Amazon.com Review

If you're like us, you've crammed more tools into your workshop than can really fit. Luckily, an HTC universal mobile base (or two) can make a world of difference. The base is sturdy and easy to assemble, plus--unlike any other mobile base on the market--it adjusts to fit virtually any large woodworking machine, forming squares from 12 by 12 to 36 by 36 inches and rectangles as big as 20 by 52 inches. Holes at 1-inch increments let you choose any shape in between, and wheels at all four corners make it easy to maneuver. Roll one tool in; roll another tool out. Moving equipment around a crowded shop has never been this easy. --Jon Groebner ... Read more

Features

• Lifetime warranty
• Four wheels for well-balanced performance
• Side rails come with holes spaced every inch
• Can hold shop tools weighing over 400 pounds
• Easy to unlock and move

Reviews (94)

FIVE STARS FOR VALUE!
If a tool is to be judged on it's utility then this is a winner. What makes this base so great is that it does what it's supposed to do, does it well, and sells for around fifty bucks.

My shop is so small Hennie Youngman could do a whole routine around it. I don't have the luxury of thousands of square feet of space to plant work stations and production tools. So, I rely on putting everything on wheels to keep it out of the way untill I need it. I made my own untill I discovered the HTC2000 mobile base.

I ordered one for my jointer and another for my table saw. My jointer is now a dream come true! The large wheels track easily and smoothly and it sets down firmly. The only drawback was that the front was higher than the back but that is an easy fix with a spacer or adjusting up your machines leveling feet.

Oddly enough I did not have this problem on the second one I ordered for the table saw. That on is so level you could set grade with it. For the life of me I can't figure the difference but who cares? The only downside I noticed on the one for the table saw was that my saw may be a little heavy for it. I have an old, big Craftsman with a custom made T-Square fence. It rolls very nicely but the cam levers for raising and lowering seem to strain a little in the lift mode. If you are going to move larger machinery I would suggest contacting the company regarding their custom made program.

Overall, if you ever want a stationary machine to have any portability you can't go wrong with this product. And at this price, you can afford a little custom tuning to get exactly what you want.

HTC HTC2000 Universal Mobile Base Review
This is the third mobile base that I have purchased and it is the first one from HTC. My other two units are the Delta mobile base in which you must provide the hardwood cross members into their provided corners. These two units support my Jet Contractors saw and my Jet 14" CS Band Saw. The HTC unit is for my Jet 6" CS Jointer. Overall the unit assembled easily and holds the Jointer very well. My biggest complaint with the unit is that it does not provide the movement flexibility that my other units do. I have a small workshop and need to swing the units around easily. The Delta base has a single wheel centered on one side of the frame and it can pivot very easily. The HTC unit with its two pivot wheel design does not permit easy movement. As I continue to expand my workshop I would not purchase this style again with the two wheels.

Excellent product, easy assembly, great price...
So, who has the free wall space in either workshop or garage to just leave a bandsaw, drill press, table saw, or router table in one place without banging the materials from your project into a nearby cabinet or storage shelf? I sure didn't. Believe me, dragging the drill press or band saw into the middle of the garage was never as much fun as it seemed ;-) Sears has a mobile base exactly like this one, but for $20 more. I bought three, and they arrived super fast in great shape. All parts accounted for(!), and easy to assemble. I'd recommend attaching the base to the tool with some bolts, though (not included). Leveling is easy to do, the base is quite stable, and the rolling action is very smooth. I thought it would be hard to justify the cost, but after buying and mounting them, I wouldn't go back. Excellent product...a definite necessity for large shop tools.

HTC2000 Price Increase
July 13, 2004 I bought a HTC2000 at $43.00 from Amazon.com. July 17, 2004 (3 days later) Amazon.com increased the price by (28.3%) ($16.99) to $59.99 each. Ouch! The price increase of steel did not jump that high.

