Caster Education

Durometer Measurements Explained

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While looking at caster wheels, you may come across the term “Durometer” and an associated number and letter. What do they mean?

Well, here’s the skinny: Durometer is both a measurement and a tool for measuring.

“But what exactly is a durometer measuring?” You wonder.

Well, it measures the hardness of an item.

There are many durometer scales represented by a letter (in the caster and wheel industry we use Shore A and Shore D) ranging in numerical value from 0-100. The higher the number, the harder the item is. For instance, a rubber band has a durometer of 25 A. Skateboard wheels (or many of the polyurethane wheels we sell) might be between 85-95 A. This doesn’t mean that they are extremely hard, just that they are one of the hardest materials the Shore A scale can measure.

The durometer of a wheel can help the user figure out how the wheel will react to its environment and the floor it is on.

What happens when an item is harder than the Shore A Scale can measure? We move on to the Shore D scale. Any of our harder wheels, such as a phenolic resin wheel, will be measured on the D scale. A phenolic resin wheel has a durometer of 90 D. Another example of an item on the D scale would be a hard hat, which has a durometer of around 75 D.

Still have questions? Give us a call at 1-800-215-8220.

What kind of grease should I grease my casters with?

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This is a pretty popular question posted to our customer service team at Service Caster and, unfortunately, we don’t have a simple answer for it.

All caster bearings need to be lubricated with a high-quality multi-purpose grease. The grease should have good extreme pressure, anti-wear characteristics, and should be able to withstand the temperature range that fits the application requirements.

Everyone uses their casters and wheels differently, so some may be required to grease their casters and wheels more often than others. Wheel and swivel bearings last longer if they are regularly lubricated. We recommend applying grease to friction points on the wheel hub, washer, and leg surfaces. This will reduce drag and improve rollability. Normal conditions may require lubrication every six months where extreme conditions may require lubrication monthly.  Extreme conditions include corrosive or exceptionally dirty environments. Finally, if the application experiences wash downs, lubrication may be needed after each wash. 

Using the correct grease for your casters and wheels is vital to their lifespan and performance.   Have questions? Give us a call at 1-800-215-8220 and we’ll help you out.