The invention of the wheel is what changed the course of history for human civilisation and it still has a lot of use today. The same can be said even for wheels we take for granted and those are castor wheels. These free-rolling wheels are made to be driven by pushing the object they're found on.
Castors as they're also called are also found in a double-wheel configuration which offers better stability. They are quite a simple component that is found on shopping trolleys, warehouse trolleys and even more heavy-duty applications where toughness and durability are a must. This is where stainless steel castors come into play.
Benefits of Stainless Steel Castors
Rigid
The biggest reason why stainless steel castor wheels are found in most industrial plants and storage facilities is because they are rigid. Their construction too is what helps make stainless steel castors the prevalent option in most heavy-duty applications.
Durable
What also makes stainless steel castor wheels so desirable is the fact that they're extremely durable. No matter the thread material they're using, stainless castor wheels are going to last you a lot longer than any other type of castor wheels.
Maintenance
In order for the above to be the case, you need to take care of stainless steel castor wheels in the same way you would take care of your warehouse trolley. But maintaining a stainless steel castor wheel in good shape is actually not that difficult as all you need to do is ensure that they're not dusty or wet.
Important Factors of Castor Wheels
Dimensions
The dimensions of stainless castor wheels are going to determine the size of the trolley you can couple them with. The height o the castors as well as the wheel diameter and width are going to determine how quiet the trolley is going to be and how easy it's going to be to push it around when loaded.
Mount
You'll find two types of castor mounts and those are plate and stem mounts. Plate mounts have a flat bracket with both holes that help mount the castor flush to your trolley. This makes them ideal for heavy-duty applications as plate mounts are more stable and mobile than stem mounts. Stem mounts are far easier to replace than plate mounts. They're also easier to clean and lubricate but they are not as strong.
Swivel vs Rigid
There are two types of castors when it comes to their movement and those are rigid and swivel. Rigid castors are best when you need to move in a straight line, especially with heavy loads. But they're not the best in tight spaces. This is where you need swivel casters that can turn around 360° and move in any direction. But they're more difficult to maneuver and not made for heavy loads.
Weight Rating
You also have to look for castors with the right weight rating. This rating is going to tell you the amount of weight the castors can withstand no matter how long you're going to use them. Therefore you should always go for castors that have a slightly higher weight rating than what you actually need. Never go for castors with the same weight rating or below what you'll move around on a daily basis.
Surface
The surface you'll have the castors on most of the time will affect its dimensions. Rougher surfaces require the use of castors with larger wheels, therefore the castor needs to be larger as well. Smooth and flat surfaces work well with smaller wheels but keep in mind that if you still decide to go for larger wheels they will have a negative effect on the maneuverability of the trolley.
Bearing
There are 4 types of bearing castors can have and those are ball, plain, roller and Timken bearings. Ball bearings are much like roller bearings in that they help reduce friction with added elements. In the case of rollers these elements are small cylinders while ball bearings have, you guessed it, balls.
Castors with ball bearings allow for a more precise and smoother movement than those with roller bearings. Plain bearings have the bearing surface come in direct contact with the bearing shaft and they are not as smooth. Timken bearings are known to allow angular rotation to take place which makes them great for heavy machinery.
Braking and Locking
Like with any wheel, castor wheels need to be able to break or lock into place. Albeit this is the same operation on castor wheels people use both braking and locking to refer to the same action or rather non-action. Locking prevents castors from moving around but if you have swivel castors they they will still be able to swivel a little bit. To prevent this and lock the castors fully you should go with ones that are total lock castors.
Types of Wheels
The wheels themselves can be made from different materials such as PVC, rubber, polyurethane and wood. PVC and polyurethane wheels are hard-wearing and durable but not the most comfortable. Rubber wheels are the most comfortable but not the most durable while wooden wheels are quite dated and they are not comfortable or as durable as PVC or polyurethane wheels.
