With all of the different casters available form all the different caster manufacturers it can be difficult to choose the right caster for your unique job. That is why the service team at Douglas Equipment have dedicated their time to learning what it takes to match the right caster to the nees of our customers.
We have been in the material handling business since 1955, and our team of trained professionals can help you choose the right caster for your application. By using a few simple questions on our quote page we can ensure that we get the information we need to serve you better, so think about the following questions when you are determining what your caster needs to do.
How Do You Need to Mount the Casters?
Casters can be mounted in many different ways, so knowing how you want to mount your casters is key. Do you need plate mounted casters, or stem casters? What sizes do you need on yorupalte or stem? All of these questions need to be answered to find the right caster.
- Bestway SSRT/SSRTR Series Stainless Steel casters: This stemmed caster from Bestway is a stainless steel design and can have various stems installed. While custom stem sizes are available the standard stem sizes include ¾” by 4” to 1 3/8” by 4” plain stems and ¾” by 2” to 1” by 4” threaded stems. The caster offers top quality construction and performance with heavy stainless steel material construction. Wheels are either 1 ½ “ or 2” wide with diameters of 3”, 4”, 5”, 6” and 8” and come in various wheel materials including Phenolic, Urethane on aluminum, Solid Elastomer, Elastiglide and White Nylon. Maximum load capacity depending on stem is 700 pounds.
What Application will the Casters See?
How much weight will your casters see? Do you need casters that are fixed in place, or casters that swivel? Do you need a lock to hold the swivel in place, or to stop the caster wheel from rolling?Is noise a factor, or does it matter if the casters are a bit noisy? By knowing your application our experts can ensure that you are happy with the casters you choose.
- Shepherd Z Series Composite Institutional Swivel Top Plate Direction Lock: These casters from Shepherd are designed for institutional use with a dual ball bearing raceway construction and a labyrinth raceway seal to keep out moisture and dirt. Great for medical equipment, computer carts, utility carts, store fixture and foodservice equipment, these casters have a sleek design, strong and durable glass filled nylon body and sealed precision wheel bearing. This model incorporates a total lock as well as a directional lock. All stainless steel component versions are also available. Available in 5” and 6” wheel sizes with dynamic loads of 280 pounds and 300 pounds respectively.
What Wheels Do You Need?
Knowing your wheel diameter and tread width is only a start in this decision. Larger wheels will likely roll easier since the larger wheel covers more distance with each rotation. However, wheels come in many different materials for different needs. Do you need a wheel that is a soft or hard material? Does your wheel need to be anti-static resistant? Helping you navigate all of the varying wheel types is one of the things that our staff excel at.
- B27 Series Kingpinless Swivel & Rigid Plate: From Jarvis International Manufacturing this is a kingpinless style swivel raceway constructed from 3/8” steel top plate and ½” ball bearings mounted in a heat treated precision machined raceway. Wheel options of 6”, 8”, 10” and 12” with 3” width and come in the following materials: cast iron, ductile iron, forged steel, mold-oh rubber, phenolic and polyurethane. Caster capacities go up to 5,000 pounds, and this caster also features a zinc finish that protects against rust and corrosion and a grease fitting allows for maintenance of the bearings.
How Tall Should the Casters Be?
Caster height is important for the safe use of your material moving equipment. If a caster is too tall it can set the center of balance too high on a cart and cause tipping of the product. However, a taller caster will roll more smoothly as described above, and often a caster with a larger wheel can carry more weight. Choosing the right caster height is an important consideration in your caster choice.
- Colson G Series Lo Pro Top Plate Swivel and Rigid: These casters are ideal for business machines and housekeeping carts where you want a low profile caster. The low profile design offers low load height and quick swivel response and thread guards, standard on all except the 3″ brake model. These casters come in a Cushion Rubber or Hard Rubber Wheel with capacities of 120 to 210 pounds and feature a zinc plated finish that is attractive and durable, full double ball hardened raceways for better performance and greater durability.
What Conditions Will The Casters See?
Smooth floors or rough floors?Inside use or outside use? High moisture environment, high speed, cold or hot, chemical exposure? One of the last important things that you need to know is the condition your caster will be used in on a daily basis. All of these considerations can affect the caster you choose. If you choose the wrong caster for a specific application it can lead to poor caster performance and potential catastrophic caster failure.
How do You Find the Right Caster to Answer These Questions?
When you are looking for the right caster to do the job at hand you don’t want to spend all of your time looking around, so turning to a trusted wholesale distributor is the quickest way to find the right caster fast. Douglas Equipment has been in the business of quality casters and material handling equipment for almost 60 years and has a dedicated and knowledgeable service team to help you with any questions you may have when it comes to finding the right caster.
If you are local to South Florida, call us at 305-888-3700, and national customers can call us toll free at 800-451-0030. We can also be contacted online, and one of our service team members will get back to you as soon as possible to answer all your questions. If you are ready to find the right caster for your needs call us now.
