How To Choose Casters

Whether you are moving a food cart, a tool chest, or industrial equipment, the right caster can make the job much easier, whereas choosing the wrong caster can leave you with a heavy, immovable load that might as well not have casters at all.

At RWM Casters, we feature the perfect caster for nearly any application, including a wide range of kingpin casters, stem casters, Kingpinless casters, and heavy-duty wheels made from steel, rubber, polyurethane, nylon, or phenolic plastics. And if we don’t have a caster that meets your specifications, we can design and build custom casters tailored to your application. Our casters feature high-performance, long-lasting bearings, hardened, precision-machined raceways, and lubrication points for all swivels so that they will last as long as possible under demanding conditions.

Determining the Caster You Need

Casters have a wide variety of features and specifications, so to find the right one for your application, you will need to consider the following factors:

• Load rating: To be safe and maximize the service life of your casters, choose a caster with a load rating greater than your expected load.
• Operating environment: If a caster is used in areas with uneven flooring, debris, moisture, or chemicals, choose a caster that works well in that environment, such as one with larger wheels to move over ridges or gaps.
• Temperatures: Extreme temperatures can damage casters with plastic or nylon wheels, so be sure to choose a material that can support your required working temperatures
• Corrosion: If your caster will be exposed to corrosive elements like salt or acids, it’s important to choose models with corrosion-resistant construction, like zinc-plated or stainless steel.
• Noise levels: If the caster is to be used somewhere like a hospital or office, choosing a quiet caster can keep distracting noise to a minimum.
• Swivels: Casters are available in fixed or swiveling models, and some equipment may use no swivels at all, one or two pairs, or swivels at each location to provide varying levels of maneuverability.
• Type of brakes: Choose wheel locks to keep the caster from rolling or total locks to keep the caster from swiveling and rolling.
• Powered towing: A heavy-duty, reliable caster with quality bearings that can withstand higher speeds will be needed for towing applications.

Why Choosing the Right Casters Matters

Choosing the right caster can make moving a cart or piece of equipment easy and convenient when required, while the wrong caster can make the process hard, frustrating, or even virtually impossible. Four benefits of choosing the right caster for the application include:

• Safety: The right caster will roll smoothly, be easy to control, and keep the load stable and secure, whether moving or stationary.
• Ergonomics: A proper caster should move easily with minimal strain on the user, even with a heavy load.
• Efficiency: A caster that can roll smoothly with minimal friction will make moving the laid easier and more efficient, increasing productivity.
• Protection: The right wheel materials protect valuable flooring from scuffs, marring, and damage.

Weight Capacity as a Factor in Selecting Casters

The weight of your load is the most important consideration when selecting a caster, as overloading can not only be dangerous but can shorten the caster’s service life considerably. Estimate your total load, divide it by the number of casters on the equipment, and select a caster that exceeds that load rating. The higher the rating, the more of a buffer you will have to prevent damage from overloading.

Wheel & Caster Size Matters

The size of the wheel and the caster itself are also important considerations. Short casters provide a lower center of gravity for a more stable platform, while taller casters can accept a bigger wheel that can roll over obstacles more easily. Choose larger casters for areas with uneven flooring and short casters for heavy, awkward, or delicate items that need a more stable base, like office chairs, equipment carts, or furniture dollies.

Choose RWM Casters for durable, high-quality casters that are a great fit for virtually any application. Call 800-634-7704 today or contact us online to request a quote or find your nearest distributor.