Build "Roll-Arounds" for
Your Layout
text, photo and graphic by Larry Sayre
While working around your train layout, it becomes a
problem of where to lay tools and materials being used
on the layout. I have found a simple and inexpensive way
of solving this problem.
I have used part of a standard set of steel storage
shelves to make these "roll-arounds." Be sure
to purchase a set of shelves that is assembled with
bolts and nuts.
Most steel shelves come with corner posts about
thirty-two inches long. These are normally assembled
overlapping to achieve a five-foot tall corner post. For
our purposes, we simply assemble the upper half of the
stand in accordance with the instructions furnished with
the shelves.
Instead of putting the bottom shelf in normally, we
turn the shelf upside down. With everything bolted up
tight, install a set of one or one-and-a-half-inch
casters to what used to be the top side of the bottom
shelf. Be sure not to use larger casters on a set of
twelve-inch shelves or the roll-around will become
unstable. With a set of eighteen-inch shelves, you can
use a set of one-and-a-half or two-inch casters without
a problem.
Install braces on the twelve-inch sides only to allow
easy access to anything stored on the shelves.
You now have a great roll-around. With one set of
steel shelves and an extra shelf, you can make two roll-arounds.
The bottom shelf has an added advantage in that it is
now a tray, and small objects will stay in the tray.
You can enhance the roll-around by installing some
small drawers. I have used some three-by-five card file
drawers and they work great on a set of eighteen-inch
steel storage shelves.
There are other configurations that can be made. For
example, by assembling all of the shelves upside down,
all shelves become trays. So, you now can come up with
your own configuration. Good luck.
For his clinic, Larry used Knape & Vogt Mfg. Co.
Model TLD 50S. This model is rated for 50 pounds per
shelf. It is unlikely that you would have bigger loads
on a roll-around. He added one set of four 11/2 inch
wheel swivel casters.
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