It's a troublsome erector set
Now I believe I'm in the minority based on these reviews I see. Let me tell you my experience and use your own judgement, it's fine to have a differing opinion.
I used this for my Jet contractor saw, not that time consuming to put together but more so than the one piece unit I replaced it with.
Trying to lock it steady on those rubber feet took more time to do than putting it together. Then, If I move the saw to use my router table I have to readajust it since my cement floor only looks completely smooth. so there's some back and forth issue with making the thing stable when it's moved and repositioned.
I'm not talking about cobblestone imperfection, it's subdle variations in concrete that make 4 wheels rock back and forth ever so slightly if they're not just right. Those 2 rubber feet have to take the weight of the saw and hold it steady or else if you push something heavy there's a chance the saw will move during your pushing. I don't want to have to follow my saw back and forth with shim stock. The nut and bolt type adjustment is tedious. I think Shop Fox has a heavier universal base that uses 2 feet but with large knob adjusters and also a thicker frame.
3 wheels always stay on the ground regardless of the slight imperfection which is what I've found on the one piece mobile base that's made specifically for individual equipment. I just put the one piece base on and forget it. Rolling circles to my hearts content around like a crazy merry-go-round. Stop and cut or route and back to where it once was, no problem. Cost twice as much, saved more than that cursing this univeral base.
I'm going to put this mobile base under my drill press which doesn't have to move, but only if it has too move, it will then be able too. I actually think the slight height increase would be worth it as well. ... Read more

Features

• Extruded aluminum foot lever lets you lock the base in place
• Adjusts to fit a wide range of large woodworking tools
• Expands from 14 by 14 inches to 31 by 31 inches square
• Expands to 19 by 43 inches in a rectangular configuration
• The 14-inch rails have holes spaced every inch for maximum versitility

Reviews (13)

GREAT PRODUCT GREAT PRICE
I recently purchased this mobile base and I must say that for the price it can't be beat. The base is well built, easy to put together and performs as advertised. I was ready to buy craftsmans version ...untill I found this one. From what I've seen they appear to be the same except for the price. I highly recommend one for all non portable tools in your workshop.

Mr.
This universal mobile base is a real piece of work. It goes together easily and is a simple but functional design. Since it is a "universal" base, holes must be drilled to make it fit most equipment.
I mounted a Ridgid band saw on this base and I chose to drill new holes where the legs were bolted to the base. This required only 4 new holes. To adjust the side rails would have required more holes.
The only down side to this base is that user must have access to a drill press for the holes. The metal used is substantial.
I intend to purchase 2 more to use on a drill press and table saw.

Works fine, with modifications
I figured I'd have to drill a few holes to make it fit my craftsman table saw. I wasn't disappointed. If the unit you're going to put it on will need to be bolted to the base (and they all do), expect to drill holes in your unit, the corners of the base, or in the support beams. I decided to drill the support arms, and I only needed to do that in two of them. The other dimension worked out to be exactly the right length. Once I'd drilled the holes, the whole thing went together just fine. The saw moves around effortlessly and the whole unit is a LOT more stable now. I'm quite satisfied. Four stars because I had to drill it. But then, I don't believe there's a mobile base made that doesn't require some mods. Price was right, and it works like a charm.

Finished unit great - Assembly experience a pain
First, to be positive, I agree with the other reviews that the finished product is a nice mobile base. I ordered mine for my Jet 12" bandsaw and it is a good fit and plenty strong.

My issue is with the assembly experience. As others say in their reviews the assembly instructions leave something to be desired. I just don't see why companies don't take an hour and build one of their own products up while reading their own instructions. The problem is they know too much and assume things that aren't written. A minor annoyance was that the numbers of nuts, bolts, washers, etc. didn't match with the quantities listed in the parts list. In the end I had enough of everything but I'd like to have at least what is listed. But my BIG gripe is the fit of the side metal brackets into the corner brackets. Maybe I got unlucky and got some brackets that were out of tolerance but with the side brackets tight against the corner brackets the holes still didn't line up. I ended up having to drill some of the holes a bit larger to get the bolts through.

A good finished product and the price is right but not a particularly happy assembly experience.

Mystery with a happy ending
I love a good mystery as much as the next guy, but not when it comes to assembly instructions. As others have noted, the assembly instructions are somewhat limited, but the end result is worth a little trial and error. I put my six inch jointer on this base and will order another for my band saw. This unit is rock solid, rolls smothly and is nice and stable. ... Read more

Features

• Lifetime warranty
• Position your machine where it works best
• Frees up valuable floor space
• Heavy gauge steel construction
• Two rigid wheels and one swivel wheel raise your machine 3/4-inch

Reviews (4)

Ludicrous, if not dangerous
This stand is unstable and a real letdown. I feel it should be recalled. By comparison, the HTC stand for my jet bandsaw is of the highest quality and design.

