When selecting the best caster to use for your business application, there are many considerations to process before making a decision. We could talk all day about everything you need to mull over, but the main considerations are as follows:
- Size of load – It’s a simple rule that the more weight your casters have to bear, the denser the wheel of your caster has to be. Don’t forget that to get the correct load-to-caster ratio, you need to divide the overall load by the number of casters you will be using.
If you are in need of heavy-duty casters for significant loads, then we recommend the Colson Casters Enforcer Kingpinless Series. These casters can be both swivel and rigid casters, and have an attractive and durable finish. There are several types of caster in this range with different types of wheels, but wheels with moldon polyurethane aluminumcore or ironcore, moldon nylon, phenolic or cast iron wheels are capable of carrying loads up to 1,500 lbs. per caster.
These casters are also available with thread guards (metal or plastic) and tread lock or side lock brakes. The kingpinless design negates the potential failure of the caster due to the stretching of the kingpin (the bolt attached to the top plate), often regarded as the caster’s weakest point.
- Condition of floor – The condition of your floor will also determine the right type of caster you need. If your environment is leveled and clean, then you will have a great many options when it comes to purchasing your caster. If, however, your production floor is uneven, or always strewn with debris, then you will be more limited in your choices.
With poor floor conditions, you’re going to need casters with solid tread. The condition of softer treads, such as rubber will deteriorate quickly as the caster will pick up debris in the tread. You will need cast iron wheels, or phenolic.
For applications where floor debris is an issue, we recommend the Bassick Honcho HA-HB range as manufactured by Shepherd Casters. These casters come supplied with cast iron, steel or V-Groove wheels and have an amazing dynamic load capacity of over 3,000 lbs. Supplied with an attractive gold-painted finish, these casters are perfect for use on fixture trucks, heavy engine stands, and assembly line trucks. They feature a tapered roller bearing, with a one-inch kingbolt that’s forged into the top plate. The legs of the caster are fully welded both internally and externally to give the wheel added strength and stability. It’s a sure-fire winner for nearly all heavy-duty applications.
- Ease of roll required – If your items are likely to be in constant use, then you will need casters that are easy to roll. If your caster-mounted items are difficult to move, then your workforce will soon become fatigued leading to the risk of an injury. If your items are seldom moved but need to be caster-mounted for when they are moved, then rolling ease is not so much of a factor.
Big wheels are the key when it comes to easy rolling, plus a softer tread such as rubber. This makes perfect sense if you think about it. Say you have a large weight in a backpack to carry – would you rather carry that weight on a bicycle or a skateboard?
We like to recommend all of the models that are manufactured by our trading partners Blickle, but when it comes to casters for easy rolling we recommend their V Series. These are wheels with solid rubber tires that have a reinforced design that includes a pressed steel rim. These casters are not perhaps as ‘easy to roll’ as furniture casters, but what you lose in roll-ability you gain back in load-bearing properties. This caster is extremely strong, and is perfect for busy production environments. It is also resistant to many aggressive chemicals (not including oil) and has a temperature range between -15o and 175o. It also offers low levels of operating noise, and the rubber tread means your flooring is protected.
- Extreme or unusual environments – Most casters are designed to be used in dry, moderate environments. If you work in an environment where external factors are a concern such as wet environments or places with unusually high or unusually low temperatures, then you will need to select casters that have been designed specifically to deal with unusual environments.
For the perfect caster to use in extreme environments, we are going to go back to our friends at Colson Casters. Their Endura wheel can be found within a wide range of their casters, and with a temperature operating range of between -45o to 230o, you can understand why casters with Endura wheels are perfect for harsher working environments. Endura wheels are precision-molded as one single unit, wheel tread and core combined, eliminating the risk of separation between the tread and the wheel.
The caster’s solid elastomer compound means this wheel can offer much greater durability than many traditional wheel materials, such as metal, rubber or plastic. The wheel is also resistant against chemicals, oil, grease and solvents, and Endura wheels are non-marking. Endura wheels come with a choice of bearings, housings, guards and brakes.
Douglas Equipment, Here to Help You
It’s our job here at Douglas Equipment to make sure you select the correct caster for your specific application. Our expert sales and support team is just a phone call away, and have all the experience needed to understand your business. Whatever your company does, we’ll be able to help you select the precise caster to satisfy you.
The first step in buying the right caster for your business is to call us at 1-800-451-0030. You can also contact us online.
