Need rubber-like circular cord that won't leave marks on hardwood floors

I'm rebuilding some old rolling library ladders. They have 5" diameter metal wheel hubs, about 5/8" thick. They used some sort of glued-on black rubber material for tires, now largely disintegrated. I thought I'd order some 5/8" o-ring cord from McMaster, but they claim that all their various o-ring cords would leave marks on hardwood floors. Kind of like "black heel marks" from some kinds of boot soles, right?

The metal hubs have a couple circumferential grooves on their OD's, but it's just to glue on the original solid rubber they used; it's not like a rim bead on a pneumatic hub. Mechanically, 5/8" diameter Buna- N o-ring would have been a win, but leaving marks all over the floors would be bad.

Any ideas on a substitute material? Or, does anyone know how some boot manufacturers make the sole so it doesn't leave black heel marks on the floor?

Not a huge metal content here, but the hubs are metal, and o-ring's often seal metal.....

Thanks very much for the help!

Dave

Reply to
LowEnergyParticle
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My input is only a longshot here, but i think the red rubbers dont mark like the black ones do?

Shaun

Reply to
Shaun Van Poecke

You mention grooves, not groove - do you really want 5/8" diameter material, or multiple parallel smaller diameter rings (to replace a flat-rubber tire)? Even if it is a single 5/8" half-groove, you might stack 3 rings in a triangle cross section (ie, one smaller ring diameter to pack the void and two slightly larger to run on the floor).

McMaster does list silicone o-rings - silicone should be a good bet for non-marking, and they have that as cord-stock in 5/8" (3 foot minimum order) - red-orange color. For pre-made rings, 1/4" seems to be the limit. If the application can use pre-made rings (ie you can remove the wheels from the hubs, and perhaps 3x 1/4" rings will do you instead of a single 5/8") I'd go that route, as reliable glue joints in exposed applications can be a problem.

Polyurethane is also a pretty safe bet, but does not seem to be offered in 5/8" dia. from McMaster. Probably the best bet if you need black and can use smaller cord-diameter rings.

Any of the non-black rubber compositions (ie, I've used some green o-rings, but the material is lost in the mists of foggy memory) should also be pretty safe for non-marking.

Reply to
Ecnerwal

These rolling ladders are still made, so I bet one can get new tires (or wheels) from the manufacturer.

Joe Gwinn

Reply to
Joseph Gwinn

Ive varnished pine floors in my home and to prevent the bottom of my dining chairs and benches from marking these floors, I 1st stuck hard white felt to the leg bottoms, then cut to size then tacked deep into the felt to ensure they dont come off. Have workred a treat. you may have a problem joining the felt to make a tyre , are the wheels hollow, you could drill them and put in self tappers. Felt would protect the floor well. Just a shilling's worth. Ted Dorset UK

Reply to
ted frater

============= How about cast in place urathane of the correct durometer?

some links to get you started

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Unka' George [George McDuffee] ============ Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains.

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Reply to
F. George McDuffee

I once read in and old Popular Mechanics magazine where someone wrapped the rim of his Model T with rope and drove home. How about wrapping your wheels with that white knitted clothesline rope and securing with the best glue you can find, like epoxy or liquid carpenter's glue?

Reply to
Leo Lichtman

I might consider replacing the wheels rather than replacing just the rubber.

GWE

Reply to
Grant Erwin

Gray screen spline.

Or replace the whole wheels with inline skate wheels from WalMart. Very strong, cheap, non-marking excellent polyurethane tires.

Reply to
Richard J Kinch

Urethane. I've had belts made up by these folks; they only list up to 9/16" diameter, but it's worth calling them.

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Some of the conveyor belting mfrs also make similar stuff. Try Fenner, Siegling and Shingle. Roundthane or Rounthane is one tradename for round urethane belting.

Ned Simmons

Reply to
Ned Simmons

I think my first step would be to go down to the toy shop and have a look at kid's tricycles. Most have some sort of "tire" that might fit and they come in various sizes and prices. Bruce in Bangkok (brucepaigeatgmaildotcom)

Reply to
Bruce

Pin ball machines have thick white 'rubber bands' maybe 3/8 or larger. A service depot near by ?

Some gaskets are Grey. How about neoprene and not rubber.

Martin

Martin H. Eastburn @ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net TSRA, Life; NRA LOH & Endowment Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot"s Medal. NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member.

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LowEnergyParticle wrote:

Reply to
Martin H. Eastburn

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