Originally Posted by
Bill Kapaun
Since it appears from your other thread, that you are just starting out in bicycle repair, skip the repair stand for now.
About the only thing that's useful for a BEGINNING mechanic that it'll do is making it easier to "tune" derailleurs. It saves some of the "tweek & ride", repeat until you got it right scenario.
Most everything else can be done with the bike upside down or hanging by a couple of ropes from the rafters.
Put your money into basic hand tools to service-
Bearings- Wheels, then BB, then headset.
GOOD cone wrenches, Cheap metric combination wrench set (4-17mm) and GOOD Allen wrench set. (?- 8/10mm)
Tub of grease.
Bags of 3/16 & 1/4" Grade 25 bearing balls.
If OP is serious about doing good work on a good bike upside down and hanging from a rope aren't going to cut it. Simple as that. You can make do, but that is what is happening. Just making do. I surely would buy a good but affordable mechanic's stand before buying cone wrenches.
Robert