ideas on mobile carts

P

Pdevore

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Jan 23, 2011
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I am going to start building a couple mobile carts this weekend. I would like to get some input and or photos from everyone.
The plan is the carts will be 30"x42", will have 4 drawers and a door storage on the front. I would like to make 2 of these and put some type of locking kit on them to be able to lock them together for a larger work surface. I was thinking about getting an MFT/3 top and installing that on atleast one of the 2. I also would make a 4'x8' phenolic top that could be installed on top for the 2 cabinets when locked together for a full size bench on site.
They would be made from 3/4" prefinished maple ply.

Thanks
Pete
 
Hi Pete,
One thought. I see that you have a TS 55 on order.  Maybe on the back of your cabinets make a place to store your 55" guide rail.  Just a thought because I have been thinking about some storage for all of my guide rails. And maybe some hooks on the sides for clamp storage.

Eric
 
I have several carts in my shop that all serve different purposes. The best advise I can give if you mean wheeled when you say "mobile" don't skimp on the quality of your casters. If I had all the money back I had spent on cheap casters only to replace them with ones that actually held up to the task at hand I could but another Festool  [big grin]. Casters are expensive but a little more up front will pay off in the long run. Also consider the diameter if you plan on being on uneven surfaces when "on site".
 
Tim..VERY true!  I also have spent a lot of cash on casters.  The saw dust (pre ct midi) would cake up on the open ball bearings on the cheap ones that I would buy from Harbor Freight.  I know....Harbor Freight hahaha..I have learned my lesson. 

Pete, take Tim's advice, spend some money on some good casters!
 
erock said:
Hi Pete,
One thought. I see that you have a TS 55 on order.  Maybe on the back of your cabinets make a place to store your 55" guide rail.  Just a thought because I have been thinking about some storage for all of my guide rails. And maybe some hooks on the sides for clamp storage.

Eric
Click to expand...

Eric that's a very good idea that I had not thought of. Thanks

Pete
 
Tim Morris said:
I have several carts in my shop that all serve different purposes. The best advise I can give if you mean wheeled when you say "mobile" don't skimp on the quality of your casters. If I had all the money back I had spent on cheap casters only to replace them with ones that actually held up to the task at hand I could but another Festool  [big grin]. Casters are expensive but a little more up front will pay off in the long run. Also consider the diameter if you plan on being on uneven surfaces when "on site".
Click to expand...

Tim,
What do you suggest? I just stopped at Northertool yesterday and picked up standard locking casters, that were, yes, cheap. about $8 each.
 
We've got a Northern here as well. If they are sized right I've had good luck with their casters. The biggest problem I've had is buying too small of diameter, then you put to much weight on them and it rolls the rubber off. I think the casters I have on my parts carts are either 5" or 6". I can put an entire set of kitchen bases in one cart and the uppers in another and roll them around effortlessly. The 3" I tried first years ago didn't fare so well. Point of reference I think I spent about twice that much on mine. Don't remember a part or model number.
 
Tim Morris said:
We've got a Northern here as well. If they are sized right I've had good luck with their casters. The biggest problem I've had is buying too small of diameter, then you put to much weight on them and it rolls the rubber off. I think the casters I have on my parts carts are either 5" or 6". I can put an entire set of kitchen bases in one cart and the uppers in another and roll them around effortlessly. The 3" I tried first years ago didn't fare so well. Point of reference I think I spent about twice that much on mine. Don't remember a part or model number.
Click to expand...

Well... That sounds about right. I do not have a problem spending a little more for the product that will last the test of time. I looked at the larger casters and was just conserned that they would make the carts too tall. I do not want to sacrifice my cabinets size. Are you using pnumatic tires, rubber, poly, or forgive this the orange wheels? i don't remember what they are off the top of my head.

Thanks
Pete
 
I have solid steel casters on my wood rack which probably weighs over 1,000# loaded.  I started with rubber casters, but they flattened with the load.
 
I have some rubber. The latest ones I've had good luck with are here www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_47732_47732. I think the polyethylene is designed to be non marring on finished floors. I have a high polished concrete floor with no paint or epoxy in the shop and these have served me well. I understand what you are saying about height. You end up shortening the height of the cabinet to accommodate the casters and fell like your giving up storage for "wheels" but the better casters are worth it in the long haul. On a further design note do shorten the height of the cabinet as raising the work top a couple of inches doesn't seem like much but if you have a height that is comfortable for you believe me you will notice a couple of inches after a long day at a work bench.
 
I've really been happy with these casters:
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001989/3723/3-Caster-Double-Locking-Swiveling-with-4-Hole-Mounting-Plate-414-Tall.aspx

I'm 95% sure mine are the 3" ones.  I haven't wished I had smaller ones thus far, but I don't try to roll them over too much junk.  They do have a 4" version as well if you want something a little bigger.

They are double locking and hold 300lbs each.  I like knowing I can jump up and down on the cart (casters locked of course) and there's on way I'll ever break one!
 
I'm currently building another mobile cart. I built one a few years ago (see here), and I'm building another, slightly taller. I've also started designing one for use with an MFT3, but I don't have an MFT3 yet so that one will have to wait. [sad]

At the moment I have some steel-framed benches with home-made MFT-style tops, and by lucky chance they're 900mm high, same as the MFT3, so this table will work with what I have now and what I will hopefully have in the future.

The one I'm currently building is the one on the left:

[attachthumb=1]

The MFT-style work surface is 790mm high (same as the MFT/Kapex), so my Kapex will sit on top & the bed height will be 900mm, meaning I can use the UG extension or my current tables as support.

The top is removeable & will store underneath, interchangeable with a router table module. This is raised, so the table height will also be 900mm:

[attachthumb=2]

I will also (probably) make some other modules over time too. These inserts are all the same size as the ones on the existing, smaller table, so they're interchangeable with that too!

I'm keeping a record of the build & will be posting a separate thread about it when it's finished.
 
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