Do It Yourself (DIY) Not So Cheap After All

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dibbons

dibbons

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Constructed a simple rolling platform but the price in materials was not so simple:

11/16" seven layer plywood 2' X 4' $15.00

4" caster wheels ($12.80 each) $51.20

4" rigid wheels ($5.28 each) $10.66

#14 wood screws $1.11

wood stain (found some in garage)

Total $77.97

H-Dep Stuff/wheels from China, of course.

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You gotta find a better source for casters. I buy mine at a metal supplier - I just paid $12 ea. for 600-lb. capacity 4" x 2" poly over cast iron casters with brakes. They sell the kind of casters you bought for about $4-5 ea.
 
You didn't include your time. Maybe you could have been doing something else like drinking beer or watching a hockey game. OTOH maybe you built it while drinking a beer and watching a hockey game.

My DIY guideline for anything in the house or on the car is: "How expensive will it be for someone to come and fix whatever it is that I've screwed up and how long will it take me to screw it up?" Anything > $500 or 2 hours and I get someone who knows what they are doing to do it.
 
He only used 11/16th plywood. Not much structurally there in the middle of a 2 x 4 stretch I would think. Probably just looking for support on heavy loads. Again, another reason for the habor freight hardwood dolly. They make great engine cradles. Heck you can't even buy the wood for the price and the larger one's are only $15.99
 
Depends on what plans are to put on it , but even so, why solid(straight only) casters in middle? Good luck moving anything but a straight line? Or ??
Blind Squirrel said:
He only used 11/16th plywood. Not much structurally there in the middle of a 2 x 4 stretch I would think. Probably just looking for support on heavy loads. Again, another reason for the habor freight hardwood dolly. They make great engine cradles. Heck you can't even buy the wood for the price and the larger one's are only $15.99
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Using fixed casters in the middle creates a more easily controllable straight line movement without the entire thing always trying to “crab walk”. It’s why they use the same design in the heavy carts at lumber stores. It makes it easier to direct and pivot around corners.

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Here is the first thing I need to move around on my DIY platform that's been in storage collecting dust for years and years. Don't know where it came from, but I'm guessing it is something the lady of the house picked up at a second hand store. It has tongue and groove drawers but the back panel is that cheap/thin panel board that warps and always comes loose. Looks to be something constructed back in the '60's or '70's. It is heavy as hell.

I cleaned it up with some orange oil and I will put it into service as soon as I clean up the inside. I might put a photo of it up on some kind of furniture forum to see if anyone can identify the make and vintage (never looked into furniture before now).

furniture ID.jpg
 
Ddaddy said:
Using fixed casters in the middle creates a more easily controllable straight line movement without the entire thing always trying to “crab walk”. It’s why they use the same design in the heavy carts at lumber stores. It makes it easier to direct and pivot around corners.

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and those you can get at any home improvement store for free

:poke:
 
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