The right tool for the right job – it’s a common phrase and one that’s especially useful when you’re purchasing Colson casters. That’s not because Colson casters are inferior in any way – far from it. It’s because you only get the best service from your Colson casters if you avoid common mistakes.
That’s actually a lot harder than it sounds, as Colson makes dozens of models of casters. You might think that because of the high quality of the casters produced by Colson that any caster you buy from the team at Douglas Equipment made by Colson is capable of doing a top-notch job, no matter the application, but that’s not always the case.
The issue is that there are many possible functions for casters, and that means lots of different types of casters are produced. Most casters are used for transportation – that much is true – but what they are transporting, how they are transporting, and where they are transporting all have to be taken into consideration.
So, you also need the right caster for the right job. Here are five common mistakes purchasers make when buying Colson Casters.
They Do Not Consider the Casters’ ‘Rollability’ or Their Braking Needs
The first and most important element in deciding the type of caster you need is an understanding of the task you expect your caster to perform. Casters may look like simple little wheels, but the engineering behind them can be extremely complex. For example, the bearing on your casters will is extremely important. If you explain to a retailer the precise role you have in mind for your casters, they will be able to point you in the right direction.
You might also need casters that have brakes attached. Do you typically store the items your casters are expected to transport on non-level surfaces? Then by using braking casters you can help prevent your items from ‘escaping’ when they are unattended.
They Don’t Understand the Application Differences Between Fixed and Swivel Casters
Plenty of potential Colson casters users do not understand that fixed and swivel casters behave very differently, and that such casters cannot simply be interchanged. Fixed casters only run in a single, fixed direction, whereas swivel casters are free to rotate in any direction up to three hundred and sixty degrees.
There’s a third option between all-swivel casters and all-fixed casters – which is good news as items which have uniform casters can be difficult to maneuver. Sometimes it is best to have swivel casters at the front and fixed casters at the back. This gives you both maneuverability and control.
You may though be limited on your caster choices depending on whether you have tight storage areas – swivel casters tend to be larger than fixed ones.
They Don’t Understand the Dimensions of the Caster Needed
You might think that ‘big is best’ when it comes to casters, but there are much more important considerations when it comes to size. For ease of use and maneuverability the bigger is generally considered the better.
Unfortunately size comes with a downside – the danger of tipping. Having wheels that are too big can lead to instability, and instability can lead to hazards. The last thing you want is your workforce being placed under threat of injury because the items that are being transported are constantly in danger of tipping over.
Speak to an experienced caster sales representative from Douglas Equipment who will recommend the correct sized wheels suitable for your particular application.
They Don’t Consider How They’ll Attach their Casters to the items Transported
The whole purpose of casters is that they enable heavy items to be transported more easily than if they were being carried. When you use casters to transport items, it is the casters themselves that will be doing the lion’s share of the work.
The issue you will have is attaching the casters to the item you are hoping to transport. Some casters have stem mounts which will require the fixing of a plate to the item, usually by four bolts. Of course, not all items will be suitable to have sixteen holes drilled in them (four for each corner), so if you make the wrong choice, you’ll soon be returning your casters and seeking an alternative solution.
You can prevent yourself from having to deal with this headache by explaining to sales personnel precisely what you will be using your casters to transport. This will allow our sales team to suggest the most suitable caster mountings.
They Don’t Consider the Weight of the Objects the Casters will be used for
There are light duty casters (capable of carrying from around 30 to 200 lbs.), and heavy duty casters capable of bearing weights as heavy as 10,000 lbs. There is no point using heavy duty casters to carry light loads, and of course if you expect light duty casters to carry heavy loads then you are simply heading for disaster.
So, you need to know the range of weights that your casters will need to be able to transport. Don’t forget that when determining which casters to use, the weight will be shared equally across the casters. Therefore, a total load of 400 lbs. across each caster will be 100 lbs. each. You can also ease the work done and the weight carried by your casters by simply using more casters. A heavy item with eight casters is easier to maneuver than one of the same weight but with only four.
Here at Douglas Equipment we stock a huge number of casters from Colson’s range of products, and our sales staff are always available to make sure that you avoid common mistakes and pitfalls when you are purchasing them. For a sales inquiry or just for general advice, please pick up the phone today and call 1-800-451-0030, or 305-888-3700 if you are in the Miami area. You can also leave us a message online through our online contact form. We look forward to working to meet all of your caster needs sooner rather than later.
