It just doesn't fit

Furniture, Medical and Institutional casters are available with a wide variety of mounts. Looking through our files, it seems that the biggest reason for returns and exchanges of furniture casters is an incorrect stem. It makes sense, they aren't the easiest thing in the world to measure. To start, there are three common kinds of stems: Grip Ring, Threaded, and Grip Neck.

Grip Ring stems are common in 3/8" and 7/16" diameters. This is critical, ordering the wrong diameter will positively ensure that the caster will not properly fit. The most accurate way to measure is to use a set of calipers, but most don't have them just lying about. So, here are a couple of quick ways to do it.

• Use a wrench, a 7/16" to be exact. If its loose, it's 3/8", if it's tight, then 7/16"


• Use a piece of paper. Measure the circumference by wrapping a thin strip of paper around the stem, marking where the start meets the paper again. If it's roughly 1-1/8" then its a 3/8" stem. Or if it's roughly 1-3/8" it's a 7/16" stem.

Threaded stems come in a more wide array of sizes; from 1/4" to 1/2". The same techniques can be used to identify the diameter. Or, if you have extra bolts lying about, a visual comparison, end to end, will work just fine as well.

Grip neck stems are by far the easiest for us. There exists only one standard size: 5/16" dia x 1-1/2" long.

To find out more about furniture casters, click here. Or for institutional casters, click here.