| CASTERS
|
| 1.
I NEED TO BUY SOME CASTERS. WHERE CAN I PURCHASE THEM IN MY
AREA? |
| A.
Any Office Supply or Office Furniture Dealer can order any
Master Caster for you.
B.
Our Duet Style Caster is available at all Office Superstores
as the "Get It Movin" Caster style. Staples carries
these casters for metal and wood clad bases only. Office
Depot and Office Max stock the "Get It Movin"
line to fit all chair bases except threaded.
These
casters are packaged for metal base chairs and equipment
with both 7/16" x 3/8" dia. stems and for wood
base chairs and equipment with stems and sockets.
These
casters are also marked with the wheel type suitable for
use on carpeting or hard floors and chair mat surfaces. |
| 2.
I ONLY NEED ONE CASTER. WHY DO I HAVE TO BUY A SET OF FOUR
OR FIVE? |
| Caster
wheels wear like tires and should be replaced for a safe and
even ride. In addition, there are slight differences to each
caster made by other caster manufacturers. This difference
could also cause an unsafe, uneven ride if all casters are
not replaced at the same time. |
| 3.
DO CASTERS COME IN A SET OF 5? |
| Casters
are available in sets of 4 or 5. When a set of 5 is needed,
have your dealer add a (-5) at the end of the part number. |
4.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT CASTER NUMBER TO ORDER?
I HAVE A (manufacturers name) CHAIR
- I DON'T KNOW STEM SIZE.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT TO ORDER?
I DON'T HAVE MODEL OF CHAIR. HOW DO
I KNOW WHAT CASTER TO ORDER? |
| A.
CHECK THE CHAIR BASE:
Is it
metal, molded, plastic, wood, or a wood clad metal base?
1. If
it is a metal or wood clad base:
·
Most chairs require a 7/16" diameter or 3/8" diameter
stem.
· A stem that has a 7/16" diameter uses a "B"
or "C" stem in any caster style Master Caster
manufactures.
• A stem that has a 3/8" diameter uses a "K"
stem in any caster style Master Caster manufactures.
• Stems "B", "C" and "K"
have grip rings attached, which hold the casters in place
in the chair base so no sockets are needed.
• After determining the correct diameter of a stem,
then measure the length. (A stem shorter than your original
can always be used.)
• CLICK HERE to
learn how to measure to determine proper stem size.
2. If it is a wood chair base:
•
All wood chair bases need the same stem caster with a 5/16"
diameter that does not have a grip ring attached. This stem
is called a "W" stem and is available in any caster
style Master Caster manufactures.
• A socket is required instead of the grip ring to
hold the caster in place in the chair base. All sockets
to fit this stem are supplied with casters and should be
replaced when casters are changed.
3. If
the stem is welded to the chair base:
•
Master can supply a caster to accommodate this special situation
in both hard and soft wheels.
• Stems welded to the base must be 3/8" diameter
with a maximum length of 1-15/16".
4. Additional information on stems and casters:
•
A long stem that has a 7/16" diameter and NO grip ring
requires an "E" style stem and is primarily used
on tubular bases usually found on stools and requires sockets.
• If the caster stem does not measure 5/16", 7/16"
or 3/8" diameter or it is threaded, please contact
the Master Caster Customer Service Department at 1-800-323-5513
who will help you to find the correct replacement.
B. MEASURE THE STEM
CLICK
HERE to learn how to measure a stem. Then measure
it. If you have difficulty, your dealer has tools for correct
measurement or contact Master's Customer Service Department
for help. If the length of stem does not match your sample
a shorter stem of same diameter will work and can be used.
C. SELECT
THE PROPER WHEEL:
Hard
or soft for your floor surface. Use soft wheels on hard
floors, tile, linoleum and chair mats. Use hard wheels on
carpet surfaces. See Question 7 for an explanation of why
the correct wheel for your floor surface is so important.
D. SELECT
THE BODY STYLE:
CLICK
HERE for information on Caster Body Styles. |
| 5.
I JUST BOUGHT A NEW CHAIR TO BE USED ON A CHAIRMAT AND IT
HAS CASTERS WITH HARD WHEELS. I WAS ADVISED TO CHANGE THE
CASTERS TO SOFT WHEEL CASTERS----WHY? |
| Almost
all new chairs are equipped with hard wheel casters unsuitable
for use on a chair mat or any hard floor surface. These
wheels should be replaced with soft wheels. Question your
dealer if he does not ask what floor surface your chair
is being used on when you purchase a new chair. See Question
7 for an explanation of why soft wheel casters should be
used on chair mats. |
| 6.
WHAT WHEEL DO YOU USE ON CARPETING, VINYL, TILE OR HARD FLOORS?
WHICH IS THE BEST? |
| Use
hard wheels for carpeting - with the 2-1/2" tapered being
best choice for plush carpets. However, on deep pile carpeting,
very soft padding or chair mats, soft wheels which are resilient
and give, provide a better and safer ride. Hard wheels on
these surfaces "skate" instead of roll and can cause
too fast a roll and a possible accident. They can harm the
mat or hard floor surfaces. |
| 7.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HARD AND SOFT WHEEL? |
| Just
as tires must have the proper tread for safe driving on
dry pavement as well as slick or snow covered roadways,
chair movement depends on wheels that provide appropriate
traction on hard or soft wheels.
Hard
wheels are made of nylon, hard rubber, vinyl or some other
hard plastic compound suitable only for carpeting considered
a "soft" floor surface. Soft wheels are soft rubber
or soft compound such as urethane which are resilient and
"give" making them grip on hard surfaces such
as hard floors, tile, linoleum and chair mats providing
a better and safer ride. |
| 8.
