WEN Mobile Base Universal Heavy Duty 500-Pound Capacity for Tools and Machines MB500

I bought the Wen to be able to move an old Sears craftsman drill-press around my shop. I was worried that the drill-press would be too top heavy to be able to use a rolling system. The drill-press is a floor model with a heavy base. I was able to customize the Wen to custom fit it to the drill-press base and it works great. My shop has a smooth floor surface which makes it easy to move around the shop. It was easy to put together even though the instruction illustrations are not good. I did learn that it is best to keep all the bolts loose until everything is together then tighten everything after the assembly. I messed up by using a power ratchet which tightened the bolts too much and slightly bent some of the metal parts. The Wen has been especially useful, and I bought a second one for my bandsaw. The second time putting the Wen together was quite easy. It makes moving and storing my heavy power tools a breeze. I may buy a third. Read more

This a nice unit. It's well constructed of good quality materials. Assembly was easy and straight forward. It was a good addition to my belt/disc sander project. The machine is now easily moved around and the base has no trouble supporting the weight of the machine. I estimate the machine weight at 200-ish pounds. I'm very happy with it. Read more

The media could not be loaded. Let's be real, folks. If you're like me, you've got tools scattered around your garage like a chaotic metal garden. And if, like me, you've been doing the awkward "shimmy and pivot" dance to move your heavy equipment, you know the struggle is real. That's where the WEN Mobile Base MB500 comes in, and let me tell you, it's a revelation. I snagged this bad boy specifically for my WEN Band Saw. I was sick and tired of wrestling that thing around my workspace. The promise of adding smooth, locking mobility to my band saw was too good to resist. Initially, I'll admit, I was a bit taken aback by the fact it arrived as a flat-pack project. But, after diving in, the genius of the design became clear. This isn't just a one-size-fits-all solution; it's a customizable platform that can accommodate a wide range of tools. The adjustable frame is seriously impressive. Now, I'm not going to lie, I'm not exactly known for my patience with instruction manuals. My ADHD brain tends to glaze over when faced with walls of text. Thankfully, I was able to assemble the entire base in under an hour, mostly by eyeballing it. The instructions themselves were decent, a step above the infamous Ikea manuals, but the black and white images were a tad ambiguous in a few spots. But hey, if I can do it, anyone can. The real magic happens once you get your tool mounted and rolling. The MB500 transforms your stationary equipment into a mobile powerhouse. Suddenly, my band saw wasn't just a tool; it was a nimble, easily maneuverable asset. I can now position it wherever I need it, without any of the back-breaking, awkward shuffling I'd grown accustomed to. This thing is a genuine game-changer, and it's going to significantly increase how often I use my band saw. However, it's not perfect. I did encounter one minor hiccup: the locking mechanism on one of the wheels is a bit stubborn. I have to apply extra downward pressure directly on the wheel to engage the lock. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's a minor annoyance. Overall: Despite that small issue, the WEN Mobile Base MB500 is an absolute must-have for any serious DIYer or woodworker. It's sturdy, adaptable, and makes moving heavy tools a breeze. If you're tired of wrestling with your equipment, do yourself a favor and grab one of these. Your back (and your sanity) will thank you. This is a solid, well-built product that delivers on its promises. I'm genuinely thrilled with it. Read more

I'm buying my third one today. I've also purchased a higher end mobile base for a much heavier planer (1000lbs); I can make a bit of a comparison. This base is not as smooth to operate as a $120 base, which should be kinda obvious given the price difference. The adjustable feet seem a little flimsy, but have not broken on either of the bases I have so far. The wheel raising/lowering paddle that you are meant to operate with your foot is the primary reason for a bit of clunky-ness. If you are wearing normal shoes, the lever takes a bit more force than I find comfortable on the top of the foot to lower the tool into the stationary position on the feet. You can kind lift the saw or machine and that takes some of the resistance out of the paddle lever, or you can bend over and pull them both up with your hand. I find I use my hand more than lifting the saw. Even then, it often fights me and the mechanism feels like it is binding. This is probably a byproduct of the need for the mechanism to have some bite to hold the wheel down for rolling without collapsing, but either way it has a hitch in it's git-a-long so to speak. Since I have bought two of them and they both have the same feel, I think it is safe to say that it's just the way they are. When raising the tool back onto the wheels to move it, the levers work pretty well by just stepping down onto them. However, once on the wheels, they do seem to have a little bit more limited ability to turn which I think is caused by the fact that they are essentially not turning on a plane parallel to the ground. You can see this in the close up photo of the caster wheel on the lever. By contrast, moving a much heavier tool in a more expensive base is just a smoother process even though it still requires bending down to use your hands. The wheels on the caster end roll and turn a little smoother because the mounting plate stays parallel to the ground. Making the tool stationary is done by turning two knobs to lower feet, which otherwise hover maybe 1/16" above the floor while moving the tool. Moving it on the wheels is done by turning those knobs the other way to raise the feet. All that said, I would still recommend this base for lighter tools that you want to move around the shop. When you are buying enough mobile bases to move half a dozen tools around, the price difference is a big savings and this base is plenty good even if it feels a bit cheap to use. Giving it 5 stars with price being a big factor. If you want the highest quality feel to your mobile base, this isn't it, but if you want a very functional mobile base for the least amount of money spent, I think it's hard to beat the WEN Edit on 3/3/24: I used my 3rd base on a bandsaw, which is the lightest tool I have on a mobile base. For this tool, these work excellent and the problems stated aren't much of a problem at all. If your tool is only 200lbs or so, these will raise and lower with your foot just fine, swivel and move pretty smoothly, etc. If you are putting it on a tool that's closer to the rated max, like a unisaw or a 15 inch planer, that's when you will encounter more trouble with the raising/lowering mechanism and the angled casters. I'm buying a 4th base for another tool, obviously I still think they are a great value and would recommend them. Even more so for lighter tools like a 14 inch bandsaw. Read more