Making furniture dollies

[Demonseed]

I may have a job coming up where I will need a bunch of dollies, and I will most likely have some time off due to my knee procedure, so I am thinking I will make a bunch of dollies with my free time. While I know the basic concept, does anyone have any tips or tried and true methods of making a quality dolly?

[Daris Mulkin]

You could probably buy them cheaper than you can make them considering the cost of the castors. Depot sells them about $25 I think. I made some work tables and I found out that castors from depot don't swivel with a load on them. I got bigger castors and the same result. Rated for 350 lbs. 3"Castors were like $10 ea.
Get the castors with the metal tube in the wheel. Make different sized ones for different jobs. I don't know what type of furniture you are moving.
Desk dollies work great to.
The skidders work really great if on carpet. If not you can get lambs wool covers for over wood and vinyl.
Its all in what you want it to do.
Have you tried the forearm forklifts?

Daris

[Roland Thompson]

Go to a furniture company and see if they have any old ones. I did this and just had to add some new boards on the top area and now have some good dollies,they look like new for just a couple of bucks.

Roland

[Demonseed]

it is a large furniture move, the more stuff I can leave on Dollies the better, I have about 7 - 10 days down time, so I figure, If I can pop out 15-20 dollies I am doing ok. I have all the tools to make a dolly, table saw, drills, screws etc, so I figure, the over all cost may be better, if I can just get a good system going, the castors would be the main issue, if the wheels drag and skid, that can leave a good mark.

If I can make 50 of the tings, I will be in great shape, but, 20 is good.

Daris Mulkin said You could probably buy them cheaper than you can make them considering the cost of the castors. Depot sells them about $25 I think. I made some work tables and I found out that castors from depot don't swivel with a load on them. I got bigger castors and the same result. Rated for 350 lbs. 3"Castors were like $10 ea. Get the castors with the metal tube in the wheel. Make different sized ones for different jobs. I don't know what type of furniture you are moving. Desk dollies work great to. The skidders work really great if on carpet. If not you can get lambs wool covers for over wood and vinyl. Its all in what you want it to do. Have you tried the forearm forklifts? Daris

[cproader]

Demonseed said If I can make 50 of the tings, I will be in great shape, but, 20 is good.

Uh ya might wanna back yer percoset dose off alittle.

[Daniel Wachtel]

3/4" plywood and casters from Harbor Freight. Staple some cheap rug and soft pad to the tops. Keep them around 30" long so they will fit thru most doorways.