I was considering to install casters on my 6x8 layout. I have talked to several modelers about this and have been told by all that casters are’nt a good idea since leveling would be too dificult. Amongst other things, I learned that every floor in any room are’nt completely level. Am I better off to stick with the adjustable feet and let the caster idea roll off into the sunset?
Not necessarily. Check your floor with a level first. If it is not level you could always add levelers above the casters. The big problem with casters is to be sure your legs can take the forces when you move it. Brace them in both directions very well .
How important is moving the layout or is it for convenience?
If you do it remember bigger is better. Bigger wheels roll better and are more forgiving of levelness and dirt/trash/cord issuses. Look at hospital carts and wheelchairs for affordable "used " big wheel casters as new ones are $$$$. Fred
I have a 5 x 12 foot layout, which is being built on this frame:
The legs are 2x3, the outer frame is 1x4, and the inner rafters are 1x3. The triangular gussets which stabilize the legs are cut from 3/4 inch plywood. Other bracing is 1x2. The casters are 2 1/2 inches in diameter, which some would say are small. However, I roll the layout easily around on a medium-pile carpet. The layout base is 2-inch foam, which is a lot lighter than plywood. That’s important for rolling it around.
6x8 is too wide, in my opinion and many others. The normal “max reach” distance is 30 inches, only 2 1/2 feet. From personal experience, even 2 1/2 feet is quite a stretch.
HORailfan,
Can’t remember the brand name, but you might want to look for the blue plates with three casters per unit that are sold for moving pianos and other heavy
objects. You might find them at Lowes, Home Depot or similar stores. They spread the weight but their downside is they aren’t locking casters, so you’ll have to find a way to keep the table in position.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
Because we are remodeling our basement, and because my 8’ X 11" slab is otherwise immobile (not to mention darned heavy), I jacked it up and placed nine 2" casters under it, the lockable ones with the black plastic wheels available at Home Depot.
My floor is not level, as our framing clearly showed, but is is nearly so, and the casters work very well on the finished cement. Takes some shoving to get the monster to move, but it moves…smoothly.
Go for it.
I have casters on my layout and they work very well. What I like is being able to shove the whole thing against a wall. This frees up floor space. When I want to work on the backside I simply pull it away from the wall.
Jim
I have casters on a 12’x12’ U-shaped layout. The legs are about 3 feet apart. It’s on a slab covered by carpet but the casters a big enough to roll it. It takes two people and you move it slowly but it allows you go get by the walls if needed. It has proven very handy during construction.