| Project by screwge | posted 172 days ago | 1008 views | 4 times favorited | 11 comments |  |
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O.K. So, here’s the deal. I share my workshop with 2 cars (I know, It’s a shame, but that’s the reality.) So I needed a way to move my stock lumber and plywood around. Anyhow…
I’ve been trying to find ideas for my lumber storage. I had seen s couple of different plans in magazines but they just didn’t seem to be what I needed. So, as usual, I sketched up a couple of ideas and this is what I came up with.
The materials used were 2×4, 2×3 and 3/4”ply. Everything was screwed together and all edges were rounded with a 1/4” round over router bit. The total width is 30”.
I’m guessing that the cart weighs 150lb or so empty and fully loaded in excess of 500lb.
I started with (6) – 3” casters (rated at 150lb ea) which promptly failed from the weight, and I couldn’t even budge the cart loaded. (The picts show the cart with the 3” casters)
I then put on (6) – 4” casters (rated at 180lb ea) which helped a little… now I could barely move it with help from my wife (she’s such a trooper), but there’s no way I’d ever be able to move it alone.
Then I put on (4) – 5” casters (rated at 255lb ea). Now, I can move it fully loaded (but it’s a chore!!)
I’m no engineer, but I think that having 6 casters was creating too much surface friction. By increasing the wheel diameter and reducing the casters from 6 to 4 just seemed to work better. I should probably put on (4) – 6” casters but the cost is a little prohibitive. So for now, I think it’ll be fine.
-- Imagine It... Build It... Enjoy It!
11 comments so far
Durnik150
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536 posts in 219 days
posted 172 days ago
Wow! That’s a lot of sheet material. I can see why it is so heavy. Sorry you had to try so many different casters to find the ones that finally worked for you. However, the storage unit is very well done and looks like it will serve you well for many years to come.
I also have to share my shop with a pesky car but it’s either that or I take over the basement and I don’t think my wife wants me woodworking with power tools directly below the kitchen and family rooms.
Great job!
-- Behind the Bark is a lot of Heartwood----Charles, Centennial, CO
cabinetmaster
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8637 posts in 455 days
posted 172 days ago
Looks great. Wish I had room in my shop for one that size.
-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps
jockmike2
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7328 posts in 1143 days
posted 171 days ago
Great idea, it would’nt work for me. I still would’nt have room for even one car. lol
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
builtinabarn
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81 posts in 282 days
posted 171 days ago
I ran into the same problem with my rack. Casters were to small. I did have 6, 2 on each end and 2 in the middle. I moved up to the 4” caster and it made a huge difference. I probabye keep about 900 lbs on my rack all the time and got some sagging in the middle, so I had to put 2 of the 4” casters in the middle also.
Those casters were expensive, but I was about to pick up some half the price as Home Depot at Harbor Freight.
Good Luck
-- Built in a Barn Bob
stefang
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1655 posts in 231 days
posted 171 days ago
Looks well designed to me. Seems to hold a heck of a lot of materials. As they say, desperation is the mother of invention. I have something similar, but only for sheet goods, and it’s still pretty heavy. Maybe even bigger wheels are the answer.
-- Mike, American in Norway
a1Jim
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16978 posts in 474 days
posted 171 days ago
very nice lumber storage unit. Well done.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
Don K.
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1095 posts in 223 days
posted 171 days ago
Very nice looking indeed. By your pictures I am guessing those are your typical hard plastic casters ?
If so they will always be hard to move around you may want to try these http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/701
I had the same problem, using cheap plastic caster for heavy things, I found these and now every mobile thing in my shop now has them. My jointer weighs around 420 lbs, and rolls across the shop like it’s on ice.
Also Woodcraft has them on sale…well at least they did last week
-- Don S.E. OK
Woodwrecker
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495 posts in 472 days
posted 171 days ago
That cart looks great.
I had the same problem with mine, and I know what you mean about the expense of bigger, better wheels.
I fixed it by saying, “Come on honey, push harder”!!!
Nice work!
-- Eric
flcopper169
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172 posts in 236 days
posted 171 days ago
Nice job…. I wish i had room for something like this…
Rob
-- Happy and safe woodworking, Flcopper169@aol.com
Greg
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225 posts in 205 days
posted 171 days ago
I recently was able to build built-in lumber storage but before I did my lumber storage was a portable unit that was bigger than I should have built in one unit. I had the same problem of it being way too hard to move around with the 4 ” wheels I originally used. I ended up putting six 10” wheels on it and it moved great. I found very good deals for wheels at Harbor Freight. My wife laughed at it and said I should put a trailer hitch on it and pull it behind my SUV…
-- Each and Every step of any project should be considered your masterpiece if you want the finished product to reflect the quality of your work. Greg Little
screwge
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37 posts in 187 days
posted 171 days ago
Hey LJ’s Thanks for the input!! I would agree that the larger the casters, the easier it seems to move. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll put even bigger casters on (maybe 22” with spinners). But for now… I’ve got a “big” home office project I’m working on that will unload a bunch of the sheet goods… at least that’s one way of making it lighter LOL
IT SEEMS THAT IN THIS CASE, ”BIGGER IS BETTER”!!!
-- Imagine It... Build It... Enjoy It!