Going off my trolley... Support for Adkins Maxi.

[pisquee]

Pro castors (what's used on flight cases on tours) are mostly 100mm Guitel Blues, and can be bought from here:
http://www.adamhall.com/en/Swivel_Castors.html
Save some money, as you don't need all 4 to be locking - just the two that are on the side that would be pulling/pushing the trolley from mostly
A set of four can support up to 450kg, so including the press and trolley it is easily going to cope.
The 100mm black wheel Guitels are less common, but cheaper, and not as overspecced for the likely weight of your press and table, as they take 240kg

[socialgiraffe]

With the materials and time even making this at £100 would be 'tight' to say the least - Steel is expensive these days. not to mention the consumables (Rods, and power).

Possibly, although there are a couple of very good welders in my town who are both very very cheap, or at least I have always thought so when I have had stuff made.


S>

[arthur.daley]

Force of habit - just assume that everyone makes things out of reclaimed second hand 'stuff' they have laying around or can scrounge! Being an ex welder fabricator and professional scrooge helps )

I have purchased castors for a project from Kaiser and Kaiser in the past and they were good quality and reasonably priced - these look suitable....


http://www.kaiserkraft.co.uk/wheels-and ... /p/M65611/

item no 604360 - the 100mm diameter flavour, easier to push around and less likely to stop every time they hit a piece of grit on the floor

36 quid plus vat which I think includes postage

loading looks to be in the order of 600kg for a set of 4 - don't think i'd want to load them up anything like that much and try to push them on anything less than a polished concrete floor ;o)

As far as the steelwork goes, to fabricate a simple 28 inch cube frame, buying the steel in rather than using whatever I can find laying around....

I'd have to order in two random 6 metre lengths of 25mm square x 3mm wall rolled hollow section, which would be in the order of 60 quid plus vat and if i was lucky might include delivery.

Time to cut 12 pieces to size and degrease and deburr ready to weld 30 - 45 minutes.

Time to fabricate about an hour or so assuming you want it square, not rough and ready!

The welds are not cleaned off except for where the timber top is screwed down (you drill the holes) and where the castors go.

I'd weld the castors on just because its much quicker than drilling and saves the cost of nuts bolts and washers.

This assumes the workshop is clear and all the kit is ready to go and it also assumes you don't want the ends of the tubes capping to close them off. It doesn't include any swearing and cursing contingency time, nor does it include any consumables.

It assumes that you collect from me and take it away to clean down, prep and paint - another hours work.

Its quite a bit of work for less than 40 quid ( That said as with round Wisbech, in Leeds I'd think you could find a little back street fabrication shop that would do the above for you for the price. Around Cambridge - not a hope (


Arthur

[Gygafo]

Hey, thanks for the replies you wonderful people! I know what I want is going to cost a reasonable amount of money if I want quality. I can also arc weld but lack the time and equipment but, one of my neighbours is a working welder and does gates, post, or just about anything to do with metalwork in his spare time. Apparently he is very well equipped (with welding equipment). I want a table on lockable wheels that can be easily moved from one location to another but at the same time be safe to use with either a clam or, a swing press. Therefore, support to the side where the press swings out is essential. I have had several weeks looking at how to resolve the move-ability of my adkins press, I want to move it where I want, when I want. I want a trolley that is safe in operation and capable of carrying the weight not only of the press but that of the operator closing the press. I have some rough designs in progress that will allow for the above considerations and also be capable of providing bench space while in situ. I just have to take the designs and talk cost's with the nice Mr fabricator man. I cant buy anything like what I require off the shelf so I'm willing pay for something that suits my needs, within reason. If I end up with a practical and working product that anyone else may be interested in I'll let you know.

[arthur.daley]

result

Don't know if you are tight for space but if you are - when you sketch up, just remember that you don't have to make the trolley wide enough for the whole of the swing press in the open position. If you did it would tip over on a normal bench top. That said it would be prudent to make the trolly a bit wider for the sake of ultimate stability and peace of mind. I would suggest that if you open press and measure from the outside edge of the lower platten to the centre line of the swing away that would be ample - this is what keeps the leaning tower of Pisa up. Plus when you make use of the space beneath for storage - couple of boxes of mugs, copier paper etc - anything with a bit of weight, you'd be able to sit the Queen Mary on top without risk of the trolley tipping.

However having a bigger surface is a godsend when working - you always want somewhere to stack work before pressing and after without walking round the room all the time. I would suggest a couple of drop down flaps, one each side. Suppported by a simple strut or gate leg affair. Adds to the cost but would be worth it in the long run. If the trolley is 28 inches high you could get away with a 24 inch extension each end - 4 feet of extra working space. Don't know what you are pressing but if its T shirts - no problem, If you are doing thousands of coasters and placemats I'd opt for the fold out gate leg with

[arthur.daley]

result

Don't know if you are tight for space but if you are - when you sketch up, just remember that you don't have to make the trolley wide enough for the whole of the swing press in the open position. If you did it would tip over on a normal bench top. That said it would be prudent to make the trolly a bit wider for the sake of ultimate stability and peace of mind. I would suggest that if you open press and measure from the outside edge of the lower platten to the centre line of the swing away that would be ample - this is what keeps the leaning tower of Pisa up. Plus when you make use of the space beneath for storage - couple of boxes of mugs, copier paper etc - anything with a bit of weight, you'd be able to sit the Queen Mary on top without risk of the trolley tipping.

However having a bigger surface is a godsend when working - you always want somewhere to stack work before pressing and after without walking round the room all the time. I would suggest a couple of drop down flaps, one each side. Suppported by a simple strut or gate leg affair. Adds to the cost but would be worth it in the long run. If the trolley is 28 inches high you could get away with a 24 inch extension each end - 4 feet of extra working space.

Post a picture when you get it made


Arthur

[Gygafo]

Hi Arthur,
Really sorry for the late reply but I've had a busy weekend. I'm quite exited about this project and have priced the steel, wheels, hinges, wood etc. There will be plenty of storage space below and a fold down work surface on either side of the top. I've taken into account the weight movement when the press is swung to the side also. I'll keep you posted once I start to get some of the steel put together and put some pictures up too! If anyone has any suggestion please feel free to make them.


Cheers!
Nigel.

[Justin]

What a fantastic thread this is turning out to be! Watching with great interest, could lead to a few sales if you're up for it I'm sure

[Gygafo]

Hi Justin,
I'll be doing some time and motion once the final design is settled on and the steel and other components are cut and delivered ready for assembly. If it's fairly straight forward and has the promise of a little profit in it then you never know!

Cheers!
Nigel.

[GoonerGary]

Computer tables, industrial kitchen trolleys, I usually improvise when I need something like this. I don't know how much serious wheeling you need to do, but you can always add trolley wheels to the bottom of any storage unit, I've got a couple of improvised things in my small space. Usually when you see something perfect, it's not in the UK!