1) It is different than depicted in the picture. The one in the picture would work better.

2) It is oversize for a variety of models. The drill press rests on the inside of the brackets which are not heavy enough gauge to provide firm support which can amplify any vibration.

3) There are no holes drilled in the base to bolt the top heavy drill press to the stand.

4) The center wheel design would allow a child to easily tip it, creating a real hazard.

I am now bolting the drill press to a 1" oversize MDO base mounted to a Rockler mobile base supported by a 1 1/2" steel channel.

HTC Mobile Base for Jet 17" Drill Press
The picture displayed for the HSO-593 does not match up with what the actual drill press mobile base looks like. I was hoping that the previous reviewer, Norman Cumings from College Station, TX USA, was overly critical of this base. However, after putting it together, I couldn't agree more about it being totally unstable. I am waiting for the UPS truck to pick it up and take it back.

HTC Mobile Base for Jet 17" Drill Press
I have three of HTC's model 2000 universal bases and one made for the Jet 14" CB band saw. I am satisfied with all of them. I just assembled the model HSO-593 base for my Jet 17" drill press and will not keep the thing. It is completely unstable. So much so that I would hesitate to just move it about on it, much less, use the drill press while mounted on it! This base is what HTC calls a "K" design and as a structural engineer can say it is an improper design for any base much for the top heavy drill press. I am returning the unit and will find a location in my shop where I can permanently mount the drill press.

Weird looking drill press!
Weird looking drill press! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Of all the mobile bases we've seen, this is the king. The sturdy corner brackets, wheels and casters, foot pedal, and all the hardware are supplied; you supply the hardwood. We like this deal because you make the stand to fit your needs, all the way up to 30 by 30 inches and 300 pounds of load if you build your rails of oak. In a small shop or a garage shop that has to accommodate your cars, put together a couple of these and roll your tools out of the way when you're done working. With other bases we've looked at, you have to tip up your tool and waddle carefully. With this Delta, just unlock the foot pedal, engage the third-point caster, and you're off. The wheels and casters are quality, and they move like a dream. We wouldn't limit use to just tools--this base could come in handy for moving appliances, too. A nice back saver at a great price. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Universal mobile base kit--can be custom fit to many machines
• Holds up to 300 pounds for use with larger tools
• Easy bolt-together design--just add your own hardwood rails (not included)
• Smooth gliding wheels and foot operated raising and lowering lever for easy use

Reviews (38)

Easy to assemble - a dream to use
This mobile base is easy to assemble as long as you accurately mark and drill the holes for the bolts that attach the corner pieces to the wooden frame. Assuming you have the 1.5 inch stock needed to make the side rails on hand, you can put the whole thing together in less than an hour. And when you're done, you have a mobile base that is the equal, in ease of use, to anything I have seen on the market. I especially like the foot operated third wheel, that easily engages by simply stepping on the lever mechanism, and disengages by lifting up on the lever with your foot. Nothing could be easier! And the base moves smoothly over the floor on three wheels rather than having to lift one side and push your tool on two wheels like an ungainly wheelbarrow.

Nothing to compare it to, but extremely satisfied
I purchased this mobile base based on the reviews I've obtained here at Amazon for my Jet cabinet saw. Once recieved, I can say that I'm completely pleased with my purchase.

The package is quite heavy and is about the size of a shoe box. Once removed from the package, it's fairly obvious how the pieces come together, but there's a fairly good manual for reference.

The corner plates are heavy and seem very strong. The bolts, wheels, pedal and other items also have the same "strong" appeal.

I used some scrap Oak that I had which I then glued and screwed to the thickness of 1 1/2 inches. I didn't want to puchase any new material as I had this scrap avaiable, but I assume that using a single piece of hardwood is the most desireable method for assembly. The additional material cost you'll of course have to factor into your total price of the purchase.

Once assembled and place underneath my saw, the operation of raising and lowering the unit is easy and does not require much effort at all. A foot pedal is used to raise the base which then settles the wheel on an angled flat point on the pedal. The saw then glides effortlessly across my shop floor.

