Simple Retractable Casters for Workbench 

Gahh my comment keeps on getting deleted (maybe because I added links where I wanted to show you the photos of the build). I actually implemented this (female here) and it worked out terrific. Thank you so much! I was sure it was not going to work for me, but it did and I was so proud I got it to work. I'm in Australia and couldn't find those hinges but I found the butt hinges in the hardware store were fine without needing to take out pins. I looked at numerous videos with similar concepts but yours was by far the clearest, affordable and cleverest in my opinion because it was so simple! I really love your channel and your presenting style. You have helped me learn how you need to install wood to concrete/bricks. I really hope your channel takes off because you deserve it to. Thanks again! I've actually got a chronic illness so anything that helps reduce moving tables/lifting manually really helps me.

A well explained idea by a level headed and soft-spoken wood worker with a penchant for loud inappropriate music queues...

That’s not Proper DIY... it’s Proper bloody genius! You’ve channelled the expertise of the craftsman of yesteryear with this one.

This problem has been bothering me for months, and I hadn't thought of a solution that works well enough. I have also seen LOADS of videos trying to tackle the same problem, and this is by far the simplest and best option. Thanks for sharing.

The way it latches and unlatches is so simple its brilliant.

I had no woodwork at school or anywhere else. But im slowly resurrecting my dads workshop and learning everything I can from RU-vid. yours is my favourite channel by far. I love how clear, concise and to the point you are and with your engineers background your precision and explanations are inspiring. thanks so much. I cant wait to do this to my dear dads bench that he built so many years ago. I feel sure he would approve. x

I can see why your channel has grown at an exponential rate! Keep up the good work 👍

What a clever and simple design. I only found your channel a few days ago but it is already one of my favourites. You explain what you are doing and the thinking behind it so well.

This was the final part of my future workbench. Super simple, love it!

I like these videos, they compliment Pouse, ultimate handyman, restoration couple, charlie DIYte, Chris Longhurst, that Geordie from Gosforth what's his face?, plumberparts and Peter Millard.

Great idea and seems easy to do. My dad when he was with us used to say to me..... "Don't chuck it out son, it'll come in handy even if you never use it"!! 😁 Your metal catch from mfi reminded me of that

Fantastic concept for easy bench portability, exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for these videos, they are a joy to watch as well as incredibly useful!

Surprisingly simple and easy. I'm glad I found this because I was overthinking a solution for the same problem.

This caster installation video came up at the perfect time! I just finished my workbench a couple days ago.

Another great vid. Seriously mate - this channel is WAY better than the DIY cr@p on the telly!!

Built this for my bench, works a treat. Such elegance in its simplicity

What a great mechanism - simple and effective, and less "heavy duty" than I was expecting would be needed!

This is the type of stuff I l like to see! Simple, smart and effective. No need to overcomplicate a functional build. Well done.

This has quickly become my fave RU-vid channel. Love it. Love the vids! A proper inspiration!

You've just transcended to genius level by proving all the best ideas are pretty simple. I've saved this one for when the workbench gets completed. Thank you, Stuart 👍🏻

Love the simple design! Thank you for sharing. Exactly what I'm looking for bench mobility!

Bloody brilliant idea, well explained and demonstrated. I have been looking at doing this to an older type bench for years but never getting around to trying anything. Thanks for posting and as they say, “ Using someone else’s idea is a form of flattery”. All the best.

"MFI" blast from the past had our bathroom from there, makes me think it's time for a new one looking a bit tired now😆

I love the simplicity of this solution! Well done!

Simple ideas are usually the best. Thanks for sharing it. Very grateful.

I did not think it was going to come out that good. Well done.

This is absolutely brilliant, and perfect timing for me. I'm currently in the process of re-building my 20 year old solid hardwood work bench and this is a feature that I've always wanted to add. Such a perfectly simple solution. I'll definitely be adding it to my new bench.

I love the simplicity of this mechanism. Proper and affordable!

Wow! Fantastic design. I love the amount of care that went into designing something so simple yet highly effective 😊

What makes this such a valuable piece of information (e.g., tool in my pocket!) is how simple it is once implemented. I am sure it was by no means "obvious" initially. Kudos to Proper DIY for thinking up the concept and explaining it in very easy-to-follow explanation. (That too sounds easy but is much harder than you would think to learn.) Thanks for sharing.

Hello, I'm from Brazil, and I was looking for a solution like this! Congratulations on the video, another subscriber! And I'm sure I'll learn more from your channel!

This is so simple, yet so effective. Love it!

