How would I be put on these wheels ?

Question

I am planning on doing a mobile wood bench using 2x4. I have these wheels but have no clue to put them on

Stephanie corley · Answer

It looks as if these fit snugly in a hole on the original piece. Take them to a hardware store lumber department. They can help you or send you to another department that can. If you need to drill a hole so they will fit, they will help you pick out the tool to do that. I would love to see the finished product!

Dorothy Collett · Answer

The black plastic is the sleeve that is installed in your furniture base.  I can be carefully pried from the wheel.  Tap it (sleeve) into the drilled hole (a sliver smaller for a tight fit) and insert the wheel peg.

William · Answer

The black part is an insert that slips into a hole in the leg. The caster slips into the insert. Its made to fit a square tubular leg. Yours is too big to fit a 2x4. You can remove the black plastic off the caster. Insert a flat screwdriver between the caster plate and the black plastic and pry. It should pop off the caster shaft. May take a little force. You will be left with the caster shaft. Then you can drill a hole for the caster shaft into the bottom of the 2x4. Use a drill bit slightly smaller than the shaft for a snug fit slightly deeper than the shaft length. Then you can pound the caster into the drilled hole. There will be a loose ring close to the end of the caster shaft that grips the hole so the caster swivels, hence  drilling the hole smaller than the shaft. Don't forget to grease the ball bearings for a smooth swivel. Any questions just reply. Hope this helps.

Sam · Answer

It looks like a caster from scaffolding.  The black end would fit into the pipe leg of the scaffolding.   Take it to Home Depot and measure it for size with steel pipe.  Then decide on what type of bracket you want to connect the caster to the 2x4 frame of your project.  I'm thinking you may want to drill a hole that the caster insert will snugly fit into.  You can then use a grabber type screw to lock it in place.  Just one idea.

Sam · Answer

You could also use a steel pipe insert to strengthen the connection.  Using a similar locking method.

Johnchip · Answer

As this was obviously made to fit a specific 'female' socket, you will have to improvise. I would dirll out a hole just big enough to fit the plug (possibly a door knob drill)  Fill the hole with a glue, wood putty or some compound to let it set (although I would not consider it secure then, but it would keep it snug.)

Deanna Nassar · Answer

William is right.  The black part is an insert made for stem casters.  Someone removed the whole thing instead of just pulling out the caster stem.

William · Answer

The black sleeve is made to fit in square tubing. Too large for a 2x4. Try cutting a square hole for a tight fit. Removing it is the only solution.

John Grimley · Answer

Perhaps you could use a jigsaw or very sharp knife to trim those 2 lugs on each corner? don't take them off, just cut each one at an angle (top to bottom) to form a blade as you look down from above (like looking at a chisel side on).
Mark the centre of the end of your leg & drill a hole large enough to accept the square peg plus a little extra. The 8 'blades' you created will only have a little wood to cut their way into & will prevent any wobble by locking the stem into the leg. much like driving a splined shaft into a round hole.
Depending on the thickness of your legs, it may be wise to reinforce the end with a steel sleeve

Susan Harris Seeley · Answer

Order new wheels from Harbor Freight that screw into the wood, easier and cheaper than finding the correct socket to fit those wheels

Salah Tekko · Answer

I also agree. These casters are made to fit a specific shape. The only way to use them is to drill a hole to barely fit the casters and fill it with loctite multi surface epoxy. I have used this product and it does very well at securing dissimilar materials to each other. Your other option is to remove the plastic and see what you have to work with underneath it which is risky because you may ruin the wheels.

Robert Heath · Answer

Several ideas.  Find a deepwell hole saw the diameter of the black insert, use it to make the inset round and much smaller.  If it is small enough for  the 2x4 then cut a hole you can put it in and insert with glue to make it stay.  if the work bench is not going to be picked up so wheel would fall out, take the plastic of the wheel, take it to  hardware store and find a pipe that is a close fit to the stem on the wheel, cut pipe a little longer than the stem, use a paddle type wood bit to make a hole and glue pipe in 2x4 with glue (goop) does a good job.  If the steam and pipe are going to leave the 2x4 to weak, consider adding one or 2 short pieces to the 2x4 with wood glue and clamps to make it more of a 4x4.

