Roller Stand?

[bsyris]

Hi All,

Has anyone made their own roller stands for use as an outfeed, or generally holding up their material at the saw/drill?

I'm wondering if there are reasonable plans out there, and if it makes sense to make a couple rather than buy them.

Thanks,
Bob

[DonHo]

You might check the New Yankee workshop plans. On one show Norm built a tool stand, a "parts" trolly and a roller stand. His roller stand had either 3 or 4 rollers and looked very handy. On the other hand sometimes Sears and/or HD have sales on either roller stands and work supports that make them cheaper than you could make a stand for.
You can see some "cheap" very light weight roller stands at HF and Cummins tools, I'd pass on those as they might actually cause more problems than they solve.

DonHo

[LarryG]

This doesn't answer your question, exactly, but most of us who have tried a variety of support stands find that the Ridgid Flip-Top stands, available at Home Depot, are just about the best thirty bucks one can spend in a workshop. Considering how well these work, and after subtracting the cost of materials for a homemade stand, I personally wouldn't spend the time to build one.

[Tom Miller]

Have you decided on rollers for sure? For stock supports like this, I just use a flat surface, rather than rollers. Cylindrical rollers have a preferred direction for stock movement (which may not be lined up with your preferred direction for stock movement), and the roller balls don't support narrow stock. A flat surface that's finished with poly, etc. and wax is plenty slippery.

I haven't made any free-standing ones, but I've made some that clamp to the edge of benches, etc. I can give more info if you're interested.

Regards,
Tom

[Hoyden]

This doesn't answer your question, exactly, but most of us who have tried a variety of support stands find that the Ridgid Flip-Top stands, available at Home Depot, are just about the best thirty bucks one can spend in a workshop. Considering how well these work, and after subtracting the cost of materials for a homemade stand, I personally wouldn't spend the time to build one.

The flat surface will not lead the cut board off line or bind like a roller.

[gsmittle]

This doesn't answer your question, exactly, but most of us who have tried a variety of support stands find that the Ridgid Flip-Top stands, available at Home Depot, are just about the best thirty bucks one can spend in a workshop. Considering how well these work, and after subtracting the cost of materials for a homemade stand, I personally wouldn't spend the time to build one.

What Larry said. I'm going back for more when I have some spare cash.

g.

[LCHIEN]

there's some relatively inexensive troller stands out there, I would thoink making your own, esp. if you have to buy rollers or ball bearings, would be much more expensive and less satisfactory.

I find these pretty good, $25-35 sometimes on sale for around $20 each...

Crawford WM5 Work Mover Stand



ball bearing rollers and heavy enough to stay in place, easily adjustable and folds away neatly.

[SARGE..g-47]

Like Larry, I prefer the Ridgids. I have 4 of the Ridgid flip-tops and like clamps, you always end up one short. The good news is they're relatively cheap. Like Tom, I really prefer a friction surface with 3 coats of poly sanded down as I use on my TS side and rear extentions.

I had a problem with rollers when ripping some 16' stock by myself several years ago. The stock wanted to move on the out-feed rollers like a greased pig sitting on a ball bearing. We are talking "hello kick-back" if the stock moves and jams the blade or fence. Got rid of the rollers and probably will never get more.

Wait.. got one down in the shop as a gift. Anybody wants it, come get it. No charge if you pick it up.


Regards...

[bsyris]

Guys, thanks for pointing me at the Rigid stand. I'll be sure to take a look this weekend.

[lcm1947]

I agree with Larry and the others. The Ridgid is hard to beat. I have two of them and two roller types and never use the roller ones anymore accept for the chop saw. The Ridgid's were rated as the best overall support stands out there in their 2005 tool guide. I use mine for the DP, BS and TS. I do use the roller ones for the chop saw as I mentioned but that's about it for them. I've not needed the Ridgids for the router table yet but probably will when called for. A good solid stand in my opinion.

[MilDoc]

I also have the Ridgid's, but do wish they were a bit heavier. In a few cases they managed to tilt while in use. And, no, they were adjusted a bit low to avoid this. Or was that wrong?

[LarryG]

A heavy workpiece can indeed try to tip the Ridgid flip-stand over, but if anything the typical roller stands are even worse in this regard. I have a Shop Fox roller stand, bought cheap off eBay, that appears essentially identical to the one Loring pictures, and very much like those Harbor Freight and the woodworking stores like Woodcraft sells. It weighs about the same (at a guess) as the Ridgid but is less stable due to the narrower "stance" of the legs. Overall, the Ridgid remains the best thing I've found.

I've been meaning to make up a couple moderately heavy sandbags, maybe 10 or 15 lbs each, to drape over the legs of my support stands and sawhorses. Another item on a long list of things I've get to get around to ...

[SARGE..g-47]

As Larry, I find the wider legs stance very stable compared to others. JUst make sure the flip top has a light touch with the stock. I haven't had any problems with tip as I "dry run" before I make an actual cut. If I have a stand that even remotely appears it will tip, I take precaution in advance.

Nylon cord with a 6" dowel tied to one end and a loop tied to the other end. Walk to the weight bench in my basement behind the shop and get a 10# weight. Thread the cord thought it and put an S hook on the looped end. Attach the S hook to the main stem of the Ridgid and good to go.

And of course, put everything back in it's place when done so I can find it next time I look. ha.. ha...

Regards...

[RodKirby]

I don't like roller stands - tend to want to "direct the workpiece".

I've been very happy with this:

[MilDoc]

I don't like roller stands - tend to want to "direct the workpiece".

I've been very happy with this:

Uh, Rod, what is that?????