Harbor Freight Work Stand
03-04-09, 11:39 PM
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Harbor Freight Work Stand
I am looking for an affordable work stand. I don't want to build a DIY stand. Has anyone on here used this stand from Harbor Freight? It is $30.
https://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=98579
https://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=98579
03-04-09, 11:52 PM
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I thought about getting one and then started looking at the pictures and the manual for it. It looks super cheap and I wouldn't want to put any of my flippers in it much less any of my own bikes. For this I would say save up for a decent Park, Ultimate, etc. repair stand.
03-04-09, 11:55 PM
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Good find. I am looking for a bike stand to replace my old one. Harbor Freight is not known for quality tools, but at that price I think is worth a try. Funny story about Harbor Freight tools, an engineer in China that I work with, got a hold of an adjustable wrench from them. After he examined it for a few second, even he said it was crap.
Last edited by abarth; 03-05-09 at 02:39 AM.
03-05-09, 12:02 AM
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I bought a heat gun from them once, it only worked for a few hours. The price makes the stand tempting though.
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03-05-09, 12:03 AM
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I've gotten some decent stuff from there, like the electric 1/2" drive impact wrench, but some other stuff I wouldn't bother with.
03-05-09, 05:23 AM
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well, you get what you pay for. they are great for little gadgets, simple tools etc. for me, this bike stand is probably more than what I need. but for serious repairs etc that would take long periods of time, it might be a pain, like any cheap tool.
I ordered many many times from harbor freight tools but not for fixing bikes (which I hardly ever do). They are a great company to deal with.
I ordered many many times from harbor freight tools but not for fixing bikes (which I hardly ever do). They are a great company to deal with.
03-05-09, 09:45 AM
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I had one of the cheap Minoura workstands years ago that clamped around the downtube and the bottom bracket rested on a pad. It was flimsy, bikes would slip out of place easily, and frames with oversize tubes or odd geometry didn't fit. I'd expect this to be similar.
I finally junked the Minoura & bought an Ultimate on a good sale. It came out of the box ready to use, no assembly required. Solid, adjustable and versatile, and folds up easily if you don't have room to leave it set up or want to take it on a road trip.
If you buy cheap tools, you'll curse them every time you use them. Buy good ones and once the money's out of sight, you'll never regret it.
03-05-09, 10:28 AM
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Most of their stuff is crap, but some not. I've got a 12-ton press that I bought from them for like $100 or something - it works great.
03-05-09, 10:44 AM
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Whenever I feel the need to go to Harbor Freight, I go to a store in a neighborhood where I am not known. I try to sneak in and out without anyone seeing me. I know it is just a cheap crap tool store, but it IS embarrassing!
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03-05-09, 10:48 AM
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Just out of curiosity, has any one gotten a work stand custom made by a local welder? I'm asking since my LBS here in Belgium had one made for not so much and that thing can take a beating and it's super solid. Me being the procrastinator that I am, never got around to having one made before my stuff was shipped. Once I'm stateside I'm thinking instead of spending $200 plus on a Parktool stand, I'll put that towards a custom stand. What do you guys think?
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03-05-09, 11:47 AM
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I think having a local welder build one for you is a great idea. Just buy one of those clamps that bolts to the wall and have the welder make you a stand for it.
I really like my Ultimate stand. Not cheap but I won't ever have to curse it.
I really like my Ultimate stand. Not cheap but I won't ever have to curse it.
03-05-09, 12:25 PM
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But, those clamps themselves cost nearly as much as a stand itself.
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03-05-09, 01:01 PM
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For me, a repair stand would not be the tool to cheap out on.
03-05-09, 01:10 PM
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I'm curious enough to drive by the local Harbor Freight and see if they have one in-store. If so, I'll report back on its amount of suckitude 
03-05-09, 01:32 PM
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I've got an Ultimate as well. Never had a complaint--secure, reliable, easily folds/unfolds, etc. Can't remember what I paid--there was a Performance sale on these at the time that made them much more reasonable.
For me, a repair stand would not be the tool to cheap out on.
For me, a repair stand would not be the tool to cheap out on.
I'll bet I've overhauled or worked on at least a hundred bikes by now in my garage. The cheap Performance one was flimsy and didn't last long. The more expensive (but still cheap) $79 Performance stand lasted about 3 months before the pot-metal and plastic clamp broke. I took it's pieces back to Performance, returned it, and used the store credit towards the Ultimate.
Very, very nice stand.
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03-05-09, 01:46 PM
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I bought my Ultimate Pro for just over $100 with a Live.com discount and a Paypal discount. I have the G-3 from Performance as well. The Ultimate is well worth the price, even at $170 or whatever they are on eBay.
FWIW: This is what I got, with a 30% Live.com discount and a 10% Paypal discount:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Ultimate-FEEDBAC...d=p4634.c0.m14
FWIW: This is what I got, with a 30% Live.com discount and a 10% Paypal discount:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Ultimate-FEEDBAC...d=p4634.c0.m14
Last edited by Old Fat Guy; 03-05-09 at 01:52 PM.
03-05-09, 01:53 PM
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I definitely agree, don't cheap out here.
If you don't mind waiting a bit and have an active craigslist in your area, keep an eye out there. I picked up a Park stand a few years back for $50, and I see one pop up about once a month.
If you don't mind waiting a bit and have an active craigslist in your area, keep an eye out there. I picked up a Park stand a few years back for $50, and I see one pop up about once a month.
03-05-09, 02:11 PM
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+1
I had one of the cheap Minoura workstands years ago that clamped around the downtube and the bottom bracket rested on a pad. It was flimsy, bikes would slip out of place easily, and frames with oversize tubes or odd geometry didn't fit. I'd expect this to be similar.
I finally junked the Minoura & bought an Ultimate on a good sale. It came out of the box ready to use, no assembly required. Solid, adjustable and versatile, and folds up easily if you don't have room to leave it set up or want to take it on a road trip.
If you buy cheap tools, you'll curse them every time you use them. Buy good ones and once the money's out of sight, you'll never regret it.
I had one of the cheap Minoura workstands years ago that clamped around the downtube and the bottom bracket rested on a pad. It was flimsy, bikes would slip out of place easily, and frames with oversize tubes or odd geometry didn't fit. I'd expect this to be similar.
I finally junked the Minoura & bought an Ultimate on a good sale. It came out of the box ready to use, no assembly required. Solid, adjustable and versatile, and folds up easily if you don't have room to leave it set up or want to take it on a road trip.
If you buy cheap tools, you'll curse them every time you use them. Buy good ones and once the money's out of sight, you'll never regret it.
03-05-09, 02:15 PM
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It looks good to me. I seriously doubt the metal would break. I've had my Park for almost 20 years, don't need another but if I did I'd be happy to buy that for $30.
03-05-09, 03:14 PM
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I remember those Minoura "stands" (falls) well. They were the worst. LOL. I got myself a Park PCS-10. It just plain works great. And it's clamp is excellent. Whatever you decide on - get something good. Nothing can turn one off to bicycle-mechanics like a cheap stand can.
03-05-09, 03:54 PM
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FWIW I have the Spin Doctor G3 stand. It works good, balance is pretty good til you get the bike way up in the air.
the only thing I REALLY hate about it is the twist to tighten clamp. If you are going to use your stand regularly a quick release handle make s a huge difference when you're holding a bike in the air trying to clamp it.
the only thing I REALLY hate about it is the twist to tighten clamp. If you are going to use your stand regularly a quick release handle make s a huge difference when you're holding a bike in the air trying to clamp it.