Kristin · Answer

William - If you had the answer all along wouldn't it have been easier to just give it than to disparage everyone else's suggestions? Just wondering.......

V Smith · Answer

These are great wheels, but they are wrong for a flush fit on a 2 x 4. If you were able to find some galvanized pipe that fit them you could build your frame out of metal.  I have the impression that you want to make a more economical table, if so I would buy different wheels and save these beauties for another day.

Robert Heath · Answer

Just a hole in a pine 2x4 will start wobbling and split the wood.  Need something in the hole to protect the wood.

Johnchip · Answer

Say goodnight, William.

Robert Heath · Answer

The wood is too soft unless you are using oak or some very hard wood.
If the insert is being put in the wood that would  work if there is enough wood around the insert.  Need about half the board to give it strength.  So if the insert is 3/4 inch or less your good.  More and the wood becomes to weak and splits.  Its hard to answer  because I don't know size of the wheel insert, are you putting it in the end of a board or through the side of a board, too many unanswered questions.

Susan Williams · Answer

don't use those wheel

JackieRay Mays · Answer

those are made to go inside a pipe

Judy Ackerman · Answer

If you want to use these wheels then drill a hole and fit a piece of metal pipe in the hole and then insert your wheels

Juli · Answer

2x4's are to small for that type of wheel! Hard wood would be best, but 4x4's, or larger would work also.

Ginny · Answer

Spring for the price of new ones - they aren't that expensive. Using these will cause you headaches.

David Pell · Answer

Pry the plastic piece off of the metal wheel assembly. Then drill a hole in the end of the 2x 4 leg. Size the hole so the 'stem' of the roller will fit TIGHTLY (may have to tap with hammer). If it is not tight enough, you could use a 2-part epoxy glue to help.

Dane · Answer

Drill and bolt or use muffler clamps through or around the 2x4 just double them up so they don't twist.

Jay · Answer

i used 2 u bolts from meanards. .. ( 2 ) per wheel.. bolted them to the inside corners...... http://www.menards.com/main/search.html?searc...+.+

Cristine Meixner · Answer

David Pell is correct. The rectangular black plastic above the wheel should come off to reveal a metal 'stem.'

John Langen · Answer

The plastic/nylon is forgiving so all you have to do is drill a hole in center of leg 16th smaller than width of stem and tap in leg with s rubber mallet

Paul vanOverbeek · Answer

I would put two pieces of 2x4 together only for the legs then bore a whole I the middle big enough to slide the wheels into

K. · Answer

not 100% percent sure of the size.  I am going to assume it is 3 inch wheels.  Some older manufactures used a smooth stem (which this looks like one) after inserting the caster (wheel) they would peen the top of the stem over for retention.  If this is the case you are limited as to what you can do unless you have a grinder or file to cut off the stem top.  I will assume you don't have either.  without knowing the caster rating it is a little hard to tell you so I will give the info for the least rating.  If you want strength then in my opinion you should use 2x4's screwed into the legs horizontally (and use scrap 2x4 for vertical support for the casters).  If you just want to move it around then I would do what John Langen suggests

Angel12824 · Answer

I would take the wheel to lowes and find a thin wall metal pipe that fits snuggly over the plastic top part of the wheel.  I would have lowes cut it down to a little bit longer than the plastic part of the wheel or use a hack saw and table clamp. Use a spade bit to cut a hole diameter of the pipe and a depth of the pipe.  Tap the pipe in and now you can place the wheels into the pipe.  This keeps the wheel from working loose if placed just in a wood hole and you can remove the wheels if needed.  The key is to keep everything snug.

How would I be put on these wheels ?

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How would I be put on these wheels ?

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