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Casters
Casters are wheels that let you make chairs,
cabinets, appliances, and almost
anything
else moveable. The variety of
casters is
almost unlimited, and they are
available
as follows:
- stem versus plate mounting - a stem caster
includes a short (2"-3") rod that
slips into a separate castor socket, commonly
found on chairs and beds; for heavier applications,
other casters have no stem but instead a
flat mounting plate that must be fastened
by screws or bolts
- swivel versus rigid - to be able to move
in any direction, pick a swivel caster; rigid
casters roll only in one direction
- size and capacity - caster wheels come in
many sizes, with the larger sizes intended
for uneven surfaces and heavier loads. Caster
wheels also come in wide widths for easier
rolling over carpeting and other soft surfaces
- wheel material - most casters have either
plastic or rubber wheels, but heavy duty
casters often have steel wheels
- swivel bearings - for heavy loads, make sure
the swivel caster has ball bearings that
allow the caster to pivot easily.
For some applications you'll
want to be able
stop the wheels from turning.
You'll find
that some casters include a lock
for this
purpose, but these cost slightly
more. |
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