Work Stands for the Home Mechanic

[JackRabbitSlims]

my neighbour 2 doors down has approached me for advice on buying a repair stand for home use

he is a park tools guy which is fine
they make some great stuff

at work we have 2 of these in the workshop that i like and can't complain about

he asked me what we use in the workshop and I told him the above
he is hell bent on the portable stands that he saw the mechanic's in the tour using
like this

i've never used one
we don't have them in our shop

i can only comment on what i've used and I'm advising him to go with the clamp style stand like this one as its all i know

but now I'm wondering if the portable isn't such a bad option

he has deep pockets
loads of space in his garage
and quite a nice collection of tools that i'm kinda envious of

anyways
wondering if you guys and girls wouldn't mind commenting on personal experience with these stands
why choose one over the other

pros and cons

i like our shop stand as you can clamp in various spots on the bike
easily work around the bike from all angles
leave the front wheel in
the tool tray is nice
but I have most of my go-to tools in my apron when i'm working

thanks of you can help me out
well
thanks of you can help my neighbour out

 

[42x16ss]

Portable stands are great for limited space but like you I always preferred a solid base stand, which IMO is best for a crowded space with people moving around.

For an area that you have to pack up every time, go for the folding stand I guess. You can get them with a clamp as well as fork mounts, depends on your preference.

 

[Master50]

JRS
Of the 3 pictures you show the last is what I have been using for 15 years and the middle is what I want. for most jobs the top and bottom ones do everything we generally need but for some jobs the middle one is better especially working on the frame itself and general cleaning of the frame. Ido not like the clamp types on some carbon frames as they can crush the tubes if you are not very careful.

 

[winkybiker]

Re:

JRS
Of the 3 pictures you show the last is what I have been using for 15 years and the middle is what I want. for most jobs the top and bottom ones do everything we generally need but for some jobs the middle one is better especially working on the frame itself and general cleaning of the frame. Ido not like the clamp types on some carbon frames as they can crush the tubes if you are not very careful.

I have the middle one. It's great for my use. Very solid. But I get that in a shop, they will want to be able to quickly throw a bike in so may prefer the ones that clamp a tube, but for the home mechanic that isn't so much of an issue.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Re:

Portable stands are great for limited space but like you I always preferred a solid base stand, which IMO is best for a crowded space with people moving around.

For an area that you have to pack up every time, go for the folding stand I guess. You can get them with a clamp as well as fork mounts, depends on your preference.

thanks for the reply 42

yes
i have a (non park tool) stand in my garage that uses a clamp style to hold the bike and completely folds down to pack away if needed or ease of transport

i always have it up as it's ideal to come back from a ride
clamp the bike up
clean / lube or remove accessories from the bike etc

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Re:

JRS
Of the 3 pictures you show the last is what I have been using for 15 years and the middle is what I want. for most jobs the top and bottom ones do everything we generally need but for some jobs the middle one is better especially working on the frame itself and general cleaning of the frame. Ido not like the clamp types on some carbon frames as they can crush the tubes if you are not very careful.

thanks for the reply Master50

yes
park tools latest models of clamp style stands have more of a softer micro adjusting clamp than the older models

we have the older style and have a collection of foam packing material in a bin in the workshop specifically for use on carbon frames or unusual frame / seatpost shapes

i'm not sure what it is
but we also have some dense blue material like sorbathane (sp) that we can work around the frame(s) for use in the stand and will return to it's original shape after use
very handy

 

[King Boonen]

I don't own a stand, never have. Built bikes without one fine. Mainly due to financial considerations. Maybe I should finally fork out and buy one...

 

[winkybiker]

Re:

I don't own a stand, never have. Built bikes without one fine. Mainly due to financial considerations. Maybe I should finally fork out and buy one...

I didn't have one for years. But since getting mine, I don't know how I lived without it.

 

[King Boonen]

Re: Re:

I don't own a stand, never have. Built bikes without one fine. Mainly due to financial considerations. Maybe I should finally fork out and buy one...

