Mobile Base Ideas

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So I've decided to make a mobile base for my table saw. The problem is trying to come up with a design for it (how it locks, 2 vs 4 swiveling casters). Does anyone have pictures of mobile bases they've made?My "collection":Homemade Stick WelderVictor O/A TorchAC 225Ideal Arc 250HF 90 Amp Flux CoreHF Mig 170Solar 2020 Plasma CutterPower i-Mig 140EHarris O/A torchHF Dual Mig 131140STAlpha Tig 200x
Reply:On my Northfield #4 (18" max blade) we just put long bolts in for feet and left enough of a gap under the base for the pallet jack to slide under and pick it up to move it wherever.
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This is my version...basically made up an angle iron tray for it to drop intp...then welded on the brackets for casters.  Get good casters...these are rated at 800 lbs each.  This rig weighs almost 900 lbs with the cast table and all the tools.
Reply:No pictures, but I used only TWO fixed wheels ; wheels like on a lawn mower. Drilled the frame and bolted to the front motor end on the side. Added two handles to the rear and it moves like a wheel barrel.
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Originally Posted by Tarmstrong



This is my version...basically made up an angle iron tray for it to drop intp...then welded on the brackets for casters.  Get good casters...these are rated at 800 lbs each.  This rig weighs almost 900 lbs with the cast table and all the tools.
Reply:I did this for a Sear POS saw, cut the legs down built the base and installed the casters to the base, wheels are the double lock and its rock solid.





Reply:A couple of more that might give you and idea



Reply:I have some 3 wheeled bases made by a company called HTC. The bases are very stable and strong. I made a knockoff for my jointer based on their design. I'll post some photos tomorrow.
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I found some pictures I could attach tonight. Everyone I know who has these bases is very happy with them. Hope this helps.
Reply:To IainI had my floor poured very flat...so the shear weight holds in place.  They do sell heavy weight versions of this same RMS 47 caster with locking menchinism...these are about 40$ each...Build it beefy...the other lite versions on here is what I used to have...and they were much harder to move around ( for my needs)... And the larger diameter the wheel the better.  One of the problems I had is the casters that I used to get, like the red ones on one of the photos one of the others posted, would fail because they had plastic centers with cheaper bushings...they work good for lighter tools but mine is too heavy.

If I was worried about it moving I would get the locking type, above, like I have on my welding table

Look at this photo and you will see the old bolt hloe pattern from the lighter duty old red casters I used to get...these heacy caster have metal inner wheel, lube type bearings and wider surface contact so rolling over concrete expansion joints is easier.Last edited by Tarmstrong; 12-19-2015 at 11:54 AM.Reason: Add response name
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Originally Posted by RWH



I found some pictures I could attach tonight. Everyone I know who has these bases is very happy with them. Hope this helps.
Reply:Yes, they are very stable. The screws lockdown the wheels.I have this type of mobile base under my tablesaw, my planer, my bandsaw and now my jointer. The first three were made by HTC. The fourth one I made as a knockoff of their design. I put a hinge inside the wheel box. The hinge is fixed to the wheel box and just lays on top of the caster. The T-bolt pushes down on the hinge and puts pressure on the caster. That way the T-bolts do not dig into the casters.
Reply:I have similar types under all my wood working tools also very stabletrailblazer 302thunderbolt ac dc machine Hobart fluxcoreAHP tig 200x 2015
Reply:Here's what I'm going to be building Monday. It's my version of the HTC bases shown by RWH. The tube will be 16ga 2x3 and the plates will be 11ga with 1x1/8 stiffeners. The pictures don't show the locking mechanism for the fixed casters, but it will consist of an upside down carriage that will push down on the top of the wheel. I am hoping the domed head will keep it from digging into the caster wheel's rubber.



My "collection":Homemade Stick WelderVictor O/A TorchAC 225Ideal Arc 250HF 90 Amp Flux CoreHF Mig 170Solar 2020 Plasma CutterPower i-Mig 140EHarris O/A torchHF Dual Mig 131140STAlpha Tig 200x
Reply:What I find is that if there is not a lot of shop space then 4 smart wheels with brakes is the way to go, it's just so much easier to place a large and heavy table saw without having the wiggle dance of 2 stationary wheels, IMHO anyways. Certainly a reasonable design, no doubt, but given the variety and size (4x8 ply for ex.) of material that will get cut up and because of the sheer weight of the saw as well, I would reconsider your design to include a fourth wheel, simply for the sake of stability on a truly dangerous tool. Just imagine the saw tilting on the base, knocking you off balance while cutting your material and you reflexively land your hand for stability on top of the spinning saw blade instead of landing on your butt, ouch. One last thing, if the three wheel design is the one that you go with, I would consider adding 4 leveling feet at the corners to assist that single brake to hold much force as you push material through the saw and for leveling and stability as well, also IMHO.The other thing I would reconsider is the use of the box tube for the base. If you were to use angle instead, the base of the saw legs would be cradled by the base offering more rigidity and stability without any chance of sliding off the locked base (edit: Just saw your design and see the saw will sit inside). Lower material cost, material use and easier welding are other advantages to using angle as well, oh and don't forget the lower working height too.All of the table saws at work are on 4 locking wheel bases with added screw down leveling feet. Cast working surfaces and HD motors mean a very heavy saw.Lookin' good, cheers!!  

Last edited by bearston; 01-02-2016 at 02:04 PM.

When a welder tells you to "stick it", what do they really mean?"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
Reply:Here's one I made a few years ago. I wanted to raise the saw up a few inches as well.http://lumberjocks.com/pneufab/blog/series/6221






Reply:I'll have to take some pictures of the base tomorrow but for now here is the video of me building the base. Let me just say it is very stable.My "collection":Homemade Stick WelderVictor O/A TorchAC 225Ideal Arc 250HF 90 Amp Flux CoreHF Mig 170Solar 2020 Plasma CutterPower i-Mig 140EHarris O/A torchHF Dual Mig 131140STAlpha Tig 200x
Reply:I like the concepts and craftsmanship of the mobile base on this thread:  https://weldingweb.com/vbb/threads/18016
Reply:simple.

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www.urkafarms.com
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