6 Things to Look for When Buying a Toolbox

Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or a shop owner, the right toolbox can make all the difference. The

following is a list of top toolbox features to look consider.

1.       Size and storage capacity. Because a quality tool box is a long term investment, you'll want to be sure the toolbox is large enough to neatly store all your tools — even your bulky ones.

2.       Gauge of steel. Toolboxes made from higher gauges of steel are able to support heavier loads. Not only that, but they tend to last longer. Net weight is often an indication of steel gauge, with heavier gauge steel resulting in heavier toolboxes.

3.       Quality casters. The whole point of having toolbox casters is to allow your toolbox to be moved quickly and easily to wherever you need it. The type of floor and debris your toolbox will have to move through as well as how much weight it will carry will both affect the type of casters you'll need. If you find a toolbox you love but with inadequate casters, you can always buy better casters separately and replace the existing ones.

4.       Drawer slides. Make sure the toolbox's drawer slides are made with ball bearings. This will allow the drawers to easily slide open and closed, even with heavy loads. Speaking of heavy loads, don't forget to check each drawer's load capacity as well.

5.       Color and design. Toolboxes come in a variety of colors but more importantly, in a variety of layouts. Be sure to choose a toolbox with drawers laid out in a way that makes sense for your needs and work habits.

6.       Extras. There are several features and accessories that may appeal to you such as drawer liners, safety latches, protective covers, drawer guards, and more.

Keep these things in consideration and you're sure to buy a toolbox that's right for you.

5 Things to Look for When Choosing Shopping Cart Casters

Anyone who's ever pushed a shopping cart knows how frustrating it can be when the wheels don't work properly. The shopping cart casters you choose have a big impact on customer experience. Here's a list of things to look for:

1.       Effortless glide. The quality of casters determines how smoothly a cart glides through the aisles. It's worthwhile to spend a little more money on higher quality casters to ensure your customers have the best possible experience.

2.       Non-marking. The great thing about casters that provide an effortless glide is they are also non-marking. Polyurethane wheels are an excellent choice when you want to protect your floors from scuffs and marks while also delivering optimal performance.

3.       Anti-microbial. Because shopping carts come into contact with food, Albion casters with anti-microbial properties are a must. Anti-microbial wheels help suppress the growth of microbes which in turn helps control not only bacteria but also fungi, mildew, mold and odors. The anti-microbial compound is part of the wheel material itself, not simply a coating, so the caster wheel maintains anti-microbial properties throughout the lifetime of its service.

4.       Durability. Shopping carts are pushed over a variety of surfaces both inside a store and outside in a parking lot. Because of the heavy use a shopping cart receives, durability is extremely important. Investing a higher quality, more durable wheel means having to replace those wheels less frequently.

5.       Anti-static. No one likes to get zapped with static electricity while shopping. You can spare your customers a shock by using anti-static wheels on your carts. With anti-static wheels, the static electricity is discharged with every rotation of the wheel, ensuring a zap-free shopping experience for your customers.

Keep these five things in mind when selecting shopping cart casters and your customers will be sure to appreciate it.

5 Types of Standard Casters

There are dozens of different kinds of casters, so choosing the right one can be confusing. The

following is a list of some of the most commonly used, standard casters.

Plate Casters

Of all the types of casters available, plate casters are one of the most commonly utilized. These casters have weight capacities ranging from 300 pounds all the way up to 23,000 pounds. Not only that, but plate casters are also available in a wide range of colors and sizes.

Leveling Casters

When you need something perfectly level, leveling casters do the job nicely. Available in different sizes, leveling casters also feature a steel inserted frame ideal for heavy applications, a durable engineered nylon plastic wheel, a chemically compounded rubber leveling pad and a forged top plate. Leveling casters can also be easily switched from stationary to mobile.

Low-Profile Casters

If you need a low-profile caster with high capacity, this is the caster for you. Typically used with loads such as business machines, electronic equipment, laboratory equipment, and store fixtures, low-profile casters feature dual ball bearing construction with a sleek design. Need higher load capacity? Heavy-duty low-profile casters can carry up to 1,000 pounds.

Pneumatic and No-Flat Casters

These casters are perfect for when you need to baby your floors and your load. Swivel caster models can maneuver easily around corners and in tight spaces. Pneumatic casters are most often used for large equipment and are found in warehouse environments.

Spring-Loaded Casters

Ideal for the most delicate loads, spring loaded casters provide a smooth and gentle ride. Casters are available with a load capacity of up to 500 pounds, as well as in swivel and rigid models.

Of course, there are many more types of specialized casters available but these are the workhorses you'll see used most often.

Tips for Using Pallet Jacks

Using a pallet jack may seem like a straightforward process. However, using a pallet jack incorrectly

can result in property loss or injury. The following tips will help ensure you use a pallet jack safely and effectively.

·         Plan your load - There are several things you need to take into consideration when planning your load. For instance, the weight of the load, where the load is going, the size of the load and whether or not you can see around the load once it's on the jack. If you can't, you'll need a spotter.

