What Makes a Great Furniture Caster Wheel
Caster wheels are sometimes one of those things that are so important and valuable, you don’t even realize it. In a few minutes, you can make your sofa, table, or even dresser mobile. All you need is to get your trusty screwdriver, attach a set of furniture caster wheels, and you are done.
With caster wheels installed, you can easily reconfigure your house's furniture arrangement, make heavy sets movable, or you can even make moving out of your home a breeze. With these wheels, a five-person job can quickly be done by you and you alone.
However, you cannot just buy any caster wheel. Choosing the wrong one for your furniture can lead to accidents and other problems. Therefore, you need to know which caster wheel is best for the job.
Material
There are multiple materials you can choose from. The material of the caster wheel directly dictates its durability and quality. Also, choosing the right material and size can prevent the wheels from damaging your floor.
Cast Iron
Since these wheels can withstand getting nicked and are abrasion-resistant, they can retain their form even if they are burdened with a heavy load. Because of that, you can rest easy that they will roll effortlessly no matter what.
Cast iron is an excellent choice if you want to reuse the wheels over and over again. The only downside is that it can crack or damage floors that are softer than concrete or smooth steel if you use it to carry heavy furniture.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane often covers iron wheels to prevent them from damaging the floor and, at the same time, carries heavy furniture. It is the standard when it comes to heavy-duty caster wheels for furniture use. It is very rollable, and it can carry medium-sized furniture like couches or an empty home entertainment center.
Polyolefin
It can withstand medium to heavy loads and will not scratch or damage your floor. This material is often used for toys and other soft plastic materials like spa pillows and seat cushions.
Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR)
It is made up of a durable polyolefin core, with its outer shell being made of rubber. It is soft enough to roll over small debris and dirt. It is the ideal type of wheel for clean and quiet environments. It’s perfect for carrying light pieces of furniture.
Size
The size of the wheel influences the weight of the furniture, item, or person it can support. Normally, the bigger and wider the wheel, the more weight it can support. On the other hand, getting smaller-sized wheels to carry or transport heavy furniture can damage the wheel.
However, the material used for the wheel greatly affects its loading capacity. So, instead of basing the load capacity by size, it would be much better to check and rely on the information written on the spec sheet.
Mount
The mount you choose also affects the durability of the wheels and the ease of installing them.
●Plate mount: This type is easily installable, replaceable, and removable. All you need to do is to screw or unscrew the bolts holding the wheels to the furniture.
●Stem mount: There are different types of stem mounts. You have threaded, hollow rivets, and ones that come with a grip ring. Depending on the type of stem, it can be challenging or easy for you to install the caster wheels.
Features and Wheel Design
These handy features should be included on all furniture casters, but each feature has its use case. And sometimes, you do not need to spend more if they don’t matter for your purpose.
●Swivel: Swivel caster wheels improve the mobility of your furniture. With them, you can quickly turn or rotate your furniture with less effort.
●Brake/Lock: This feature is a must to prevent your furniture from rolling or moving around.
●Single Wheel: This is the most common wheel design. It is cheaper, and it can support light pieces of furniture.
●Twin Wheel: It offers twice the carrying capacity compared to a single wheel. Also, this design allows two short wheels to manage the same amount of weight as a tall single wheel twice their height. They also spread the weight more on a wider surface area, so they will not easily damage the floor.
●Hooded Wheel: The hood protects the wheel from accumulating dust and dirt in it. It also makes the caster look cleaner.
●Hooded Ball: They are stylish, as their hood often is made of metal or brass.
Find The Best Caster Wheels For Your Furniture
Now you know what makes great furniture casters, you can start shopping for them. Be diligent to prevent accidents, injuries, or damage to your floors or furniture.