How to: Attach Your Castors to Furniture

Castors are an excellent choice for almost any type of furniture, but are especially useful for furniture that has to be moved often or is difficult to move. Castor wheels make it easier, because instead of recruiting help for lifting the furniture, you can simply roll it to a new location all by yourself. Adding castors to your furniture is easy as well; all it takes is a few simple steps.

Castors are an excellent choice for almost any type of furniture, but are especially useful for furniture that has to be moved often or is difficult to move. Castor wheels make it easier, because instead of recruiting help for lifting the furniture, you can simply roll it to a new location all by yourself. Adding castors to your furniture is easy as well; all it takes is a few simple steps.

Types of Castors

Before you can actually begin installing new caster wheels, it is important to understand the two types of castors that are available to you: post and screw-on. Choosing between the two depends on the type of furniture you’re working with and the end result you want.

• Post- This is usually the more decorative type of castor and is often used on furniture that needs to sit higher up on the floor. With this castor, a post is placed into the corner or leg of the furniture. The castor then allows the furniture to be rolled with ease in any direction.

• Screw-on- These castors are less decorative and more functional. They are often used on furniture that sits low to the ground. With this castor, a flat plate holds the castor wheel; this plate is screwed onto the bottom of the furniture. Depending on the type of castor, the wheel itself will either be locked in place or will swivel.

Attaching Casters to Furniture

• Turn the Furniture Over- If the piece of furniture is heavy, you might need some help with this part. Turn it upside down so it’s easy to see the type of surface that is available to you. This will help you determine what type of castor you need to use.

• Build up Corners- What type of furniture are you attempting to attach the castors to? If you had to assemble it yourself, chances are the corners aren’t as supported as you need them to be. This problem is easily solved, however, by placing a few scrap pieces of wood on each corner. Attach the wood wither screws or glue before attempting to add on the castors.

• Add the Castors- This step will differ, depending on whether you’re using a post or screw-on caster. If you’re using a post castor, drill post holes and place the castor cylinders inside the holes, securing them in place according to your manufacturer’s instructions. Then place the stem of the castor into the cylinder until it locks. If you’re using stem castors, pre-drill the screw holes and attach the flat plate to the bottom of the furniture with screws. If the furniture is long and heavy, consider adding castors at the back and front centre of the time to provide more support.

Adding castors to any type of furniture is simple, and doing so can make your life so much easier. What are you waiting for? Purchase a few new casters today and attach them to items you’ve previously had trouble moving around. You won’t believe the difference these small wheels can make!