A hand cart is a small cart with two wheels that can be pulled or pushed by hand. There are different types, including trolleys, appliance carts, and convertible carts. Industrial strength options are available for heavy workpieces, and weight ratings should be followed.
A hand cart, sometimes spelled handcart, is defined in the fourth edition of the American Heritage Dictionary as “A small cart usually of two wheels that is pulled or pushed by hand.” This could apply to both tools commonly referred to as trolleys or hand trucks, mail carts, and even tiered carts. While it may seem confusing at first glance, given all the types of hand trucks available, choosing the best hand truck depends primarily on its typical use.
One of the most common hand truck varieties is the trolley or hand truck. These tools stand upright with two wheels on each side at the bottom. A lip on the front side goes under the object to be transported. Then the trolley and the object are gently placed on the wheels and moved. A variation of this is the drum truck, which instead of having a front lip, has two prongs on each side and a movable clip near the top of the truck. The prongs are machined under the drum and the clip placed on top of it. It is then moved like any other item.
Another common type of hand truck is the appliance cart. These are generally a bit wider and sturdier than typical hand trucks. They will typically also have a strap, which goes around the appliance and helps to rest it on the cart. In some cases, especially for those not used to moving a hand truck, it may take two people to move an appliance, one to operate the cart and the other to stabilize and help support the appliance.
Some hand trucks are convertible, fitted with four wheels to give the option of using two wheels or four wheels. The handle pops out and the cart is then set down on four wheels. When all four wheels are on the ground, it looks like a normal, albeit slim, handcart. This may be the best hand truck choice for those who may need it for a wide variety of purposes.
Some hand trucks that typically use four wheels include mail carts, computer carts, and various types of platform carts. Even the common shopping cart is a type of hand cart with four wheels. Some, with multiple layers, have special uses and allow for many different things to be stored. For example, the bottom tier of a computer cart can house the CPU, while the top tier can support the monitor.
In most cases, the hand truck varieties mentioned will also be available in industrial strength options. This option, while more expensive, should be chosen for those who intend to move heavy workpieces or will be doing a lot of tool work. Also, pay attention to weight ratings for a hand truck. Whilst it may be possible to handle more weight than they are rated for, this is not recommended and would likely void any warranty.
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