·         Inspect the pallet jack - You'll want to make sure the pallet jack is in good working order, without any cracks or signs of damage. Don't forget to inspect the pallet jack wheels to ensure they are also free from cracks and are in good working order.

·         Use the right pallet jack for the job - Pallet jacks have different load capacities, so it's critical the jack you are using is able to handle the weight and size of your load.

·         Evenly distribute the load - Because a top-heavy load can easily tip over causing injury, always load the heaviest items first. Then make sure the pallet jack's forks are centered evenly under the load to ensure stability and maintain balance. When possible, break larger loads down into smaller ones. OSHA recommends keeping the weight of loads down so that less than 50 pounds of pushing force is necessary.

·         Always push, never pull - Speaking of pushing, always push your load in order to maintain control and avoid muscle strain.

·         Maintain proper clearance - Maintaining a distance of approximately an inch between the floor and the pallet will help keep the load more stable than if the load is higher off the ground.

Follow these tips and you're sure to have an easier, safer experience.

Common Caster Wheel Types

Caster wheels might all come in the same shape, but they certainly come in a wide variety of sizes

and materials. To determine which type of caster wheel is best for your particular needs, read on.

Cast iron/semi steel - These wheels are abrasion resistant and are easy to start rolling. Cast iron/semi-steel wheels are ideal for use on concrete and smooth steel, and are resistant to extreme temperatures. They are also a good choice for environments containing oil and grease, animal fats, metal chips, and mild chemicals.

Steel - Forged steel or ductile steel caster wheels are an ideal choice when floor protection is not an issue and in situations where loads are too heavy for floor protective wheels. Forged steel wheels provide the best impact strength, ease of movement, and greatest load capacity of all caster wheels.

Nylon - Glass filled nylon wheels are extremely heat resistant, up to 490 degrees continuous or 550 degrees intermittent. Nylon wheels are also durable, resist hard impacts, are non-marking, and are resistant to cleaning agents as well as oils and greases.

Rubber - When you need a higher load capacity than soft rubber wheels, hard rubber wheels are a good choice. They are extremely durable and won't flatten while sitting under loads. Hard rubber wheels are also durable and have fluid ease of movement. However, they are not non-marking.

Phenolic - These wheels are constructed of phenolic resin and macerated canvas. Phenolic wheels are commonly used for push/pull applications. In addition to being ideal for high weight loads and being resistant to extreme temperatures, they are also economic.

Pneumatic - Pneumatic wheels are air-filled, offering high floor protection as well as the ability to easily roll over obstructions. The wheels also provide shock absorption and cushioning, making them ideal for fragile loads.

These are just a few of the many types of caster wheels available.  

Tips for Choosing Office Furniture

If you're furnishing an office, it can be tough to choose from the seemingly endless array of available

office furniture. However, the following tips can help you narrow things down and choose the best furnishings for your office.

Consider office size and layout - The most important thing to consider when choosing office furniture is the size of the space you have to work with and the layout of your office. For instance, you may find a desk you love but if there isn't enough room to open the drawers — or worse it blocks an emergency exit — you'll have to find something smaller.

Choose practicality over style - You might want your office to look like a modern art museum but if the pieces aren't functional, there's no point in having them. Look at furniture with an eye for practicality, such as office chairs with furniture casters or filing cabinets large enough to accommodate all your paperwork.

Get comfortable - Ergonomics and comfort are two extremely important factors when choosing office furniture. If you're going to be spending several hours a day at a desk, you'll risk injury and chronic discomfort if that desk isn't ergonomically designed. Likewise, you'll want to ensure clients are comfortable, so choose seating accordingly.

Remember: you get what you pay for - Budgets are often tight when you're first starting a business, so it can be tempting to spend as little as possible on furnishing your office. However, choosing cheap furniture now can mean needing to replace it in the not too distant future, which means you won't be saving any money in the long run. Pay a little more for good quality up front and you'll enjoy a much better return on your investment.

Keep these tips in mind and you'll be sure to choose furniture that's right for you.

What’s Considered a Heavy Load for a Pallet Jack? – Part 2

In our previous post, we talked about what is considered a heavy load for a pallet jack. Here are some more things that are considered a heavy load and how pallet jack wheels can help you redistribute the weight.

In addition to the standard pallet jacks that are rated for 5,500 lbs., there are also pallet jacks available that can lift loads as much as 11,000 pounds. For such massive weight, steel pallet jack wheels are typically the right choice that manufacturers make for heavy duty pallet jacks. While these wheels might not roll as smoothly as polyurethane wheels and won’t be as quiet, they can withstand extremely heavy loads.

They are also able to resist lots of damage from debris that could be covering concrete floors. These steel wheels are strong, sturdy, and durable, and are likely the ideal option when it comes to pallet jacks that have to lift very heavy loads.

For heavy-duty pallet jacks with load capacities of more than 10,000 pounds, the load wheels can also be doubled. Instead of having one single load wheel underneath the tip of every fork, two wheels can be used. Utilizing a pair of wheels will allow the forks of the pallet jack to be able to withstand a lot more weight.