Before selecting a support stand, decide what machines you will use it with and how great a weight you expect it to bear. If you plan to use it mostly with the bandsaw, make sure the support has enough height and is stable when fully raised.

To test stands for stability, I slid an 8/4 board onto them off a flat surface. Stands that were unable to lift the board 1/2 in. and instead skidded across the floor or were pushed over got a poor rating. Success at 1/2 in. rated fair, and success at 1 in. rated good.

The HRT-18 is an industrial strength stand with a 500-lb. capacity that felt solid enough to jump on. The tapered post and angled screw handle made height adjustment a breeze. It’s too short for most bandsaws, but otherwise it’s a great stand. Too bad the price is so high.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Dividers

Incredibly useful for laying out, setting equal distances, and comparing measurements, these are an essential tool for any furniture maker.

Buy at Amazon

Dustopper Pro

The Dustopper attaches to a five gallon bucket, and collects 99.9% of dust before it reaches the vacuum. This saves the life span of your disposable vacuum bags and filters.

Buy at Amazon

Rockler Deluxe Panel Clamp

These clamps can handle glue-ups between 10 in. and 36 in. wide, and boards up to 3 in. thick. Sliding feet attach to the lower bars with magnets, letting you position them quickly for stability on any surface. The spring-loaded jaws adjust easily, dropping into notches along the bars. And the powerful clamp handles clear the benchtop.

Buy at Amazon