Really like how you showed your thought process as you went along. Great idea and it's something I've wanted to implement for a while now.

perfect for my workshop! thanks!

You are very fast becoming one of my favourite channels, keep it up 👍

Looked at dozens of these retractable caster options and this is the best by far.

I followed your steps in this video and it worked flawlessly! Thank you so much for making this! Keep up the great work!

Hi Stuart .... just found you and really excited about your mobile workbench. Now I can’t wait to get my hooligan workbench off the ground so to speak. Such a brilliant idea and so much easier than many others that I have looked at on you tube ... Your straightforward calm and detailed approach is a joy to behold, so many thanks for your time in making and sharing these tutorials, you’re an inspiration

That's pretty ingenious. Nice one. 👍

Probably the best lift yet. Thanks.

Love your prototyping approach and as-you-go problem solving. True skill. Thanks for sharing.

Very clever! I like your subject matter, presentation, videoing and editing. You have a really great channel. If only I could be that smart I wouldn’t be living in Australia! 🤣

Such a simple, creative, way to accomplish the task. I love it.

That's such a clever solution to a common problem, thank you for sharing your skill and knowledge.

Genius idea ! You can take the man out of engineering but you can’t take engineering out of the man 😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

This is genius. And far more entertaining than a video of an older British gentleman doing woodworking has any right to be.

Great design. That simple latch is just what I needed! Thank you.

I've seen similar ideas before which you no doubt researched, but this was by far the best explanation of how to make it happen, and such an elegant catch solution. I've just acquired an old school wood working bench which I was planning to do something like this with. Thank you for working out the details for me!

For the locking mechanism, I was thinking a vertical board hinged to the "top" board that you press on. It can be flipped into place to wedge against the upper frame.

Great video and really useful idea. I reckon you could dispense with the music though. 🙏🏻

Awesome. The bracket solution is the best, simplest, and easiest I've seen for retractable casters. I'll absolutely be keeping this in mind for my own future mobile workpieces.

This is proper genius! I was looking for an alternative to expensive retractable casters and this is not only cheaper but superior. One motion for both wheels, and no clumsy tripping hazard. You've earned another fan and subscriber!

MFI !!! Oh god.. I remember that shop. I remember one of the employees telling me it stood for Made For Idiots as a joke.. But I was too young to even comprehend his answer at the time.

Loved it....but you could do without the music. Tool sounds are better.

There are ready to use casters that lift but they are hideously expensive. Great idea you have here. Great vid.

I've only just discovered this channel and it is brilliant! I love your practical and simple solutions. I've gained new motivation and optimism towards my own projects around the house after watching your videos. Keep up the good work

¡Un aplauso! 👏 Llevo un par de meses buscando una solución como esta y la encontré. Saludos desde Santiago de Chile. Usted es un Maestro de Maestros.

Simply....Brilliant!

LOL - "All I need now is a nice smooth floor." LOVE this idea. I've been wanting to build a work bench that I can use as a bar when we have folks over, but it was figuring out how to make it easy to move around the garage that's held things up. Your fix is perfect!

THE ULTIMATE IN SIMPLICITY! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY GENIUIS!

Ingenious idea. I want to make a couple of serious heavy duty garden benches and needed a way to move them about without the wheels taking the load and this might work!

I used a modified version of your caster system on my Delta Contractor tablesaw bench. As it was a tablesaw I would not be walking around the rear of the bench very often so I made the top lever out of wider 2"x6" stock and extended it beyond the rear leg by a few inches. This give a bit more leverage and allowed me to use a Gate Latch to hold it down and a length of Jack Chain to release the latch. One consideration worth mentioning was that my base was relatively narrow to accommodate the tablesaw and once I installed the wheels inboard far enough for clearance the cast iron top of the saw made it a bit top heavy. I won't move it often but found it best to stabilize the heavy end while moving. Thanks for the idea. It really made the most sense for my application.

Very clever solution. And thanks for explaining your reasoning, it all adds to a complete picture.

Great idea! I love how simple it is. All the components are fairly common.

Genius ! This have been one of my big problems how to figure out some easy way to move around my gear in my shop and at the same time don’t affect the sturdiness of the them. I will make mine today 😃🙏

I came across your RU-vid posting after I had built a saw table. My table wasn’t as heavy as your bench so I modified it made it out of narrower timber having found a superb source for 50mm hinges. Brilliant idea, clearly explained and works well. Thank you.

Just came across this. Bloody brilliant gonna use this one for sure. I have a single garage wood shop and constantly have to move things. You sire have just made my life a whole lot easier :)

Love the simplicity of this solution and the IKEA bracket, I have a box of those too!

