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How to choose an office chair with locking wheels? When shopping for your ideal office chair, you might consider its fabric and features, but have you ever considered the wheels? This is an often-overlooked aspect of office safety and stability.
This blog will explain how to choose an office chair with locking wheels, explain the applications of locking casters for office chairs, find out what materials won't damage floors, and recommend a suitable model.
What Are Locking Wheels?
Locking wheels, also known as locking casters or caster brakes, provide mobility, and secure the chair when needed.
Universal wheels are typically installed on the bottom of a chair, allowing for 360° rotation and smooth movement. However, sometimes an office chair needs to be secure. This is where locking casters come in handy.
Universal casters with a brake system prevent the casters from rolling or rotating, keeping the chair stationary.
Benefits:
- Improved stability: Immobilizes the chair.
- Improved safety: Prevents accidental collisions.
- Increased Flexibility: Switch Between Stationary and Mobile
- Easy to Use: Features a Foot-Lock Mechanism
For example:
Universal casters with brakes are easy to use, allowing you to switch between stationary and mobile positions. Our locking casters feature a foot-lock mechanism, allowing you to lock the chair when you need to discuss work matters with colleagues.
Perhaps you use a chair during a meeting, but the seriousness of the meeting dictates that you can not move around. Locking casters provide stability and help.
Perhaps you need to reach documents or items from a height. Standing on a chair allows for easy access, but stability is essential.
What Materials Are Locking Wheels Made Of?
- Thermoplastic rubber (TPR): Shock-absorbing, grippy, and resilient, it's strong and doesn't mark floors.
- Polyurethane (PU): High load-bearing and wear-resistant.
- Nylon: Lightweight but relatively stiff and prone to damage.
- Cast iron: Used for heavy-duty industrial applications, it's stronger and has a higher load-bearing capacity, but it can damage floors.
What Types of Floors Are Locking Wheels Suitable For?
- Tile or concrete hard floors: Nylon casters are more suitable.
- Hardwood/laminate: PU leather and TPR casters are resilient and wear-resistant to prevent scratches.
- High-pile carpet: Suitable for casters larger than 6 cm to prevent pile from getting caught in the wheels.
- Vinyl/linoleum: PU leather and TPR casters are more suitable.
Boulies Locking Casters
Boulies Casters with Brake System (Set of 5)
Boulies' locking casters are made of thermoplastic rubber(TPR), a material that's least prone to floor damage. Whether you have carpet or not, they're floor-friendly. They lock smoothly and smoothly, creating a parallel position and making them easy to lock.
Features:
- Diameter: 4.5 cm (1.77 in)
- Warranty: 12 months
- Material: TPR (ground contact portion)
- Compatibility: This accessory is compatible with most gaming chairs on the market.
- Special Note: Using casters does not affect the height of Boulies chairs.
Boulies Office Chair Introduction
- OP300: The backrest and seat can tilt forward and backward, accommodating various working postures, allowing for focus and increased productivity.
- EP460: A headrest with neck support and a footrest with leg support make this a versatile work and entertainment chair.
- OP180: The backrest and seat can also tilt forward and backward, and it can withstand loads of over 160 kg for extended periods, combining durability and comfort.
- Master: Available for both gaming and office, it features adjustable lumbar support and a wide 165° tilt angle.
- Master Rex: Based on the Master model, it adds a footrest, combining work and rest in one.
Boulies' current chairs all use universal wheels. If you would like locking wheels, don't hesitate to get in touch with customer service or purchase our locking casters directly.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Casters
- Standard office chair casters have a maximum load capacity of 240 pounds.
- When using the chair indoors, TPR and PU leather casters are quieter.
- Casters should offer excellent swivel and glide performance.
- Locking wheels provide increased stability when sitting or standing.
Office Chair Wheel Classification and Comparison
Boulies Fixed Casters
Fixed casters are generally made of plastic or metal.
- Plastic fixed casters: They are wear-resistant and chemical-resistant. The better plastic casters are generally made of PU.
- Metal fixed casters: To prevent damage to the floor, check before purchasing whether the ground contact portion is made of PU or a soft material.
Locking casters
Equipped with a brake system and built-in bearings, they can slide or lock. They glide quietly on all types of flooring.
Top Plate
Most office chairs use a rod system to secure the casters to the chair, but some heavy-duty casters use a top plate mount that screws to the chair base.
Floor Gliding
Similar to a rod-mounted system, these casters feature concealed small wheels that help the chair glide across the floor. However, their gliding ability is limited and they are not suitable for pile carpets. They glide more smoothly on vinyl and hardwood floors.
Summary
In short, a chair with locking wheels can increase safety, especially in the event of an emergency.
Boulies' locking wheels, in addition to their quality assurance, also feature a protective cover on the floor contact area to minimize damage to the floor. Boulies also offers a 12-month warranty and a 14-day return policy.
FAQs
What Are the Wheels on a Chair Called?
Casters are used to help a chair slide and swivel.
What’s the Difference Between Casters and Wheels?
Casters can slide and swivel, while wheels generally only slide. But in modern common parlance, casters and wheels usually express sliding and rotating.
How Do Chair Wheels Work?
Wheels are attached to the bottom of a chair. The basic components of a caster are a bracket, a rod, and a wheel. Once installed, the chair can swivel and slide 360°.
Can You Lock the Chair Wheels?
Not all chairs can be locked; they require a locking mechanism. These wheels are called locking wheels/casters, which allow the chair to slide or remain fixed.
Why Are Chair Wheels Called Casters?
Swivel chairs, office chairs, desk chairs, etc.
Can I Take the Wheels off My Chair?
Of course, if you don't want any spinning or sliding, you can remove the wheels.
Can I Put Casters on Any Chair?
No, some chairs are not designed to accommodate wheels.