WHY IS WHEEL SELECTION SO IMPORTANT? |
| Caster
wheels that are incorrect for the floor surface can pose
risk of serious injury.
Hard
floor surfaces require soft wheel casters to prevent dangerously
rapid movement while user is seated or rolling away, when
user rises, or when user bumps empty chair causing it to
move out from under user. Muscle strain can also result
due to the users effort to keep chair in place.
Hard
wheel casters are necessary for carpeted surfaces as they
allow the chair to glide smoothly over carpeted surfaces.
Soft wheel casters used on carpeting can also cause muscle
strain due to the increased difficulty in making chair move.
|
| 9.
WHEN HOLDING A CASTER IN YOUR HAND, HOW CAN YOU TELL IF IT
IS A HARD OR SOFT WHEEL? |
| Can't
- have to put fingernail into wheel and see if it "gives"
even just a little. Then it is a soft wheel. A hard wheel
would not have any resilience. |
| 10.
DOES A ROUND OR FLAT TOP STEM MAKE A DIFFERENCE? |
| No,
some caster manufacturers use round tops, some flat - makes
no difference. Correct diameter is determining factor for
selection. |
| 11.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A GRIP RING ON METAL BASE CASTER STEMS? |
| Grip
Rings expand when inserted in chair bases and hold caster
in place in base. |
| 12.
DOES POSITION OF GRIP RING OR WIDTH MAKE A DIFFERENCE? |
| No.
Manufacturers stems vary. Size or placement of grip ring not
a factor. There is no metal notch in chair leg they have to
fit into. They expand once stem is securely inserted into
chair base. |
| 13.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WOOD AND A WOOD CLAD BASE? |
| Wood
bases are made of 100% wood. Wood clad have a wood or simulated
wood cover, over metal thus a caster for metal bases must
be used. |
| 14.
I PURCHASED NEW "W" STEM CASTERS AND THEY FALL OUT
OF CHAIR BASE. Why? |
| Replacement
of wood sockets is required when new "W" stem
casters are purchased. They are supplied with all Master
"W" stem casters at no extra cost. Usually when
wood stem casters are removed from chair, the socket is
"sprung" and requires replacement.
If you
have difficulty removing old sockets, your dealer can help
by using MASTER'S SOCKET PULLER TOOL designed for easily
removing wood sockets from wood chair bases. |
| 15.
I NEED A NON MARKING WHEEL. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST? |
| Our
standard 2" single wheel is available with a grey non-marking
wheel. However, soft black wheels made today should not mark. |
| 16.
DO YOU HAVE GRAY DUAL WHEELS? |
| NO
- only the 2" single wheel casters come in gray. When
we checked into colors we stayed with black which matches
any chair base. Due to new technology, black wheels should
no longer mark floor surfaces. |
| 17.
DO CASTERS COME IN ANYTHING BUT BLACK? |
| All
caster styles except Dual Wheel Duets, Futuras, and Safety
Casters come in various finishes. All caster wheels are black
except our standard 2" single wheel caster which is also
available with a gray wheel. |
| 18.
DO YOU CARRY BLACK, BROWN OR WHITE CASTERS? |
| No
there are several styles of casters available with hoods in
different finishes. FINISHES: Black, Antique Copper (dirty
penny), English Antique Brass, Bright Chrome, Zinc, Nickel
& Bright Brass. All styles with the exception of the 2"
standard caster come with black wheels only. |
| 19.
WHAT IS THE BEST CASTER FOR A LIGHT COLORED TILE OR LINOLEUM
FLOOR? |
| Any
soft wheel caster will work. |
| 20.
IS THERE ANY DUAL WHEEL THAT IS NON-MARKING? |
| All
soft wheels are non-marking. |
| 21.
WHAT ARE STANDARD AND OVERSIZED NECKS. |
| Standard
neck casters are form fitting and will fit all style chair
bases. In recent years chair manufacturers are producing the
"EURO STYLE CHAIR". This is where the oversized
neck casters are used to make the chair base and casters look
as one. |
| 22.
WHAT IS THE BEST CASTER? WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND? |
| It
depends on where the caster is being used, floor surface,
how much usage a chair receives, and style preference. A chair
in a police station may have 24 hour usage, an office chair
8 hours, a chair at home even less. Most casters used properly
are the same, except for the Twinstar style. Its die cast
housing design accommodates heavier people or heavy chair
use. |
| 23.
WHAT IS THE BEST CASTER FOR "LARGE PEOPLE"? |
| Twinstars,
Futuras and Starflite styles are weight rated 100 pounds per
wheel. Other Master Caster models are weight rated at 75 pounds
per wheel. We suggest any of the above three depending on
customer style preference with Twinstars as our preferred
choice. |
| 24.
DO YOU HAVE A CASTER THAT WILL WORK ON BOTH HARD AND SOFT
FLOORS? |
Superballs
will work on hard floors and chairmats and low pile commercial
grade carpeting. It is the only caster style with dual purpose
wheel that was specially designed and compounded for this
dual floor use. |
| 25.
WHAT IS THE BEST CASTER ON HIGH PILE CARPETING? |
| Mercury
style single wheel casters with 2-1/2" tapered hard wheels.
However, sometimes pile is so dense or padding is so soft
that a chairmat and soft wheel casters are only solution for
easy rolling. |
| 26.
Should you have any further questions not addressed, please
contact Master's Customer Service Dept. at 1-800-323-5513
or E-Mail MASTER9200@mastermfgco.com. |
