Description
40mm Polycastor & Sockets
The 1⅝” (40mm) Polycastor & Sockets is a straightforward, economical replacement furniture castor with a metal body, black nylon wheel and grip-neck socket fitting.
It is designed for jobs where the priority is a practical working castor rather than a decorative furniture fitting.
Typical applications include:
- Sofas
- Upholstered chairs
- Beds
- Footstools
- Occasional furniture
- Furniture repairs
- Replacement of worn or broken castors
- Workshop and trade furniture repairs
For other practical replacement options, browse the complete Kenrick & Poly Castors range.
A Low-Cost Alternative to Kenrick & Brass Castors
This is the value option within the range.
The existing Livedale description specifically positions the 40mm Polycastor as a low-cost alternative to brass and Kenrick-style castors.
That makes it particularly useful when:
- Decorative appearance isn’t important
- Several castors need replacing
- A simple black nylon wheel is suitable
- Furniture needs to be put back into service economically
- A trade workshop needs a practical replacement castor
- Beds or everyday furniture need functional rather than decorative fittings
If a stronger, all-metal premium castor is preferred, the Kenrick 40mm Shepherd Mini Castors & Sockets are the natural step up.
40mm Black Nylon Furniture Castor
The castor uses a 40mm black nylon wheel with a metal body and grip-neck fitting.
The nylon wheel makes it a practical choice for everyday furniture where appearance is secondary to function.
The main things to check before ordering are:
- Existing wheel size
- Grip-neck stem fitting
- Existing socket
- Condition of the furniture leg or frame
- Number of castors required
Don’t order purely because the existing wheel is approximately 40mm — the socket arrangement needs to match as well.
Grip-Neck Castor & Socket Fitting
This Polycastor uses a grip-neck fitting, where the castor stem pushes into a compatible socket fitted into the furniture.
This style is commonly used on upholstered furniture and beds because it allows castors to be removed and replaced without using a screw plate underneath the furniture.
Where an existing socket is worn, damaged or loose, replacing the socket at the same time is generally preferable to fitting a new castor into a poor existing fixing.
If an old socket is difficult to remove, the C.S. Osborne No.87 Castor Socket Removal Tool is designed specifically for professional furniture and upholstery workshops carrying out this type of repair.
Polycastor or Kenrick Castor?
This is an important distinction for this section.
Polycastor
Choose this 40mm Polycastor where you want:
- A simple economical replacement
- Black nylon wheel
- Grip-neck and socket fitting
- Good value for routine furniture repairs
- A castor that doesn’t need to be decorative
Kenrick Shepherd Castor
Choose the Kenrick 40mm Shepherd Mini Castors & Sockets where you want a higher-quality all-metal castor.
The Kenrick 40mm Shepherd Mini is UK manufactured, all metal and rated to 300kg per set of four castors. It is also handed and therefore needs to be fitted correctly.
That gives us a very clear product ladder:
Polycastor = economical everyday option
Kenrick Shepherd = premium all-metal option
40mm or 50mm Castor?
If replacing an existing castor, matching the original size and fixing is usually the best starting point.
This product uses a 40mm wheel.
For furniture requiring a larger Kenrick-style castor, see the Kenrick 50mm Shepherd Castors & Sockets.
The 50mm Kenrick Shepherd is a premium UK-manufactured all-metal castor and, like the 40mm Mini, is rated to 300kg per set of four.
Do not increase wheel size simply because a larger castor looks stronger — the finished furniture height and fixing also need to be considered.
Practical or Decorative Furniture Castor?
This is also where we can start linking the two castor sections properly.
The 40mm Polycastor is intended primarily as a functional replacement castor.
If appearance is important and the furniture would benefit from a traditional visible fitting, consider a brass castor instead.
The closest equivalent by fixing style is the 32mm Brass Grip Neck Castor, which also uses a grip-neck stem and socket arrangement.
However, it is not a direct size-for-size replacement. The brass version has a 32mm wheel and its own stem/socket dimensions, so these must be checked before changing from one type to the other.
For the complete decorative range, browse Brass Castors.
Supplied as Sets or Trade Boxes
The current product offers two quantity options:
- Set of 4
- Box of 75 sets
That makes the product suitable both for one-off furniture repairs and regular trade/workshop use.
The box quantity is particularly relevant to:
- Upholstery workshops
- Furniture manufacturers
- Furniture repair businesses
- Bed manufacturers and repairers
- Contract furniture repair
- Trade customers carrying regular replacement stock
Choosing the Correct Furniture Castor
The wider Kenrick & Poly Castors range includes several different fixing methods, including:
- Grip-neck and socket
- M8 threaded
- M10 threaded
- Round plate
- Square plate
The fixing methods are not interchangeable. Livedale’s category guidance specifically recommends checking the wheel size, stem, socket, thread or plate fitting before ordering.
For all furniture castor types, browse the wider Furniture Castors section.
Measure Before Ordering
Before replacing a furniture castor, check:
- Wheel diameter
- Stem style
- Socket size
- Existing fixing method
- Finished furniture height
- Condition of the furniture leg/frame
- Number of castors required
For measuring equipment, browse Rulers & Tape Measures.
The wheel is the easy bit to measure — it’s usually the fitting hidden underneath the furniture that catches people out.
Polycastors for Trade & Furniture Repairs
The 40mm Polycastor is a useful everyday stock item for professional upholsterers, furniture repairers and workshops needing a cost-effective replacement castor.
For related furniture fittings, browse Feet, Castors & Glides.
Existing trade customers should log in to their Livedale account to view preferential pricing.
New professional customers can register for a Livedale Trade Account to access trade pricing.
