A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Purchase Caster Wheels to Fill Your Needs

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By Doug Backinger VP of Sales

Posted on: March 6, 2018

Categories: Caster Wheels

You know you need to purchase caster wheels, but where do you start? What type of material should your casters be made from, and what about wheels? Here, you’ll have access to a step-by-step quick start guide that will help you make the best possible choices when it comes to picking caster wheels.

Step 1 – Determine the Maximum Weight of Your Load

The very first thing you will need to do when buying caster wheels is determine how heavy your loads will be at their very maximum. This will help you determine whether you need light-duty, medium-duty, heavy-duty, or even ultra-heavy-duty casters.

• Light-duty casters will typically support loads that weigh a maximum of 400 to 500 pounds. These are common for things like shopping carts, hotel racks and carts, and even office chairs.
• Medium-duty casters can support weights of up to 1500 pounds in most cases. They are commonly used when it comes to transporting things like foodservice equipment, large dumpsters, and hotel luggage carts, for example.
• Heavy-duty casters can support up to 50,000 pounds, and they are commonly found in industrial settings for transporting heavy loads across production floors.
• Ultra-heavy-duty casters such as the Mammoth Extreme are custom-designed with the client’s specifications, and they have been designed to support weights in excess of 300,000 pounds.

Step 2 – Determine Your Features

The next step in the process involves deciding what type of caster you will need. Different casters have different features, and some of these include:

• Shock absorbency when moving delicate loads or for moving heavy loads over uneven surfaces.
• Water, temperature, and chemical resistance which can prolong the life of casters used in extreme environments.
• Ergonomic benefits such as reduced friction and easier swiveling reduce injuries in the workplace.
• Drive casters allow even the heaviest loads to be moved with just one operator, thereby improving workplace productivity and boosting safety.
• Caster brakes allow operators to slow, stop, and even lock carts in place, which can serve production purposes and boost safety, as well.
• Maintenance requirements can vary from one caster type to the next, so be sure to consider this, as well.

Step 3 – Choose the Right Size Caster

Now that you know how heavy your load will be and what features you need for your casters, it’s time to choose a caster type and size. Caster size is vital for safety, so be sure that your calculations are correct. It’s important to provide yourself with a safety net of about 30% over your maximum weight to compensate for unbalanced or shifting loads, too. To put this into perspective, assume that your maximum load will weigh 10,000 pounds.

The goal at this point would be to add 30% to your maximum weight, bringing it to 13,000 pounds. Then, if you know you will need four casters, you simply divide 13,000 by four to provide you with the caster you need – one that supports 3250 pounds per caster.

Choosing the right caster for your application can be tough, and in some cases, you might find that you need to design a brand-new caster to suit your unique needs. We offer the largest range of casters in the country, and they can manufacture custom casters to suit your individual needs, too.