Pretty good price on a band saw sized mobile base

[bill-e]

Hi Folks,

I just found and ordered from Amazon this HTC Base for my band saw.  From this link click on the Related Searches " universal mobile bases" and sort from Low to High and you'll see about 4 or 5 different sizes in this style.

$44 plus free shipping for a welded base.

 

[brandon.nickel]

I've got the same base for my Powermatic 54A jointer.  I was worried that the wheels wouldn't lock securely, but it has never moved on me.  It's a nice piece of equipment.

 

[bruegf]

I just received one of these but so far I'm severly disappointed.  My 6" jointer shakes like a lambs tail in a wind storm.  The bottom plates the machine sits on are a flexing so badly I don't dare actually use the jointer on the base.  If I give the jointer a good push it will rock back and forth for a good 10 seconds because of the base plates flexing.

I am missing something - I've never used a mobile base before?

Thanks

Fred

 

[bill-e]

Fred, I'm using it on my 14" bandsaw and I think it works fine.

Could it be too big for the base of the jointer?  I can see if the jointer frame isn't sitting up against or real close to the mobile base frame that the plates may sag.  If you decide to keep it a sheet of plywood on top of the plates might solve that problem.

As for the rocking.  When you set the front brake adjust it so that it's just putting pressure on the floor to provide the braking action, not lifting up the wheel.  Personally I like 4 point mobile bases for my heavier equipment.

If you still don't like it, log on to amazon and print out your return label.

 

[eweber]

I bought one of the universal model (the HTC 3000 if my memory is good). This model was terrible. It was rated 700lbs but was shaking excessivley with my 450lbs bandsaw. I think the design of this particular model is flawed bacause the side rails are neither L shaped nor reinforce so they bend very easily with vibration.
The model you are recommending doesn't seem to have the same flaw due to the to horizontal bars undeneath.

 

[bruegf]

The jointer base is only 17 x 14 so it just barely is sitting on the metal base plates.  The rocking is coming from the fact that the base plates are flexing badly, even when the base is not lifted at all. 

I may try laminating a couple of layers of 1/2 or 3/4 plywood and screwing that to the frame and see if that helps.  I'd sure like to see this thing work as it makes moving the jointer around so much easier, especially since when I finally decided to buy, the price had dropped to $37, so I got a heck of a deal (at least if it ends up working ok).

Fred

 

[bill-e]

Yea, that sounds like the problem.  a single 3/4" tight fitting piece would do it I bet.

I also got my for 37, just emailed Amazon and and asked for a rebate when I saw the price drop.  You can usually keep doing that for 30 days.