The ability to roll a table, piece of furniture, or cart down the hall or across the room makes life easier regardless of what industry you work in. From offices to warehouses, shipping facilities to restaurants, everyone uses rolling equipment to move items around more comfortably. In the case that you’re creating a custom platform or need to replace caster wheels for your office chair, filing cabinet, or warehouse cart, learn about the various caster mount types and how they work. At Caster Central, we can explain your options and help you pick out the one that's right for you.

The Top Six Caster Mount Types

Some caster mount types work better for particular types of equipment or furniture, while others fit best for platforms of a specific material. Learn about the top six caster mount types, how they operate, and how they contribute to easier use in your home or workplace.

1. Rigid Casters

Rigid casters consist of a flat plate-type mount that users must screw into the platform or item they want to make roll. These types of casters offer no swiveling abilities, providing great stability but making it difficult to control directions. You can combine rigid casters with other, more mobile casters to better control which way the wheels go.

2. Plate-Mount Casters

While stem casters remain popular for many types of applications, plate-mount casters provide a stronger connection between a platform and the floor. Stem casters place stems on the caster wheels that pop or screw into place. Plate-mount casters consist of a flat base that bolts into a platform, with a flat metal piece designed for wheel placement.

Overall plate-mount casters work best in industrial settings where they’ll support extremely heavy loads. What caster you use will depend on the size of your wheels.

3. Grip Ring Stem Casters

These relatively common casters offer a simple installation process. Typically used for office chairs, filing cabinets, and other light equipment, they offer excellent versatility and are easily replaced if damaged.

The caster consists of a steel ring (located above the wheel), a metal stem, and a rounded head. Each mount contains a recessed area in the socket for the top of the caster; this allows it to lock in place and prevent your equipment from moving.

4. Threaded Stem Casters

Threaded stem casters provide excellent stability. Unlike many casters, they utilize a stem that screws directly into the mount. This prevents equipment from moving when you want to keep it still, making it excellent for industrial settings.

5. Grip Neck Stem Casters

These types of casters typically appear on wooden furniture or equipment. Grip neck stem casters appear with a flanged top, so the pre-made socket in the wood allows the stem to pop in and stay in. Once you place them, it’s difficult to remove grip neck casters, though should you need a replacement, you can easily find one due to the universal stem size.

6. Leveling Casters

Usually attached to a platform similar to a plate-mount caster, leveling casters allow users to adjust the cart, table, shelf, or other equipment so that it sits evenly regardless of the surface. While some can auto-level, others have a screw-type gear that raises or lowers the platform as necessary.

Why Is It Important to Know About Caster Mount Types?

Understanding caster mount types helps you fit the right one into whatever platform you have. In many cases, your furniture or equipment will come with the types of casters it needs, but you’ll run into situations where you need to replace one. If you know what caster to look for and how it’ll work with your platform, you can make an informed decision about whether you want to replace every caster or just the missing one.

What Affects My Choice of Caster Mount Type?

Choosing a caster mount type affects how well you can maneuver the platform that rests on them. In some cases, you may believe that a certain platform will perform better with particular casters. Some of the aspects that influence which caster mount types you use for certain platforms include the following.

Flooring Types

Depending on what type of flooring or grounds you’ll have your platforms traversing, you might need a different caster mount. Leveling casters work well if you’re using a project platform outdoors on uneven yards, while threaded stem casters will hold your cart together better on a warehouse floor. Consider the roughness and regularity of the surface that your equipment or furniture will cross to decide on a caster type.

Expected Loads

If you’re planning to transport heavy loads across a warehouse, you want casters that can stand the pressure. The popular grip ring caster mounts can hold much less weight than a plate-mount caster. Before changing out casters for those that can handle greater loads, ensure that the mounts will support the new ones as opposed to the original.

Should you discover that your platform won’t allow you to use your preferred casters, you can create new places to mount those casters or opt for plate-mount casters that allow you to bolt them in.

Caster Wheel Activity

Each caster performs differently depending on how you need the wheel to function. Consider whether you’ll often push, pull, or swivel your furniture or equipment. For example, the reason that most office chairs utilize grip ring stem casters consists of that caster’s ability to roll in all directions, freeing up the user to move as they need to. Meanwhile, a cart that you’ll push from location to location might need casters in different areas, such as rigid wheels in the front and threaded casters that swivel in the back.

How Does My Choice of Caster Type Affect My Wheel Type?

Attaching a caster also requires you to choose a wheel for that caster. Wheel materials depend on your expected use of the equipment or furniture you wish to mobilize. The most common types of caster wheel materials and their features include the following.

Nylon

• Works well on concrete floors
• High durability, high impact resistances
• Can withstand corrosive or high-temperature environments

Cast Iron

• Hard tread
• Can handle heavy loads
• Can withstand high temperatures

Performa Rubber

• Highly durable
• Impact-resistant
• Easy, quiet rolling activity

Glass Filled Nylon

• Reduced friction
• High weight capacity
• Chemical- and rust-resistant

High Impact Polymer

• Resists corrosion
• Gentle on floors
• Relatively high weight capacity

Neoprene on Aluminum

• Takes a while to wear down
• Temperature-resistant
• Oil-, grease-, and chemical-resistant

Endura Solid Elastomer

• Supports heavy loads
• Crack- and chip-resistant
• Grease-, oil-, and chemical-resistant

Find the Right Caster Mount Type for You at Caster Central

Finding the right casters is important. Explore common caster mount types, caster stems, wheel types, and more with Caster Central. Our company has served clients for over 150 years, providing them with expert advice and high-quality products. By partnering with us, you can enjoy a variety of options, expert customer service, and extensive assistance.

Warehouses, schools, offices, and other settings all need different caster mount types. Some will need options that support more weight; others will need added versatility. At Caster Central, we guarantee we have something for your needs. Our professionals will speak to you about your needs, explain the pros and cons of different options, and help you pick out the right equipment.

Find the best casters and wheels at Caster Central. Shop our online store or give us a call for top-notch customer service at (800) 445-4082. Get more information today.