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.

There is much to like about the Ridgid flip-top stand. The wide stance of the nonskid feet made it secure, while height adjustment of the square post was easy because the top is so light. The stand is only 3 in. deep when folded. My only quibble is that to set the height accurately, the top must be locked in the horizontal position, then unlocked for use.

First reviewed on 12/1/2002 by Dennis Preston:
Ridgid Tool Co. has released a new support stand, called the Flip Top Stand, that is an improvement over other stands.

Instead of using a roller to support a board, the Flip-Top Stand uses a large (7-in.-wide by 21-in.-long), smooth, flat top, which makes good sense. A roller can be a nuisance, especially when used to support a board during a ripping cut on the tablesaw. Unless placed exactly perpendicular to the rip fence, a roller often tends to steer the board off line.

Also, the top can be positioned at a slight downward angle to help catch any oncoming drooping boards. It pivots to the horizontal position as the board slides on the stand. And when the pivoting feature isn’t needed, the top can be locked in the horizontal position.

The frame of the stand is tubular steel. Extrawide feet spaced well apart provide excellent stability, a feature often lacking on other support stands. The feet are rubber tipped to help keep them from sliding.

You can adjust the top to sit anywhere from 27 in. to 45 in. above the floor. The support column locks securely in place. And when not in use, the stand folds into a compact, flat package.

The Flip Top Stand arrived in my shop just in time: I was alone and faced with cutting several 4×8 sheets of 3/4-in.-thick plywood. I also had to rip and joint some long ash boards. Throughout the ripping and jointing processes, the stand performed well. The stock slid easily across the top, helped, no doubt, by its slick, plastic surface. I judged the drag to be about equal to that of my roller stand.

The Flip Top Stand is a solid performer.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Blackwing Pencils

If you've listened to Shop Talk Live, you've heard them talk more about these pencils than you could possibly imagine.

Buy at Amazon

Rockler Deluxe Panel Clamp

These clamps can handle glue-ups between 10 in. and 36 in. wide, and boards up to 3 in. thick. Sliding feet attach to the lower bars with magnets, letting you position them quickly for stability on any surface. The spring-loaded jaws adjust easily, dropping into notches along the bars. And the powerful clamp handles clear the benchtop.

Buy at Amazon

Bessey EKH Trigger Clamps

Bessey EKH series quick-release trigger-style clamps are simple to use and maintain consistent pressure. Trigger clamps that perform the way you've always wished they would!

Buy at Amazon