Marv

Actually the best 30 bucks I've ever spent on a woodworking accessory!



It looks like these have been around for a while but I just came across the following review while looking for a folding outfeed table since I don't have time to build one.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home...s/1274191.html
Over the years I have used several different types/brands of roller stands which all had issues...the 3 leg ones would easily tip, if you didn't have the roller perfectly lined up the workpiece would wander, the height locking mechanisms never worked well, if the piece drooped it would knock the stand over etc.

When I got to Home Depot I was kind of expecting to find another lightweight poorly designed/constructed stand however I was pleasantly surprised. It seemed pretty beefy, welds were good, the 4 leg stand was more stable and the idea of the top "flipping" up as the work piece contacted it seemed like it would work very well. I was pretty much sold based on these things and was totally sold when I got to the height locking mechanism. Instead of the plastic thumb screw type knob that contacts the side of the post and never seemed to stay put (as well as hurt your hand to turn) this one had a metal lever and the mechanism allows contact on the corner of the support tube. I locked the height in and put a hefty amount of pressure on the top but could not get it to slip even a little. In use it was exactly as described..as the workpiece contacts the top it flips up into the horizontal position and the piece easily glides over it. Another nice benefit is the top has a pin to lock it into the horizontal position making it possible to use them as infeed support or side support (you could also use a pair of them like sawhorses or you could lay a piece of plywood etc on to make a temporary work surface).

ACP

I have been using one of these for a long time, and I love it. A wonderful accesory at an excellent price. It has SO many uses in the shop. I use it for just about everything. Good review.

Julian the woodnut

They sure beat the heck out of roller stands!

TheRecklessOne

I sure beat the heck outta my roller stand...especially when I threw it outta the garage and bounced it on the concrete 4 or more times (who was counting?) What a waste of 20 bucks. I'll definitely consider the ridgid flip top. Good review.

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TomC

Marv,
I just picked up one on your recommendation. It does look to be well built. I played golf today and HD was only about 8 miles from the course so I went out of my way to get it. HD is about 25 miles from my home and there is a Lowes locally so it gets more of my business.
Tom

sweensdv

Ridgid definitely has a winner there. I also trashed my roller stands after I bought my first Flip-Top Stand and immediately went out and bought another one. They are great for infeed/outfeed support for the jointer, planer, table saw and occasionally I even use them with my bandsaw.

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Steve G.

My first outfeed support was the roller from HF, I was driven nuts by them. I got one from HD, then got another one, then another... there so good I have one for the TS, 2 for the jointer. Need I say more?

Marv

I actually found a use for one of my roller stands instead of tossing it out in the driveway! I attached one of those big hoods to it so I can collect more dust at the source from jigsaw/router at the workbench.



Instead of building/buying a folding outfeed table for my saw I'm just going to build an attached extension about 12" deep which will handle most of what I cut and get a couple more of the Flip Tops to handle the long stuff as well as use with other tools.

skymaster

The only type of roller stand I found that I did not kick to the curb are the individual roller bearing type. Straight full rollers will "steer" anything on them every which way but where u want unless they are perfectly square, level, no blue moon and the creeks dont rise.

Burt

Thanks! Roller stands have always fustrated me. Gonna pickup a couple FlipTops this week!