Which of these roller stands should I buy?

[Glen Blanchard]

I am considering the purchase of a roller stand that I can use as an outfeed support for my table saw, planer and bandsaw. I have narrowed the search to the two stands below, but would like to get some feedback from those here. My gut tells me that the pedestal base of the Shop Fox stand might be a bit more tip-resistant than the Rockler stand. However, the Rockler stand has ball-rollers rather than traditional rollers. I would think the ball rollers, having a multi-directional rotation, would be advantageous.

Okay, this is not a SawStop vs. PM2000 caliber decision. I am not spending thousands of dollars, but I'd rather not make a purchase I will regret later.

Which one would you buy?


Shop Fox - $70

http://woodcraft.com/images/family/web4346.jpg
vs.

Rockler - $100

http://images.rockler.com/rockler/images/69201-01-200.jpg

[Tom Pritchard]

Glen, I would go with the Rockler. I have a Lee Valley of similar design to the Rockler, and it is impossible to tip it over! Good luck!

[Ken Baker]

I have one similar to the Shop Fox design, the nice point about that design is there is less space between the rollers, so light/flimsy stock won't get hung up during the cut by dropping down.

However the benefit of the Rockler design, is you you aren't perfectly square it's not a problem, where let's say the Shop Fox is at a 10 degree angle, it wants to push your stock at that same angle.

The rockler design, with more rollers, would be perfect!

[Mark Carlson]

Glen,

Have you considered the triton stands. The triton website has a great video.

http://www.amazon.com/Triton-MSA200-Adjustable-Pivoting-Multi-Stand/dp/B000CSKLIG/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1201216912&sr=8-1

[Bruce Page]

Glen, I asked the same question awhile ago; http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=61803 Some good info here.

I settled on the Lee Valley; http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=50231&cat=1,240,41060&ap=1


.

[Dan Boschen]

I've got three of these and I've got to say that they cannot be beat.

http://1manstand.com/

They are very steady and tolerant of any droop of materials.

[Glen Blanchard]

Thanks guys for the words of wisdom and all the links. After reading the posts in these other links, I took a quick trip to my local Home Depot and bought the Rigid. I think it will work wonderfully, I like that it folds up flat, and I have saved a few bucks at the same time.

Another reason the Creek is so great.

[Daniel Rabinovitz]

Check out the Wolfcraft #6102
Look at the wolfcraft website
That stand is available from your local hardware store for about $46.00 or so. I think it is ACE hardware but it might be the other one.
They ordered it in for me at the price shown. It is 3 stands in one - flat - roller - and balls. The hardware store had it under a different model number - something like 21011 or some such number (but I am close - I just can't remember)
Daniel :)

[Dennis Putnam]

I am in need of something too. I can see 2 requirements, only one of which is addressed by any of the ones suggested. Self aligning rollers or a flat surface so that the stock is not pushed off center. The other requirement is leveling. I thought I saw Norm talking about one on NYW that had some kind of system which was either very easy to level or automatic with respect to the saw table. IIRC, it also worked on uneven surfaces like at a construction site. It was a while ago and at the time I didn't need one so I wasn't really paying close attention. If there was such a thing it probably cost the same as a small Cadillac.

[Bill Wyko]

I would go with the Rockler, just because I have 3 legged bar stools in my shop and they always get knocked over. It's like a 3 legged dog in a fox hunt. :D

[Bob Aquino]

I have the same one or something very similar to the shopfox stand. Its heavy and it takes up space even when not in use. Thats why its up in the attic right now. I have two folding stands, one is the pivot top and one is a roller stand. I cant find a pix of the pivot top (think its a Ridgid brand from HD) but here is the other one:

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImage/a08ae220-5bbe-4b22-ae1a-9f4c881e5a73_300.jpg

I like both since the fold up flat and are pretty stable in use. Both are on the cheaper side too, could have two for what one of the two you proposed.

[Eddie Darby]

The ShopFox rollers need to be set at 90 degrees to the work travel, while the Rockler can move in multi-directions, since it is a ball type roller.

I have a multi ball roller, with an attachment that I made, with an auxiliary tube style roller head that attaches over the ball roller head. The best of both worlds.

[John Thompson]

I don't think you will regret the purchase of the Rigid flip-top stand, Glen. Years ago I had a piece of long stock being ripped come off a roller bearing top and it was not fun. Something similar to putting a greased pig on top of a flag-pole ball.

I got one of the Rigids to try. Friction top.. flips to catch stock coming in and going out.. wide, stable base and extremely easy to adjust. I gave away my roller and ball bearing stands and have 6 Rigid flip tops at this point. A great stand and relatively cheap as far as cost.

Sarge..

[glenn bradley]

I have tried a couple of the roller-ball type and found them great in theory but not in practice. The balls leave indentation trails along the material if it is heavy at all. I prefer the swivel caster versions now.

[james gerus]

I agree with Dan on the one man stand . Jim http://1manstand.com/

[Justin McCurdy]

$30 for a Ridgid flip top stand pictured here: http://benchmark.20m.com/reviews/RidgidStand/RidgidStandReview.html

I have single roller stands, 4 roller stands, and all they do now is collect dust. The rollers pull your work one way or another giving you less control over your work piece. I will absolutely guarantee that you will like these better than roller stands.

[Wayne Cannon]

The roller-ball (Rockler) style will leave shallow indented grooves in your work if it has any weight because there is a lot more pressure per square inch at the top of the balls than on a roller. I learned that lesson the hard way.

If you get one with a folding stand, be sure it has a lock to keep it open. Otherwise, one leg can walk slightly and raise your work. This is not a significant problem for a table saw, but will ruin your work when doing edge molding on a router table. Another lesson learned the hard way.

[Steve Leverich]

I have several roller stands (sometimes buying in bulk is NOT smart) and plan to eventually modify them with UHMW strips in place of the rollers (also don't like the rollers pulling to one side or the other, hadn't thought about the balls leaving marks but it makes sense) Steve

[Wayne Cannon]

I forgot to mention that I got the Lee Valley support with the upside-down casters and slide plate.

It works very well with no bias pull to any side, but I was disappointed that they did not provide sufficient clearance between the casters for them to roll in the long dimension, e.g., for supporting long stock in the cross-grain direction, as when I needed support for routing cope molding on the ends of long rails for a very wide door. They will pivot to within 20-30 degrees of crosswise, but not quite there.

It's also very heavy and would be hard to make any fine adjustment, were it not for their parallelogram-style fine-adjustment screw.

The flat or crowned UHMW plates have had good comments here. I'll probably try one some day.

[Bret Leishman]

I second the previous votes for the Rigid flip top design. This just seems to be a "better mousetrap", Love mine.