When in the stationary position, I do notice that my saw is not as "grounded" as it was when I did not have a base, but I'm willing to live with this as I'm sure I can figure some ways to sure this up.

Overall, I'm very happy with this purchase and would not hesitate to buy another for any other large shop tool.

Good choice
I am using this stand for a compound miter saw. For a light tool like this, pine rails ripped from 2x4s work just fine. If you are trying to support a major league table saw or something closer to the 300 pound limit, then follow Delta's advice and use hardwood.

I bought an HTC mobile stand for my table saw, in part to compare the two models. On design, the Delta wins. The freely rotating front caster makes the unit very maneuverable, much easier to move around the shop than the HTC. In addition, the lever in front gives a much greater range of motion, so it lifts the unit much further off the stationary feet. The two units are roughly equivalent in difficulty of assembly. Do your own measurements for the wood; the unit will take a tad more than the 1 1/2 inch square cross section recommended. I also recommend drilling the bolt holes with a drill press if at all possible. I don't own a drill press, so I couldn't get the holes drilled perfectly square, and the unit looks like it was assembled by a drunken sailor. It works great, but I can't really blame Delta for the appearance.

One downside to the Delta is the need for the hardwood rails for heavier equipment. If you don't have a lot of scrap hardwood lying around, you should include the price of the wood in your price comparison. You should also have access to a planer and joiner to square up the wood, something that wasn't necessary with the pine.

Great!
I put this on my old Craftsman 10" table saw. Maybe it weighs 150 lbs. It was a great solution and better alternative to dragging the table saw around my shop(garage). I did not have any 1 1/2" scrap around. I went to Home Depot and bought a piece of 2x4 deck wood (pressure treated green) out of their scrap bin for 51 cents. I ripped it to 1 1/2" and cut to size. The instructions were a little fuzzy, LITERALLY, but easily understood. I also do not have a drill press but free handed the holes just fine. It took about 2 hours to assemble. I am very pleased with this item.

Excellent product. Build it my way for heavy duty use!
I purchased Delta's Universal Mobil Base from Amazon for a large router table/cabinet weighing over 300 pounds I recently built. I'm very familiar with this product since I've sold many of them for $59.95 plus tax where I previously worked. You won't find a better deal then Amazon anywhere.

I gave Delta's product five stars because: No parts were missing; the fit/finish were perfect; the four heavy corner supports are impressive; two stationary rollers are at one end and a single heavy duty large foot pedal lifts the opposite end and engages the single swiveling roller which allows you to easily move your machine. A well designed product. It's built similar to Delta's welded one piece mobil base.

Delta's product is far superior to HTC's Universal Mobil Base even though you may spend a bit more to complete it if you choose my method. HTC uses two stationary rollers and two swiveling rollers attached to flimsy lifting levers which are awkward to use. I'm also not impressed with the rails used on HTC's base. It's made so you can adjust it to various sizes. If your making a large base, you must join two rails together with bolts to span the length and/or width of the base. Lots of nuts and bolts with their product.

Instead of using wood for the rails, I chose to use 1-1/2" square steel tubing with 1/4" wall thickness. This material weighs over three pounds per foot and is very strong. The cost for the steel was $25.00 and that included cutting to my specifications. I used two 44" and two 24" pieces for my base. If you need a mobil base for a heavy piece of equipment, this will suit your needs. You could use 1/8" wall if you are able to find it. I tend to over build.

I strongly recommend you read the instructions prior to doing any measuring and marking so that you totally understand how every piece fits together. The job will go much faster.

Like one of the other reviewers, I drilled my holes slightly smaller then Delta recommended. I DO NOT however recommend drilling them the exact size of the bolts (5/16") since this does not allow you any leeway. I found 3/8" perfect for my application. After marking the exact locations, use a center punch to create a starting point for your drill bit so as to prevent it from wandering on entry. Measure twice, drill once! I suggest you drill all your holes on a drill press. Clamp the steel tubing to your table to avoid any movement and guarantee the holes are aligned on both sides. Make certain to support the tubing if your drill press table is too small. Grind or file all burrs on your holes and edges before assembly.

Other than my changes, follow Delta's instructions which are well wriiten very easy to follow.

Assembly including marking, drilling, grinding and filing took approximately three hours and was worth every second. ... Read more