Attaching Castor to Wooden Bench Leg

[tonkski]

I want to raise a workbench up by a few inches, and thought it would be han dy to do this usIng suitable braked castors so that I can move the bench ar ound more easily. The legs of the bench are 80 x 60 mm in section and made of softwood. I can't find any suitable castors with a rectangular top plate of the right dimensions, so I was thinking of using castors with a single bolt hole, attached using a 10mm dia screw. This is the kind of castor I'm thinking of:

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Would this work? Any better suggestions please.

[tabbypurr]

andy to do this usIng suitable braked castors so that I can move the bench around more easily. The legs of the bench are 80 x 60 mm in section and mad e of softwood. I can't find any suitable castors with a rectangular top pla te of the right dimensions, so I was thinking of using castors with a singl e bolt hole, attached using a 10mm dia screw. This is the kind of castor I' m thinking of:

why would it not work? how will you brake it?

NT

[tonkski]

The first problem I've just seen is that there isn't room to insert a screw from underneath, unless the wheel is easily removed.

The castor which I linked to has a model with a brake built in.

[Chris Hogg]

If the work bench is going to get some serious loading, might not nylon casters be better, more rigid?

The link given by the OP shows that both unbraked and braked versions are available. IME, the brakes on these castors are not always 100% effective, although they might be better on rubber, more for the brake to bite into IYSWIM.

[tabbypurr]

I noticed, so I assume either the wheel is removable or it twists onto a bolt sunk into the leg. The seller should be able to answer that.

NT

[GB]

Or something like this, but a bit meatier?

It depends how often the OP wants to move the bench.

[tonkski]

That's an interesting alternative thanks, and the top plate will fit too. I won't be moving the bench very often.

[Brian Gaff]

If the bench needs to be stable castors brakes or no brakes are a pain. The problem is that the wheels can be locked but the swivel cannot making the bench jiggle as the pivot rotates in the mounting. My feeling is to abandon the movable idea, unless stability is of no concern, and resort to the old brick under the legs method used for many years! Brian

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Fixing to end grain isn't going to be very stong. Especially for a workbench.

I'd look at making a steel strap which goes up two sides of the wood leg and fix to that. Or even some form of socket arrangement.

[Andy Burns]

Get some castors that mount to the side of the legs, rather than underneath them, when not being wheeled the bench is as solid as before

This has the disadvantage for the O/P that it doesn't raise the bench.

[tonkski]

I like that those castors are only loaded when I want to move the bench, which is good for strength and stability. As you say, leaves me with the question of how to raise the bench height a few inches, neatly and strongly. Other than bricks!