Dolly wheel size?

[Neal Buconjic]

Hey guys, love this forum.
I've begun to collect items for my DIY dolly. I'm hung up on the choice of skateboard wheels. After using the search feature of the forum, i've been unable to determine what size of wheels are ideal. The most typical source of wheels seems to be from raped discount skateboards, and the wheel dimensions are never quoted. I went to a local skateshop and was told that 53mm wheels are a common size for skateboards, just wanted to know if that's the size of choice for my dolly?
Thanks in advance.

[Neal Buconjic]

Anyone?

[twocik23]

I used a cheap skateboard from walmart called smarty boards. They were $6.99 or $10.00 each, I believe the diameter of the wheel is 47mm.

[snodart]

I tried the walmart wheels from the small skateboard and found that they caused some bumps. So instead I used some quality rollerblade wheels. I don't know the exact size, but I think they are just the standard size. They were about $35 for a set of 8 wheels. I used 4 at each corner so in all it ran about $70. The extra $ was worth it since they are perfectly smooth.

There are some pics on my website for a closer look.

dolly pics (http://snodart.com/hbe_dolly2.php)

[twocik23]

"I tried the walmart wheels from the small skateboard and found that they caused some bumps"



What did you use for rails? I've shot tons of stuff with them and have never had any problems.

[snodart]

At the time, I used PVC. I have since changed over to "top-rail" for chain link fence. It connects together nice and tight and works like a champ. If your dolly is smooth, then others might get them to work also. The ones that I had from the walmart boards were not perfectly round.

[twocik23]

I use PVC as well, but I sand down the rails for extra smoothness with a piece of sandpaper. I also use a razor blade to scrape off any dirt or stuff that might stick to the wheels after and before a gig.

[Neal Buconjic]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I'll get the 53mm wheels and abec5 bearings. As you mentioned Snodart, a little $$$ upfront is worth it from a quality/functionality perspective.

[snodart]

Sounds like a plan. The one thing that I have learned from building so much of my equipmnet is that it is worth it to fork out the $$ to make sure that some of the crucial parts are high quality. Good on you thouhg twocik23 for getting the less expensive wheels to work. If it works, it works.