77 - Sliding Door Shop Cabinet, страница 25
ROCKLER So what do you do if the tool or workstation you want to make mobile won't fit the adjustability limitations of a "universal" base? Simple. Use a universal base where you make your own rails any size you want from hardwood stock. Both Rockier (shown at right) and Delta make a version of this type of universal base. Instead of supplying rails or tubes to connect the corners of the base, the corners are designed to accept IV2'1-square pieces of hardwood. This way, you can mill the stock to any length you like (within reason, of course). Once you have the rails made, all you have to do to complete the assembly is drill a few holes and bolt the rails in place. Then you can add a pair of leveler pads and a foot lever to the opposite end of the base. The foot lever raises the base off the pads, like you see in the inset photo above. The lever is removable, so you can buy separate base kits and move the lever from one base to another as you need to. Which is a nice feature if you have a number of tools to add bases to. Because you're using hardwood rails, this base has a little more flex than an all-metal or dedicated base. Especially with longer rails. And since the base is supported by a single wheel once it's mobile, it feels less stable as you move it around. Once the base is planted firmly on the leveler pads, it's a fairly solid unit. Still, ifs something to keep in mind depending on the size of tool you plan to be moving around. ANOTHER OPTION If you have cabinet-style tools, there's one more option you might want to consider. You can read about it in the box below. Casters for CabinetsThere's another type of universal base that doesn't require any adjustment of rails to size it — and thafs the set of casters shown at right Jet designed these casters for use with cabinet-style tools. The casters wrap around the bottom lip of the stand and clamp in place. Installing them is a snap. Simply raise the cabinet off the ground slightly (3/4") and slip the casters in place. A magnetic pad on the inside face of each caster (lower left photo) holds it in place while you tighten the clamping brackets. Once the casters are locked in place, moving the tool is smooth and easy. And foot-operated locks keep the tool solidly in place. The casters are sold in sets of four. You can get an all-swivel set, or a set that has a pair of swivel casters along with a set of fixed casters. With either set of casters, I'te'-SQUARE " HARDWOOD RAILS A. LEVELER PAD Going Mobile. To make the Rockier base mobile, press the foot lever to raise the base off the leveler pads and onto the wheel. ROCKLER (About $50 for version with foot lever plus the cost of the hardwood rails) FOOT LEVER/WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN BE REMOVED TO USE ON OTHER BASES BASE SIZE VARIES DEPENDING ON LENGTH OF CUSTOM-MILLED HARDWOOD RAILS NOTE: BASE IS RATED FOR APPR. 300 LBS. WITH HARDWOOD RAILS MAGNETIC PAD CLAMPiNG BRACKET you can spin your tool 360° in place — a handy feature at times. Both sets are rated for up to 600 lbs. and sell for around $60). For sources, refer to page 35. A Supporting Cabinet-Style Tools. Make any cabinet base mobile by clamping this caster set to the lower frame of the cabinet. 25 |
