matthews but you roxx!!

[@leonardorojas1781]

Where's the video of the casters installed?

[@WildmanTech]

Right where I said it would be at 7:55

[@leonardorojas1781]

@@WildmanTech oh. F*k you. I hate Instagram.

[@tinnedanger]

For the amount of work to make something that won't hold much weight . You might as well buy some that will hold weight.

[@WildmanTech]

Where did you get the idea that it won't hold much weight? It holds my tablesaw just fine. Should go to 500 pounds without much trouble.

[@fastechsystems404]

what's the cost of materials?

[@WildmanTech]

Cost for me is going to be much different than cost for you? I have excellent sources and use a lot of scrap material. I'm into this project less than $20. Build it out of a Home Depot and it will easily hit $50.

[@ngipzmarz6616]

The weight how much it can carry depends on how big are your casters,I guess....

[@WildmanTech]

No, it's determined by the load rating of the casters.

[@donhinze2811]

Bro just spend the $40 and buy a set already powder coated. I’m sure you are over $40 into all this. Cool video tho. Props!