Mobile Base for Bandsaw

[Michael Heffernan]

I finished fabricating the mobile base for my G0514X2. I didn't like any of the aftermarket bases available, so I made my own. It is extremely sturdy, and increases the footprint for greater stability.


I used 2x1 x 1/8" wall steel tubing. The left to right bars are drilled with 3/8" holes and mounted to the bottom of the saw base through the base mount holes. There are also four 1/2" holes outside of the base footprint to accept the front to back cross members.


The front to back cross members are drilled with 1/2" holes and attached above the left/right bars under the base. Be sure to use lock nuts or lock washers to secure the bolts. I placed them above the left/right bars so as not to increase the height of the saw too much once the casters were mounted. Thefront/back tubes are approx. 4-1/2" wider on each end than the footprint of the base, to accommodate the swivel of the caster, as well as to increase the stability of the saw in the feed direction of the wood. The underside of the bar is drilled with a 31/64" (1/2" will do as well) hole only through the bottom of the bar. The caster stem is fed through and the bolt attached inside the tubing.



The casters are from Great Lakes Casters, rated for 220 lbs. each. They hold the saw very stable when the leveling feet are lowered. It is very difficult to screw the engaging wheel to engage the leveling foot. Some sort of spanner wrench would make it easier. For now, I screw the wheels with my fingers and finish by using a screwdriver to take the pressure of the swivel wheels. The saw moves around quite easily on the swivel casters, but you must have a relatively level floor.
Footmaster makes a similar caster, of better quality, with a retractable racheting arm that makes raising and lowering the leveling foot a snap. http://www.greatlakescaster.com/foot...0S.php?cat=262
Unfortunately they are 60 bucks a piece, out of my budget range. So I settled for the ones made by Great Lakes at $15.50 a piece.

The total material cost was around $95 including the steel, hardware and casters.

[Stephen Edwards]

Very nice mobile base. I like the design. Thanks for sharing.