ABSTRACT
One of the most common tasks for a props department is adding casters or glides to furniture and large props so they can be moved quickly during scene changes. In a director's ideal world, a chair will slide onto the stage effortlessly and quietly, and then stay perfectly during the scene. A caster is a wheel can mount to prop. The two main types are rigid and swivel. A rigid caster will only move in a straight line, while a swivel caster will turn to move in whichever direction. Metal wheels can carry much heavier weights, probably far greater than props will need. They also leave marks on many surfaces. Wooden wheels can only carry lighter loads, but they are more historically accurate for period props. Glides or slides move props and furniture without adding extra height, as often happens with casters. They are also handy if need to avoid wheels for aesthetic reasons.
