I have a North State 16" wide belt sander arriving next week and I want it to be mobile in my shop.? The sales guy I ordered from said that some guys on FOG had good recommendations on what to use to make it mobile.? I'm up for a good setup that gets it mobile but if I had a good option, I would ask that all of the wheels swivel.? Having all swivel means I don't have to think as far ahead when I need to move several machines.? Thanks.??

I used to keep tools and a workbench on these steel ball casters. These have a 1” diameter steel ball in a cup with smaller ball bearings inside the cup. They roll in any direction. I could re-position my Unisaw with one finger. One of each is shown in the picture.

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These can be had with stem mount or surface mount. I have no idea what the weight limit on these is, but I suspect it is quite high.

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For tools that had to be really immobile when in use I put the wheels on levers, so I could raise and lower the tool onto the casters.

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In my current shop tools very rarely move, so few machines are on wheels.

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John Hinman
Boise ID
Kappa 450X and A941

A pallet jack with narrower forks can move around machines on plywood platforms.? I had a 13" wide belt on one, about 1200 lbs.? Not as good as having 4 wheels for tight space but it takes a lot of weight to bog down a pallet jack.? ?My ideal solution idea was a welded base of angle iron with outrigger wheels that put the sander off the ground just a tad.? ?Maybe 1/4" angle iron for the frame and some thicker steel off the sides for the caster mounts.? I'm 6'1" but I would have prefered not having the sander quite that high.? For some machines the height can be welcome for me.?

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You can get those pricey little modern looking casters with the foot that pops down and bolt them to the side of the machine.? Small wheels though.? People were putting those on Felder machines awhile back, dunno if it's still a thing.?

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The Oasis Machinery MB800 is a good mobile base that's adjustable.? Good value in a heavier duty base.? I have an 800lb machine on mine but due to the smaller wheels it takes more muscle to push than the same weight on a pallet jack.?

Like David Best, I made a plywood platform with supports underneath which allows me to move my 16" North State with a small pallet jack.?

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I did try a mobile base, but the problem is that there isn't a good place/way to grab/steer the sander. The pallet jack makes for a good solution for this machine.?

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Tom Gensmer
Heritage Home Renewals, LLC
Minneapolis, MN