How to Choose the Right Castors for the Job
English: castors and wheels (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This article looks at castors and their role in many modern appliances and furnishings. It goes on to look at the variety of replacement castors and the situations which may call for replacements or upgrades.
About castors
Castors are the wheels that sit at the bottom of many items of furniture and appliances. They are the small wheels that sit under office desks and cupboards, sofas and a variety of other items in both domestic settings. They are used to help facilitate movement and transportation of these items and can greatly assist with Health & Safety policy implementations within the commercial environment, as anyone who has tried to move bulky or heavy office equipment without the benefit of wheels will attest! Good quality castors also help to provide a sturdy support basis for many types of furniture.
Why might you need castors?
There are a variety of occasions upon which you might need to buy castors; breakages tend to be the most common reason, as furniture will become unstable with less than four castors for each corner. Additionally furniture upgrades may well necessitate castors – particularly if there’s a desire to upgrade static items to more flexible and move-able pieces of furniture for changing living environments. With the increase of interior usage flexibility, castors are likely to become more in demand. For example, many ‘small space’ interior designers now specialise in multi-tasking spaces that combine living, working, cooking and sleeping activities – particularly in urban apartments or other space-constrained contexts. Castors can be a valuable addition to supporting these designs and allow easy movement and relocation of furniture items.
A wide range of replacements
There are a range of specialist castor retailers and these are ideal for situations where you might need advice or help in picking the right product. A good specialist outlet might sell as many as 3,000 different castor types, for a range of purposes, covering the professional, industrial and domestic areas. You will find castors in all sizes and materials, including industrial cast-iron castors, heavy-duty models, those with fixed-top plates, industrial wheels, rubber wheels and heavy-duty trolley wheels. You’ll find too that the bigger models can carry furniture or plant weights which match thousands of kilograms!
Finding the right retailer
Look for a wide range of castor products to suit a variety of sectors and a promoted specialism within the retailer. If the retailer purely sells castors, you’ll know that you’re dealing with the experts. Look for recommendations on the basis of product quality and customer satisfaction and find out if warranties are available for certain products. Rapid ordering and delivery processes can also be a real attraction. Some services will include next day or timed delivery for any orders made by 3pm on the preceding day – and most modern courier services will provide a tracking service so you can ascertain where your delivery is up to. Another good thing to look for, is a website with plenty of free information, such as details on the different types of castors and wheels available and the main features of each, including bearings. This will help to build your knowledge and assist you with making confident decisions about the products you buy for your particular project.
Other signs of quality include a money back guarantee, quibble free refund policy, extended opening hours and business accreditation, such as trade accreditation, ISO quality marks and memberships of professional organisations. Look too for signs of partnership with large castor brands – this will suggest a high quality retailer which the manufacturer is happy to partner with. Remember too to speak to staff and get help if you’re unsure about what you need – good staff will be enthused and happy to help!
AUTHOR BIO
Peter Smith writes regularly on DIY projects and building work for a range of blogs and trade publications. Find out more at: www.thecastorshop.co.uk
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Category: Business
