When castors are working correctly, they can considerably enhance the mobility of a furniture product, such as an office chair or bed. However, due to the wear of the tread on the castors, there is an irregularity in the ride after time. Instead of replacing the whole item – buying a new chair or bed – simply remove and replace just the castor. Continue reading to learn how to fit castors to your furniture.
Removing Castors
Replacing a chair castor is easy and only takes a few minutes. The majority of office or desk chairs include castors that are bolted to the chair without the use of a screw, making them simple to remove by pulling them out. However, things don’t always go so smoothly, and you may run into one that’s more difficult to pull out than others. You might need to pry away the castor in these situations in order to remove it from the chair.
What You Need to Consider Before Attaching a New Castor
Castors come in a variety of styles, sizes, and configurations. There are several types of castors to choose from, each with its own set of requirements.
You need to consider:
- The number of castors required.
- The size of the castors.
- The method in which the castor attaches to the furniture.
- The maximum load capacity it can hold.
The type of wheel you’ll need is determined by a number of variables, including the manufacturer and size. Some models have a maximum weight capacity of 30kg, while others can carry significantly more. It’s usually a good idea to add the unladen unit weight to the maximum load capacity first, then multiply it by three to get the load capacity you’ll require.
The number of items you wish to install, as well as the amount of mobility you require, will determine which method is best. Screw-on castors are frequently employed on furniture and trolleys that are near to the ground; they’re secured using a flat plate. U-bracket castors, on the other hand, are perfect for items that need to stay up higher, like office chairs.
Things to Consider When Fitting Your New Castor
It’s time to get down to business once you’ve determined the sort of castor you’re using. There are some variations in attachment techniques, so it’s a good idea to double-check the instructions that came with your castor wheels.
Prepare Your Workspace
First, you’ll need to prepare the working environment, including the item on which you wish to mount the castor wheel. This might include turning the furniture over or flipping it upside down for simple access to the area in question.
It is critical to make sure the furniture is sturdy enough to support the weight. The weight of a structure may be more concentrated than we anticipate because many thin plates must bear the entire weight of the construction.
Mark the Points Where You Will Be Attaching the Castor
The location of each castor must be marked out, and the weight distribution noted. It’s a good idea to avoid locations that are too close to the table or chair. Keep in mind the alignment of your castor wheels, since they all need to face in the same direction for smooth operation. The quickest method to achieve alignment is to arrange castors in the same direction, parallel to the edge of the furniture.
Once you’ve verified the positions, use a pencil, spirit-based felt pen or scriber to mark each plate’s position. Scribers are often the finest method to make marks on metal, but spirit-based pens work nicely with bare plastics. Make sure you note any locations where bolts will be required as these are critical.
Create Bolt Holes
Bolt holes are the perforations that must be drilled in order to attach a castor plate to an object. This is also an essential step for bolt castors, as the quality of a single pilot hole may indicate how sturdy a bolt castor is. Once you’ve decided on your castor’s location, use a drill bit that’s about half the diameter of the bolt and carefully drill straight. Repeat this procedure for each bolt fastener, then put together the newly mobile structure using high-grade screws or bolts.
Test Mobility
Getting a correct result on the first try isn’t always feasible. The next step is to examine how well your furniture moves without pulling to one side. If there is a problem, for example, if one castor does not quite touch the ground, packing shims or changing the wheel position can help. Selecting the proper wheel for your project and understanding the technicalities of castor wheels are vital for achieving a clean and functioning finish.