Your job is unique, and that means that not just any caster will do for your material handling needs. You need to think about many things when choosing the right caster; brakes or no brakes, wheel type, load capacity and swivel or fixed? All of these factors are important when you are choosing the right caster for the specific job at hand. Of course it is difficult for you as a purchaser to know the characteristics of all the available casters so that you can decide which among them will meet your unique needs. That is why the team at Douglas Equipment is ready and willing to help you navigate the sometimes complicated world of casters and wheels.
When you call the dedicated and knowledgeable service professionals at Douglas Equipment here are a few of the things that we will work through with you to make sure you get the best caster for your task at hand:
What are the Best Wheels for Your Task?
It may seem like an unnecessary question, but having the wrong wheels on your casters can cause problems. In general you want a hard caster for a soft floor like carpet, and a soft caster for a hard floor like cement. In addition if you are going to use the caster outside on a rough surface like concrete or asphalt you will want to consider a rubber or polyurethane caster, but if you are using your caster on a soft exterior surface like sand or gravel a pneumatic wheel is probably best because they have a large footprint so that they will not sink or make ruts. Not picking the right wheel material can cause you to damage your floor, and can make it hard for the caster to roll causing extra effort to move your load. Here is one caster with many different wheel materials to consider:
- Colson Kingpinless Enforcer Swivel and Matching Rigid: The Enforcer casters from Colson have options that can make these casters extremely temperature resistant. For instance the wheels can be manufactured out of performa rubber, cast iron, Mold-on rubber or phenolic resin among other materials that can function within a range of -45 degrees Fahrenheit to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Wheels come in diameters of 6”, 8”, 10” and 12”. This caster also includes a zinc plated finish that is attractive and durable, as well as the kingpinless swivel design that eliminates swivel section failure due to shock and stretching of the kingpin. Caster capacities range from 680 pounds to 4500 pounds to suit any needs you may have. The grease used to lubricate the caster is multi-temperature grease that is designed for extreme temperatures.
If You Need Brakes, What Type of Brakes Do You Need?
Brakes come in many different types and configurations. In general you have three types of caster brakes: directional lock brakes to lock the swivel in place and stop the caster from rotating, brakes to stop the wheel from rolling and a total lock brake that does both of these functions at the same time.
When it comes to wheel lock brakes you have different varieties that might suit your needs such as a top lock brake that pushes against the wheel tread or a side lock brake that locks against the side of the wheel taking any problems caused by tread wear out of the braking system. Some chair casters even have brakes that lock automatically such as compression brakes that engage when the chair is sat upon and decompression brakes that engage when the person rises from the chair.
- 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. This model incorporates a total lock as well as a directional lock. All stainless steel component versions are also available. 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. Available in 5” and 6” wheel sizes with dynamic loads of 280 pounds and 300 pounds respectively.
Do You Need the Caster to Turn or Not?
The choice of swivel or fixed caster is important. Swivel casters allow for greater maneuverability of the cart you are moving by allowing the cart to move sideways, but a fixed caster will make it easier to move the cart down a long hallway without the fear of it slipping sideways and damaging a wall. Many casters come in a choice of a swivel or fixed model so that you can choose this after deciding the other characteristics of your caster.
- 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. Caster capacities go up to 5,000 pounds with 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. This caster also features a zinc finish that protects against rust and corrosion and a grease fitting allows for maintenance of the bearings.
The Best Service When it Comes to Material Handling Equipment
Since 1955 Douglas Equipment has learned that offering the right service for our customers is worth as much as having the perfect casters. For almost 60 years we have dedicated ourselves to helping people find the right caster and wheel for the task at hand. Choosing the right caster the first time means that our customers can be sure that the choice they make will work for them for a long time. From Miami where we are located we can easily ship to customers in the entire United States, South America and the Caribbean without undue delays.
If you are ready to find the right caster for your job call us at 305-888-3700 (local to Miami) or national customers can call us toll free at 800-451-0030. We can also be contacted online for those who prefer to contact us via email where we will get back to you as soon as possible with the help you need to choose the right caster and wheel product. Reach out to us today and put your material handling problems behind you once and for all.