I didn't have one for years. But since getting mine, I don't know how I lived without it.

I've been told the same thing about dropper posts on MTBs...

 

[red_flanders]

Read about an interesting idea for a budget bike rack. 2 rope loops hung from the garage rafters. That's how I hang my surfboards–I think I'm going to try it!

 

[King Boonen]

Just tried a Workstand, it's now at the top of my purchase list. 10 times easier, quicker and I'd probably still have feeling in all my fingers if I'd had one 6 months ago...

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Good to hear it.....any ideas on what you'd like to get??

 

[King Boonen]

It was the Park Tools folding one PSC-10 or something like that, so either that or something very similar.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Old thread but this one is nice, portable.

 

[King Boonen]

Old thread but this one is nice, portable.

Looks a lot like the Park one upthread, seems very popular with on site mechanics. How high does it go? Looks like a compromise if you are looking for something for in your home.


This just arrived:

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Old thread but this one is nice, portable.

Looks a lot like the Park one upthread, seems very popular with on site mechanics. How high does it go? Looks like a compromise if you are looking for something for in your home.


This just arrived:

Looks cool enough to me, anyway.

Just make sure you're equalizing the legs of the stand, and all its respective parts enough (and at the correct angle) so the bike doesn't end up toppling all over you.

No worries, hon, I do this with my stand all of the time.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

And while King Boonen is trying to get his bike repair stand corrected the rest of us need some music... down here in the mechanic's dungeon.

Rockwell - Somebody's Watching

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9mRl9tW3kE

 

[King Boonen]

Old thread but this one is nice, portable.

Looks a lot like the Park one upthread, seems very popular with on site mechanics. How high does it go? Looks like a compromise if you are looking for something for in your home.


This just arrived:

Looks cool enough to me, anyway.

Just make sure you're equalizing the legs of the stand, and all its respective parts enough (and at the correct angle) so the bike doesn't end up toppling all over you.

No worries, hon, I do this with my stand all of the time.

You get no choice with this stand. The legs lock in place with spring buttons, as does the main trunk so the base is always the same.

Used it a couple of times now, works brilliantly!

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Used it a couple of times now, works brilliantly!

Awesome!

Some of my stand's parts wore out rather quickly being they are plastic and the stand is cheap, but no worries, it's nothing that a piece of wood and some crazy glue can't fix. (I would still rather have this stand than no stand at all.)

 

[King Boonen]

Good fix.


I used the stand last night to detail my fixed wheel, was great fun. Top tip, baby wipes are brilliant for cleaning a bike.

 

[CheckMyPecs]

I'd rather pay someone else to repair my bike for me. It's more efficient because repairing my bike myself would take me longer than the time it takes to earn the money.

 

[Irondan]

I just picked up one of these on sale at REI, I'm pretty psyched to not have to make weird contraptions to hold up my bike while I work on it anymore.

It came with a travel bag too!

 

[King Boonen]

Those portable stands look very cool, let us know how it works out. I've been very, very happy with it as I've not managed to amputate another finger! I got a free, cheap stand from a friend to use at my girlfriends too. It's not as well put together as the Park and you have to be a bit more careful as it's not as sturdy, but it certainly does the job so I'd recommend everyone get a stand, no matter how cheap. When I don't need it it's getting passed on to a mate.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Re:

I just picked up one of these on sale at REI, I'm pretty psyched to not have to make weird contraptions to hold up my bike while I work on it anymore.

It came with a travel bag too!

Yeah - nice stand that one.....I was tossing up between this exact one and Park Tools for my new home / garage set up.
Came down to price and went Park Tools.

I doubt you'll be disappointed.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Re:

I just picked up one of these on sale at REI, I'm pretty psyched to not have to make weird contraptions to hold up my bike while I work on it anymore.

It came with a travel bag too!

Nice!

Let me know how it stands up to the test of your usage, being it's a stand and all...