Knowing when replacement glides are needed

When glides become old and worn, like anything else they can stop doing their job properly. The point of glides is to protect the hard edge of a chair or table from doing damage to the floor. It can also make it easier to move the item without leaving a mark, and can be better than wheels as it creates some resistance against accidental moving. Replacement glides are the best for remedying the situation before it has the chance to cause expensive problems.

Make replacement glides a priority

Glides balance the weight evenly between the feet. When these break, the item can wobble or mark the floor, and the additional stress of the extra weight on the remaining legs could also cause structural damage to the unit. Although it may only seem like a small part, the glide is preventing much worse things from happening, so replacement glides should be the first priority.

Examples of when a furniture leveler is used

When furniture or equipment is uneven, this can lead to a whole host of problems. Uneven tables in restaurants can leave customers unsatisfied. Machinery resting on uneven supports can wobble and become a safety hazard. Chairs can lose one or more of their original feet and be unusable without a replacement. All of these examples can be fixed by installing leveler feet onto the bottom.

How the leveler works

The leveler is a device which adjusts to fit the furniture it is attached to. They are adjustable time and time again, meaning that furniture that is used on wood floorboards can be adjusted each time it is moved to a new position. Once they are in place, all that is needed is a quick twist on the leveling function and the rest will move up or down as required. Once this is at the desired height, the furniture is ready to be used again.

Choosing between metal and plastic furniture glides

Good furniture glides will be made from strong and suitable materials. For some uses, the glides will only be supporting the minimal amount of weight, and costs might be a big element of the selection for the replacement. In this situation the best material to use would be plastic. In other environments, however, the item needing glides might be under lots of weight and will need a strong, reinforced metal glide to protect it.

Getting the right style of furniture glides

Choosing the right furniture glides depends on lots of factors that will change with the furniture, reason for installing them and budget of the company. It is wise to find a supplier who will stock many different types so that there is always a resource on hand if these are ever needed. It is also worth finding a manufacturer that takes pride in the process of making them, no matter what material is used.

Caster sockets on furniture

Caster sockets are helpful for those times when a chair, table or other furniture item needs new wheels putting on. The sockets allow for the wheels to be attached without damaging the furniture they are fitted to, and can be easily removed when not needed anymore. Getting the right size of socket is important for this, as ones that are too small or incorrectly built will wobble and fall out over time.

Replace rather than fix broken caster sockets

Some people suggest putting liquid filler in the leg of a chair or table that has damaged caster sockets. This might help with the temporary situation of a broken socket but means that it will be harder to remove it when it needs fully replacing. The best thing to do is to remove the damaged part and buy a new one that is made by a decent manufacturer.

Why there is a need for furniture glides

Sometimes there is a need to move furniture often, in the case of restaurant furniture or public buildings. Furniture glides are an item that can save a lot of money and time spend repairing damaged flooring, as they help items of furniture to glide more easily along the floor without ripping or marking the ground beneath them. They also relieve the tension between the leg and the floor, meaning less wear and tear on the furniture’s joints.

Why furniture glides are used instead of wheels

Some items of furniture are fitted with caster wheels to help them roll around more easily. The reason these are not more commonly used for the above purpose is that they are too easy to move and can be frustrating or even dangerous in certain situations. On hardwood flooring, wheeled chairs can have a mind of their own; rolling in the direction that gravity takes them. Furniture glides instead put a little friction between the item and the floor so that this is not a problem.

Why replacement glides are such a clever product

Glides are a clever invention because they take the place of the part of the chair that will receive the most stress and wear. The intelligent part is that when these get worn or broken, they can be slipped out and replaced very easily. If there was no glide on the chair, the leg would be the first thing to wear down and would not be as easy, or even possible to replace. This is why replacement glides are such a big market for furniture manufacturers and retailers.

How to get the right replacement glides

The important things to check when buying replacement glides are the size, shape, color and thread of the item. If any of these are wrong it could ruin the appearance of the item and even damage the integrity of the chair. Many retailers of glides will be able to offer guidance on measuring the area to get the right fit, and might even be able to match the old glide to suitable replacement products with the help of a photo.

When industrial glides are required

As with most things, industrial applications call for industrially-designed parts. When something is going to get used more often and with more force than a commercial or private application, it needs parts that will stand up to this, do their job and not fail a part of the way through. This is why industrial glides are the parts of choice for those using machinery and heavy duty furniture.

Getting industrial glides specially made

Some mass-produced glides might be fit for the purpose, but many companies requiring industrial glides have to get them specially made. This might be due to the thread within the leg of the item that is too long or needs a thicker than usual stem to keep the part in place. Some of the more professional companies will have the tools to make these glides to order for industries that have additional requirements such as this.

The difference between metal glides and plastic ones

On some pieces of lightweight furniture, plastic glides are normally suitable for long term use, but there are times when metal glides will be much more appropriate and cost-effective. In a busy factory, tables and machines might need to have some movability without being too easy to displace. Wheels can give too much mobility and sometimes are not strong enough to take the weight, so more rugged glides are used instead. These cope with the weight without buckling, requiring less replacements and investment over time.

When to use metal glides

Metal glides are a little more expensive to purchase but are well worth the expense. They are often better crafted with harder-wearing parts and work better on certain floors. When a temporary option is all that is required, it might not be necessary to use metal parts, but for all other permanent glide applications there is a good reason to use metal pieces instead.

How caster sockets fit to the item

Caster sockets are the part that will hold the caster to the chair, table or item’s leg. These items are integral to the full operation of the caster, and poor installation can mean bent or broken sockets, loose casters and even damage to the item being fitted. Buying the wrong size socket will do nothing but harm to a piece of equipment so it is best to be meticulous about getting the right sizes and details before placing an order.

How to get a caster socket to stay in place

For a caster socket to stay in place, it needs to be measured to an exact size to fit inside the tubular leg. Most sockets stay in place because of the tight contact between them and the leg wall, so when this pressure is not present it can cause problems with looseness and wobbling. Sometimes a layer of electrical or duct tape can be enough to improve the fit if it is a little loose.