Before selecting a support stand, decide what machines you will use it with and how great a weight you expect it to bear. If you plan to use it mostly with the bandsaw, make sure the support has enough height and is stable when fully raised.

To test stands for stability, I slid an 8/4 board onto them off a flat surface. Stands that were unable to lift the board 1/2 in. and instead skidded across the floor or were pushed over got a poor rating. Success at 1/2 in. rated fair, and success at 1 in. rated good.

The HRT-18 is an industrial strength stand with a 500-lb. capacity that felt solid enough to jump on. The tapered post and angled screw handle made height adjustment a breeze. It’s too short for most bandsaws, but otherwise it’s a great stand. Too bad the price is so high.

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