Sizzle-Chest

hi, im pretty new to the forum so i hope this is a good place to post this. i was wondering if anyone has built their own bike stand. i tried building one using a vice and some extra things i had, and it worked, but i wasn't satisfied. and before someone chews my head off about the importance of proper tools or whatever, i just want to say that not everyone can afford a bike stand. thanks for any info you might have!

Wordbiker

There are a plethora of homebrew solutions, but considering a decent quality commercial stand can run you well less than $100, one wonders why you'd struggle.

A rope over a rafter hooking the seat works in a pinch.

Sizzle-Chest

i understand that there are many ways to build a bike stand, i'm looking for ideas people might have tried and liked. i have yet to find one for less than 100$ if you would like to point me in the right direction, and i would be concerned about the quality of a very inexpensive stand. if one can be built, then why spend money? also, the seat is not made to hold the bike and i have tried many "over a rafter" type solutions but they don't keep the bike stationary. thanks

Wordbiker

Here's one.

I built a bike stand for myself over 20 years ago that is still a sturdy and viable solution, but I accomplished it with a variety of factors:

1) A donated base
2)An in-house welder that did the work for free
3)Some work on my part, which depending upon your station in life, may or may not equate to a signifigant hourly rate of labor
4)I didn't know what I was doing and have thought of some improvements since then
5)I have since used commercial stands and have discovered that professionals know what they are doing and believe that not only can you learn from them, but that you get what you pay for.

Sizzle-Chest

i was excited until i checked the shipping, 30-50$ making it cost more the 100$ total. i don't mean to sound like some homeless doofus, but i can't afford to buy a 100$ tool

DScott

A very solid support can be made with a rope looped over the seat and another rope looped under the handlbars. Both are attached to the rafters a little outboard of each end where they attach to the bike, and then kept with a little tension betwee them.

Nothing works as nicely as a purpose built stand though.

rjacob

Here are plans for the stand I built:
https://www.bicyclebikes.com/bicycle-...and-plans.html

alinko

If you can, check out your local bike shops. I got a used stand for $15.

vulcan

I clamp the head of a wooden handled hammer in my bench vise with the handle sticking out over the floor.

I can hang it by the seat to work on rear wheel/drivetrain or hang near the head tube by the top bar to work on the front end.

HillRider

A reasonably sturdy stand can be built from 1-1/2" or 2" steel pipe if you can get someone to thread it.

Use a doubled up piece of 3/4" plywood for the base and make it as large as you can afford the space.

Securely bolt (not screw) a "floor flange" to it and thread a pipe into the flange as the upright. Make it as tall as you want. Thread a 90° Elbow on top of the upright. Get a 1-1/2" or 2" x 1" reducer and add a short horizontal piece of 1" pipe to hold the clamp. The clamp is a wood workers type that has a sliding section jaw that slips over this 1" pipe and a second section that threads onto the 1" pipe end and has a screw handle to move the jaw. Pad the jaws with thin wood strips and some rubber gasket material to protect the tubes or seatpost.

This can be made relatively cheaply, particularly if you have a source of scrap pipe and can cut and thread it yourself or have a friend who can. Even having it all done by Home Depot, etc. shouldn't cost more than about $50 in materials.

eddy m

That's actually a better approach for a home workshop. You don't need one stand for every job. You need several stands, one to hold the bike for each job.
The best stand I ever made was just 2 plastic covered hooks ($2 at Aubuchon Hardware) that I nailed to the leg of my workbench. one hook holds the chainstay, the other holds the seat stay. It's perfect for dropping the rear wheel out, adjusting the derailers or trueing the wheel. I use a long hardwood sick in my bench vice to hang the brake levers to adjust the front brakes. Sometimes I'll use zip ties to hold the bike to the side of a bench. I've never found a job I couldn't do just as well without a stand.

em

Wordbiker

Here's the stand I made when I was 19 or so:





Total costs:

*Valvoline stand = Free
*Scrap pipe = Free
*Bolts and nuts = >$5
*Plasti-Dip = >$10
*Welding = Free
*My labor = Free?

twobikes

Do a search on the forum. A couple of months ago there were some homemade workstands for bike repair. One involved PVC pipe in an "X" pattern. It supported the bike under the bottom bracket and at the fork ends. The front wheel had to be removed.

I have a hook in a ceiling joist. I hang the bike from whichever end I am not working on.

oldfool

I made this stand from a 1960's vintage exercycle I found on trash day. The seat (extra big) went to my Schwinn shopper. The handle bars, wheel, clamps and other hardware went into the parts bin. It even had a working mechanical speedometer. I left the crank and chainring as a kind of artsy thing. The BB fits on the pvc that it on top of the seat tube and the downtube is held by the center bracket that I found on the road. I believe it came from a boat trailer. Notice the high tech adjustment features. By removing the cap on the the front and and fixing a slightly modified fork I have a wheel stand. I made a shop stool from the back triangle of the bike the fork came from. The stand is completely adjustable for any size bike.
I know it is unlikely that these parts will occur again but it gives you an idea of what you can do. The nice thing about a movable stand is that you can take it into your living room.

mstrpete

Thanks for the good ideas! I'm always impressed by how we can muddle through without some important piece or other. My solution is to turn my Black & Decker work-mate on its side, secure a wheel in it, then put an automotive jack stand under the bottom bracket. I've only ever raised the rear wheel this way, but its a charm for adjusting derailleurs etc. There's something to having a proper bike stand, though. Lends a sense of legitimacy to the operation. People tend to believe what you say the more you look the part. So maybe it's more a "want" than a "need," but still very nice to have.
ETA: LOVE the shop stool!

hmhoek

Here's my first effort made from 1" angle iron. The top tube clamp is less than optimal; it should probably clamp on the seatpost. I only tighten it enough that the bike doesn't fall off so I've never caused any damage. It's also quite bendy axially.

However I think it's about as simple as a stand can be, which is good for a beginning weldor.

DScott

Just FYI- Performance has this stand on sale for $40:



https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=4216

JTGraphics

Here is my creation I'd also recommend looking for a low priced stand is much easer but I like to tinker with things and I had this stand so I used it for my base.
More photos here if you want to see more https://www.jtgraphics.net/bike_stand.htm

Sizzle-Chest

thanks again for evryone's suggestions. here's what i ended up building. am very happy for 30$

Sizzle-Chest

and another

stringbreaker

looks like a winner to me you will probably improve on it as you go along or maybe not if it suits your needs, ya gotta keeper there my friend

sloride

I have a vise that rotates and has jaws for pipe so all I needed was to make something that fit the bike

1 each-1 1/2" galvanized T

1 each -1 1/2" length of pipe (any length will do)

2 each - hose clamps

1" pipe insulation

Cut the T horizontal to the long axis across the top of the T

Assemble on the bike using the hose clamps then lift it into the vise

Daytrip

Here's how I do it. Cost about $10 in pipe.

This one is in the garage for summer use. I put one in the basement when it got cold. It's just a short piece of pipe attached to the basement wall. More stable.

Billy Bones

Here's one tricked out of wood. It's kept outside and is mainly for post-ride cleaning, but can be used for maintenance and repair for all except front wheel stuff.

https://s450.photobucket.com/albums/q...ikeRack3-1.jpg

Here's a close-up of the notch that stabilizes the bottom bracket shell.

https://s450.photobucket.com/albums/q...ketNotch-1.jpg