Man after my own heart, making life easy for yourself - making the little blocks for fitting etc👍

Simply brilliant! I'm gonna have to keep this in mind.

I’m proud to say today I finished the workbench used here from another video and literally just built the lever action wheel base. It’s my first workbench ever! This was super fun to follow along and your accent makes it even better! Cheers!

Thank you! Simple enough. I can relate to your comments on getting old and getting a practical solution that is not hard on the knees.

Absolutely genius idea

Awesome yet simple build! Can't wait to see how you tackle the floor.

This is simply brilliant!! Very simple and elegantly functional.

One of those designs so elegant we wonder why we haven't seen it before. Thanks for sharing!

Wow. That mechanism is crazy simple. I absolutely love it! I'm on a Keter foldaway, but decided today (after being given 10 sq m of 18mm ply and 4m of cls 26 that I want a workbench. But it needs to be portable. This is the game changer! NB: I also have a bag of *Ikea* L shaped hinges. Glad I kept them now.

Another really interesting and enjoyable video.... I had this over engineered in my head, but you have again found a very clever and simple way to solve this problem... I had spring clips levers and magnets would you believe... this is why I am a social worker and not an engineer... loved it..!!!

Excellent solution for a moveable bench - thanks for sharing!

I’m really enjoying these videos, they’re brilliant! Practical projects that are clear and easy to follow, with the right mix of great advice, tips, tricks and humour! I look forward each new one, thanks and congratulations on producing such great content!

Just managed to do this on my work bench. Thank you so much but works a treat and I can now move my very heavy bench around. It is a genius idea!!

Hi, I have just added the same retractable caster system to my very large and very heavy work bench and it works so well. I did buy a set of retractable casters off of the internet but they couldn't cope with the weight of the bench along with the tools stored below. Wish I had seen your video before I spent money on the other casters. Thanks again for showing your simple solution and explaining clearly how to make it. I enjoy watching your channel, keep up the great work.

Loved it. I am doing this on my outdoor dining tables (very heavy). Once I got the build process down on the first end, then second end was done in less than 30 minutes. Best thing was everything I used was recycled!

now that's what i call using your brain to work things out, there is no better Computer on Earth, 10/10 Mate

Hey thanks for the great idea- it's a solid and economical solution that now has my bandsaw gliding around the shop.

That´s what I´m looking for! Simple, cheap and easy to built. - Thank you!

That's really ingenious. I love that little holding latch at the end, great idea.

I've just landed here after watching the garage 'door' videos. I like what you've done with your bench, especially the lifting mechanism to move it around the workshop. It is also great that you have your structural engineer background which means you wouldn't have gone for this option if there wasn't enough integrity in terms of strength. I am going to be building my own workbench soon as currently, like you, I've used scraps including an old fire door, side timbers from an old garage etc and it has a bottom shelf too, really handy for storage and access. Thanks for the tip - free wood...🙂 I look forward to watching the rest of the videos you've shared.

Loved it! I thought it would be nice to have castors available to move a workbench but had no ideas how to design something convenient, and workable. Thanks for sharing.

EXCEPTIONAL solution! This is the definition of an elegant design. Simple, few parts, few failure points, intuitive, and does exactly what it was designed for. Bravo!

Well they say the best idea's are sometimes the simplest. This is up there. You and your channel are amazing. Learning so much so quickly. Thank you

Absolute genius idea. So simple. And inexpensive! Even a beginner DIYer can do this. Thank you. Cheers

What an elegant solution, I’m definitely implementing it on my table.

Cor! that’s brilliant!

I’ve watched every video with retractable castors to find the best solution as decent shop ones are so expensive and I have a number of machine benches. I was impressed with and built Carl Holmgren system. Yours is one of the best I’ve seen. That latch is clever relying on lateral movements. Pulling the hinge pins is inspired I will definitely use that idea. I would be interested to see a long term use review in the future. Cheers John from County Durham UK.

I was surprised at the latch mechanism, and how effective it was. Simple and elegant

Excellent! This is easy to make and works as good as any I've seen. Thank you for sharing.

Brilliant design and easy to implement! I also like and learn quite a few things when you explain the issues and solutions. Thank very much!

That latching mechanism is top notch. I put a similar lever system on my table saw, now you just showed me how to latch it!!!! Thanks you just got a new subscriber!

That is a very clever solution...I also enjoyed your explanation of how the forces work on the corner legs of your work bench...lots to consider when building...stresses and pressure points...Thank you...good stuff Mate!