I'm making a laundry pedestal using plans I found from "This Old House" (Plans Here). However, I'm making two major changes to the plans - I'm putting in pull out shelves to rest the laundry baskets on, and I'm putting the whole thing on retractable casters using a method I found on this site. The caster method is from a rolling lathe cabinet that TedAs posted on this site a number of years ago. I'm having some concerns about the caster method so I'm looking for an opinion if you've done this sort of caster retraction method before. See the photo below although I'm still in the process of doing the caster work.
My issue is that there seems to be two "sticking points" where the hinges for the casters kind of bind and make the wood arms hard to put down or up. It's hard to explain but let's say the casters are fully retracted. When pushing down on the wood caster "arms" it's very difficult to get past the first inch or so of travel. Then it's easy until the wood arms are completely horizontal and casters are fully extended. But then to move the arms up to retract the casters there is another very difficult stretch in the first inch or so. Then it's easy the rest of the way.
I'm sorry I can't explain this any better. I'm hoping someone with experience with this method will understand what I'm saying and let me know if I can do anything about it. It seems that if I would loosen the screws on the hinges it would give it some play and then it wouldn't bind. However, I think that would make it come apart at some point down the line.
Your thoughts? And thanks if you can help!
Patrick
My issue is that there seems to be two "sticking points" where the hinges for the casters kind of bind and make the wood arms hard to put down or up. It's hard to explain but let's say the casters are fully retracted. When pushing down on the wood caster "arms" it's very difficult to get past the first inch or so of travel. Then it's easy until the wood arms are completely horizontal and casters are fully extended. But then to move the arms up to retract the casters there is another very difficult stretch in the first inch or so. Then it's easy the rest of the way.
I'm sorry I can't explain this any better. I'm hoping someone with experience with this method will understand what I'm saying and let me know if I can do anything about it. It seems that if I would loosen the screws on the hinges it would give it some play and then it wouldn't bind. However, I think that would make it come apart at some point down the line.
Your thoughts? And thanks if you can help!
Patrick