wheels

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New guy question:  I see all sorts of wheels used on welding tables.  Lawn mower wheels, rubber wheels, nylon wheels, etc...won't these wheels burn up in the harsh welding environment?  Today, I went to Northern Tool to price some metal cast wheels.  Surprisingly (to me anyhow) they were not any more expensive than the other type wheels.  These metal cast wheels were to go on my welding table.  However, after browsing the "Projects" forum for several hours, I have yet to see a table with metal forged wheels attached.  This new guy is simply .  Can ya help a brother out?  Why don't fellas use metal cast wheels on an item such as a welding table that will be continuously exposed to harsh conditions?  You fellers who have the metal wheels, do you like them?  You fellers who chose anything but the metal casts, was there a specific reason you avoided the metal casts?  I'd like to make an informed decision on my purchase BEFORE I purchase the wheels.Thanks,Dan
Reply:Metal wheels are a bitch to roll over anything but a sterilized, clean floor. Rod stubs, slag etc will fetch up a wheel big time. Go for the neoprene clad steel wheel if you can....Mike
Reply:Danomite33Nick
Reply:Danomite 33, I have metal wheels on alot of my stuff and mrmikey is right. But, i dont move it often and i never have to replace them because they are all ate up from slag. So, therefore I like them, but i dont have to move my stuff that often, it may be a different story if you are moving your table every other day.Nick
Reply:As other have stated, you will really notice every little thing on the floor with the metal wheels. But for my hobby use I find that it simply incents me to use the shopvac on the garage floor more often than I would if I were left to my own devices.Arvid
Reply:As said, steel wheels roll OK on a HARD smooth surface.They don't roll over crud, and they don't roll on dirt/grass/gravel worth a dang.And I'll bet that a lot of the wheels used were 'repurposed' (aka scrounged) instead of being specially bought.But yeah, hot slag or dripping molten metal from welding won't do too much harm to cast iron/steel wheels whereas they may damage or destroy a plastic/rubber wheel/tire.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:steel wheels are good if you dont plan to move it
Reply:Fenders!    Why not kluge up some metal fenders over the rubber wheels?   I hate the cheep a$$ wheels they put on stuff now days.  My store bought MIG cart has these Micky-Mouse hard plastic wheels that roll like cra&.
Reply:Originally Posted by BilldacatFenders!    Why not kluge up some metal fenders over the rubber wheels?   ...
Reply:Until I'm melting giant pots of steel in a blast furnace in my basement, I have a hard time seeing how my rubber wheels are ever going to get burnt up from welding. It isn't as if you have molten metal flying all around the place melting anything it can find....- John
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadsteel wheels are good if you dont plan to move it
Reply:I move my small welding table, pictured below, frequently.  I have a smooth concrete floor and use a straw broom frequently also.   If I were to build a larger table I think I would like to fit it with 8" flat-proof tires available at Tractor Supply.  The ones on swivel casters are about 30 or 40 bucks each.  Not cheap, but will roll over most grit and compacted gravel or other rough surfaces easily without fear of flats or blowouts.  A sheet metal housing to shield the tire from hot spatter when cutting could be fabricated too.Good luck with your new table! Attached ImagesMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.