Roller stands

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memzey

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hi gang,

I'm looking for a decent pair of roller stands to assist when planing stock longer than the span of my planer tables. Can anyone recommend some that aren't carp and won't break the bank? I realise those two things tend not to go together but I do live in hope!

Thanks in advance!
 
Thanks Tech.

How sturdy do the seem to you mate? Would you say they can handle fairly heavy stock ?
 
memzey":3adl79y1 said:
Thanks Tech.

How sturdy do the seem to you mate? Would you say they can handle fairly heavy stock ?

The seemed quite solid but I was only using sheets of thin ply so nothing really heavy, as that was wide I used two rollers side by side before and after the table saw and it worked a treat. They are height adjustable but as yet I havent tested them with anything too heavy.
 
Well they're added to the shortlist then! Are there any other likely candidates should also be considered?
 
I have the Record ones and they have been reasonable so far. I have put a fair weight on them without problems.
 
I've got the Rutlands ones. I wouldn't buy them again.

Cheap, thin steel, poor clamping arrangements, poor stability and height adjustment The legs don't open to a positive stop - they hinge bends and the whole thing becomes springy. To top it off, a couple of mine aren't welded up square, either twsted so the rollers aren't square to the "feet", or tilted WRT the shafts.

The actual rollers are thin, chrome-plated mild steel with plastic mouldings pushed into the ends that take screwed-in pegs that are the "bearings". I don't know how long the chrome will last in my damp garage/workshop.

I'm considering making replacement bottom halves of the stands in wood (just keeping the rollers and their "T" frames).

They need to height-adjust well, as using my over+under p/t, the height off the floor through the thicknesser varies with the stock being thicknessed.

I should have learned by now: buy cheap, buy twice.

E.

[edit] PS: I've just added castors to my P/T, and my bandsaw came from a tall person and is on a tall stand with a lifted table (for DX underneath). I had to put lengths of 2x4 under the feet (held on with 22mm pipe clips) to get enough height to reach the bandsaw table, and will probably have problems with the p/t now it's higher up. They also wobble horribly on my roughly-screeded garage floor, and were a pain last year when I used them in a bedroom with a smooth-but-saggy floor - straight "feet" are a daft idea. [/]
 
Cheers Eric. That was what I was afraid of to be honest. There are a number available on Amazon and the bay with positive feedback. I wonder has anyone taken the plunge on those?
 
+1 for the Record rollers. I bought mine as a pair for about £40 a couple of decades ago - don't think they're much more expensive now. Good, solid construction. Although only DIY use I've built a workshop, a summer house, fitted a kitchen, built loads of fitted wardrobes and cupboards, a couple of big, heavy pergolas etc etc - all using these stands. A bargain for 20+ years of use.

Paul
 
Cheers Paul. That's quite interesting feedback as most online reviews I've read of the modern records are quite negative. I wonder if the quality has slipped in recent years? Wouldn't be surprised if so.
 
memzey":3pq5zq77 said:
Cheers Paul. That's quite interesting feedback as most online reviews I've read of the modern records are quite negative. I wonder if the quality has slipped in recent years? Wouldn't be surprised if so.

Just been looking at the modern equivalent online. You're right - they're nothing like mine! The older ones have heavy, square section tubing and have a generally more robust look. If I were you I'd ignore everything I said! :lol: :roll: Apologies!

Paul
 
I have some like these and yes, they are a bit flimsy. I find they can start to fold up or tip over if they are adjusted a bit too high, or not quite in line wih the flow ofthe wood. I have been thinking of knocking up a wooden base which would increase the base area to make them more steady. I also thought some weights (concrete block syndrome here) on the base might help. Finally if I fasten the legs to the base board then they wouldn't be able to fold up. And all easily dismantleable of course, for compact storage.
Another thing to do, one of these days.

K
 
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I took note of Paul's comment about the older Records and picked up a pair of the bay for £18. Agree they seem very sturdy although I haven't put them to use yet. They are in mint condition as well so pretty chuffed.
 
Good for you! Better condition than mine too!

One thing I meant to say is that the long and short cross members at the bottom also act like a tripod on rough ground and make them quite stable. I hope they work for you.

Paul
 
memzey":27yo0avx said:
Cheers. Those Axminster ones look good. Bloody expensive though!
I've got a pair of these. Very solid. Fine adjustment cams on the feet, for uneven floor.
 

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