Caster brakes ensure the proper function of many applications featuring caster wheels. Caster wheels on your microwave cart help it roll smoothly and fast, but sometimes, you may not want your cart to move.
Here come the caster brakes! They will prevent your carts or racks from unintended movement. They also prevent product damage and ensure proper safety and stability. However, choosing the right brakes can be a hassle due to the wide range of available options.
Don’t worry! I’ve selected the best brakes to stop rolling microwave cart wheels depending on different microwave cart wheels. Keep reading this article for a complete and final guide to choosing the right caster brake.
Choosing the Right Caster Brake for Microwave Cart Wheels
When choosing the right caster brake for your microwave cartwheels, there are a few essential factors to consider. When fully aware of these factors, you can easily pick up the best caster brakes for your cart. Let’s break down those key requirements and brakes options:
- Choose the Right Type of the Brake
There are different types of brakes available in the market. Here are a few of my top choices that I’ve been testing on different microwave carts.
Total-locking Brake: This type of brake is designed to lock both the wheel and the swivel. It prevents the wheel from rolling and the caster from swiveling, offering maximum stability and safety.
If you need to keep your carts stationary for a long period of time, total-locking brakes are the best choice for maximum immobility. They are also ideal for heavier or larger microwave carts.
Top-locking Brake: As the name suggests, a top-locking brake locks the wheel and swivels at the top of the caster. In this case, there’s a pedal on the top of the caster that you have to push down while activating the brake. It offers strong stability and is great for heavy-loading microwave carts.
Side-locking Brake: If you need to move your cart frequently but safety and stability are still a priority, side-locking brakes are the way to your purchase. A side-locking brake locks only the wheel while leaving the swivel mechanism free.
It is activated by pushing a lever on the side of the caster. So, you can easily operate the brakes using your hands or feet. Side-locking brakes offer easier operation and are great for light—to medium-duty microwave carts.
Foot-operated Brakes: From my point of view, this would be the best option for kitchen environments. If you need convenient locking without bending down and frequently need to lock and unlock the cart, go for it. You can activate the lock easily and quickly while getting maximum immobility.
Directional Brakes: If you only want to stop the cartwheels from rolling but need to move forward, this is where directional brakes work. Directional brakes prevent wheels from rolling while allowing some maneuverability.
Swivel Locks: A swivel lock only prevents the wheels from rotating while allowing the swivel mechanism to work. It will enable the cart to move in a straight line, forward and backward.
- Determine the Weight Capacity and Wheel Size
Ensure that the casters can support the weight of both the microwave and the cart. The size of the wheels also affects mobility and weight capacity. For example, smaller wheels (1.5-3 inches) are suitable for lightweight and compact microwave carts and are ideal for smooth surfaces.
On the contrary, medium wheels (4-5 inches) are great for heavier microwave carts that need to move frequently. They offer necessary maneuverability on slightly uneven surfaces. Furthermore, larger wheels (up to 6 inches) are ideal for heavy-duty microwave carts or operating on uneven or outdoor surfaces.
- Consider the Surface Type
Be considerate about the surface type for a better experience. Choose brakes with a strong grip, like total locking brakes, for smooth or slippery floors.
- Determine the Mobility Needs
Make sure that you need to move the cart frequently or stay stationary often. If your cart needs frequent repositioning, choose adjustable and easy-to-use brakes like foot-operated brakes.
- Understand the Material Compatibility
It’s crucial to match the brake type to the caster wheel materials, including rubber, polyurethane, or metal. This ensures optimal performance and maximum durability while preventing wear and tear.
Tips for Safety
Here are some safety measures to follow while using a rolling microwave cart to prevent potential accidents and protect your flooring and belongings.
- Choose the right wheels and brakes according to your microwave cart and flooring type.
- Make sure to lock the wheels while not moving the cart.
- Do not overload the cart beyond its weight capacity.
- Check the caster wheels for wear, tear, or other potential damages, and replace them.
- Place the cart on flat, level surfaces.
Recommendation
Using the right caster brake is crucial for ensuring safety and proper functioning. For a typical kitchen microwave cart, 1.5-5 inches wheels are enough. Besides, Foot-operated or total locking brakes are the best choices for kitchen microwave carts. Here is my top recommendation for choosing the best brakes to stop rolling microwave cart wheel.
- GBL Heavy Duty Caster Wheels with Total Locking Brake
My top pick for typical microwave tables is this set of four GBL caster wheels with brakes. Each of these 2-inch Polyurethane swivel caster wheels comes with total locking brakes that will lock both the wheel and swivel mechanism. Besides, they can support a total caapcity of 600 lbs that is enough for a kitchen microwave cart.
- BestEquip 4 Pack Caster Wheels with Side Brake
These 4-inches heavy duty caster wheels are capable of supporting up to 1000 lbs. This set comes with 2 Rigid and 2 swivel acsters with side brake, offering enhanced safety. These 2 swivel casters can also rotate 360 degrees.
- GXYY uoboeuq 1.5 Inch Swivel Caster Wheels1.5 Inch Casters, ASHGOOB Caster Wheels/Casters Set