| Casters make life in your restaurant's kitchen a | | | | you use in walk-ins and for storage are much |
| whole lot easier. They allow you to roll heavy | | | | easier to handle if you mount them on casters. |
| equipment around for cleaning. They make your | | | | That way, shelving can be moved for cleaning, |
| mop buckets mobile and power hand carts and | | | | and the extra height will help you meet the |
| loaded shelving in your walk-in and storage areas. | | | | minimum 6" space between the bottom shelf and |
| They even let you roll the trash out quickly. The | | | | the floor required by the health inspector. Shelving |
| lowly caster serves many purposes, but what | | | | usually takes an expanding stem caster. And while |
| many restaurateurs don't realize is how easy they | | | | we are on the subject of shelving, if you are |
| are to replace, and, most importantly, how much | | | | buying some for your walk-in, make sure you get |
| money you can save by buying casters for new | | | | the epoxy coated kind! The moist environment in |
| equipment separately. | | | | a walk-in causes non-coated shelving to rust very |
| Most heavy equipment will take a heavy duty | | | | quickly, which not only looks bad, it means you'll |
| plate caster, but some may take a threaded | | | | be buying more shelving within a few years. |
| stem caster instead. Let's start with new | | | | Most carts, dollies, and mop buckets take a |
| restaurant equipment and shelving. Any time you | | | | caster, but some take a small plate caster. Hand |
| buy a new piece of heavy restaurant equipment | | | | carts, dollies, and mop buckets also have casters. |
| like a gas range, a fryer, or a reach in refrigerator | | | | Unlike restaurant equipment, these items usually |
| or freezer, the manufacturer will want you to buy | | | | come already mounted with their casters, so |
| an accompanying caster set. Casters on this | | | | buying them separately is not an option. However, |
| heavy equipment is a great idea because it | | | | those casters often break or wear out long |
| makes cleaning your kitchen much easier. An | | | | before the item is no longer useful. Replacements |
| even better idea is to buy an after-market caster | | | | are often hard to find unless you know where to |
| set separately, with the same weight capacities | | | | look. These casters are often very easy to |
| and heavy duty construction, at a fraction of | | | | replace, getting a replacement caster can extend |
| what the equipment manufacturer wants to | | | | the life of your carts, dollies, and mop buckets. |
| charge you. Most heavy restaurant equipment will | | | | So the next time you need some new equipment |
| take a plate caster or a threaded stem caster. | | | | casters or need to replace some old ones, |
| An expanding stem caster fits into the round or | | | | remember that you have options, and if you look |
| square hole of a shelving post and expands so | | | | around, you can save some significant dough by |
| that it fits tight inside the hole. The wire shelving | | | | buying smart. |