Sounds like the original stand posted, and the secondary one i linked too, may not fit my needs. i wish someone with experience would evaluate these lower priced stands and offer an objective review but it may be a wasted effort. i seriously question any stand which needs sandbags to keep it steady and has a clamping system (one of the major points of a repair stand) that is inadequate. i've already gone the cheap route decades ago, and don't want to do it again. although gordotrek says he needs minor mods to make it work for him (those minor mods leading to no rotation of the upright and adequate clamping) i don't think any decent repair stand should require mods like that. and i don't want to chance receiving an already used item sold as new (labeled used or open-box would change things of course

thanks for the input everyone.

eric
fresno, ca.