Caster Brakes
Double Side Lock Brakes. |
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Popularity Level: Low Price Level: High Maintenance Level: Mid Foot Friendly? Kinda In Stock? Rarely |
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The double side brake is the same as the single side lock brake but located on both sides of the caster for easier access. This caster brake must be factory-installed and is engaged by turning one, or both, screws that pass through the caster’s rig, which creates friction against the wheel’s hub. Many of the series offered by Albion have the double side lock as a brake option. Back to top. |
Face Contact Brakes. |
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Popularity Level: Low Price Level: High Maintenance Level: Low Foot Friendly? No In Stock? Rarely |
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A face contact brake requires hand-tightening a T-screw or pressing a lever to be engaged. The screw or lever moves a brake shoe closer to the caster wheel’s face until making contact, and thus creating friction and affecting the caster’s ease of movement. This brake offers the advantage of controlling exactly how much pressure is put between itself and the wheel. Bestway and Albion both offer face contact brakes for nearly all 2” wide wheels, but they must be factory-installed. Back to top. |
Poly Cam Brakes. |
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Popularity Level: Low Price Level: High Maintenance Level: High Foot Friendly? Kinda In Stock? Rarely |
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Poly cam brakes create friction between the wheel’s tread and a metal pad that doesn't allow skidding or slipping when the brake is engaged. Engaging the brake is done by foot and will depress a piece of polyurethane within the brake and cause the non-skid pad to make contact with the wheel’s tread. Although these brakes must be factory-installed and require routine maintenance, the poly cam brake offers the advantage of adjusting pressure placed on the tread to any desired level. This brake is most frequently seen on Albion and Caster Concepts products in heavy-duty applications. Back to top. |
Side Cam Brakes. |
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Popularity Level: High Price Level: Low Maintenance Level: Low Foot Friendly? Yes In Stock? Normally |
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Though looking nearly identical to a standard side lock brake, the cam wheel brake functions much more efficiently, especially on wheels with hard treads like cast iron or steel. Pressing the brake causes a cam to tighten the axle spacing and produces enough friction needed to stop the wheel from turning. Fewer pieces make this brake light in weight and easy on budgets. The side cam brake is also field installable and compatible with nearly any brand of a 2” wide swivel or rigid caster. Back to top. |
Single Side Lock Brakes. |
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Popularity Level: Low Price Level: High Maintenance Level: Low Foot Friendly? Kinda In Stock? Rarely |
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The single side lock brake requires turning a screw by hand. This screw passes through the caster’s rig and creates friction against the wheel’s hub. Albion’s and Caster Concepts’ version of this brake must be factory-installed and is standard to be assembled for right-handed use, but has a lefty-friendly option available upon request. This brake is typically found in medium and heavy-duty applications and is a dependable option when seeking a brake. Back to top. |
Thumb Screw Brakes. |
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Popularity Level: Mid Price Level: Low Maintenance Level: Low Foot Friendly? No In Stock? Rarely |
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With a super simple one-piece design, the thumb lock brake is an inexpensive yet effective brake option for your casters. To engage this brake, it must be tightened by hand until the thrust washer makes contact with the wheel. The friction created between the two materials prevents the wheel from rolling. The small size of the thumbscrew brake makes it most popular in low-profile applications and can be found on the likes of Shepherd’s 00 Series. Back to top. |
Top Lock / Side Tread Lock Brakes. |
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Popularity Level: High Price Level: Low Maintenance Level: Low Foot Friendly? Kinda In Stock? Normally |
Total Lock Brakes. |
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Popularity Level: High Price Level: Mid – High Maintenance Level: Low Foot Friendly? Yes In Stock? Normally |
Tread Lock Brakes. |
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Popularity Level: Low – Mid Price Level: Mid Maintenance Level: Mid Foot Friendly? Yes In Stock? Normally |
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The tread lock brake creates friction between the tread of the caster’s wheel and a metal plate faced with rubber, which hinders the caster’s ability to move when engaged. To engage this brake, all you need a simple press of the foot. Though we can easily build your casters with a tread lock brake, they are also field installable and available for wheels ranging from 4” to 12” in diameter, including Colson’s 4, 6, 7, and 8 Series products. Back to top. |