DIY Bike Repair Stand
I've needed a repair stand for a long long long time now. But....damn those things aren't cheap. Thankfully, I've got more than my share of blue collar blood in me....so I decided to build one. The process couldn't have been easier. I did a quickle google search on home made repair stands and saw some interesting solutions. In the end, I went with my own variation.
Now the finished product may not be beautiful but it works great. The pine 2x4's were a great choice for the seat post clamp because they'll never scratch it. Also, because it's attached with threaded pipe, I'm able to swivel the bike left and right, and I'm able to tilt the bike up or down. Heck, If I wanted, I could rotate the bike completely upside down.
Because it's threaded pipe, when I'm done working on my bike, I need only to unscrew the stand from the flange in the ceiling and viola!...I've got my room back.
Step 1. Screw a couple of 2x4 scraps together. Drill a 1.25 inch hole right in between them so that you're left with two half circles. Step 2. Screw a piece of plywood to the ceiling (making sure you hit the joists). Screw a flange to the plywood. Step 3. This should be self explanatory at this point. (just screw it all together)Step 4. When you're on the ground picking up something that you dropped...do try and remember that the stand is above your head. (Trust me....it leaves a mark)
a whopping $30 in supplies
I plan to add a toolbox style latch and scrap the bolt system.
I probably should have organized a bit before taking these pictures.
November 18th, 2009
Nice stand! Have you thought about plugging the end on black pipe and runing air through it with a coupler on the back of the “T”.
November 18th, 2009
I hadn’t thought of that. I built it with the T, so that someday I could add another side to it and (or have a buddy) work on 2 bikes at once.
November 18th, 2009
The pipe looks like 3/4″ id as opposed to 1 1/2″ listed. 1 1/2″ would be overkill (and more expensive) for this project. Great Idea though!
November 18th, 2009
You are right. It’s not 3/4. Nor is it 1.5″ like it’s listed in my sketch. It’s actually 1″
3/4″ would certainly do the trick.
November 18th, 2009
07:32 PM
Just eyeballing this, it looks like if you inverted it (pipe coming up) and used a pipe floor flange and some big bolts to a sheet of plywood to make a sturdy base, you’d have it made portable for not a lot more $$.
November 18th, 2009
Why would you run air through the the T? For ease of access to a compressor?
November 19th, 2009
I can’t wait to see your wheel truing stand. Probably more duct-taped 2×4 with nails sticking out.
November 20th, 2009
Colin: If he ran air into the pipe he could put a fitting on the T to plug in the air hose. But as I see it personally, the stand comes straight down out of the ceiling so the compressor would be beside him anyway… no real point J Audet.
November 21st, 2009
What kind of pipe is that?
November 24th, 2009
Threaded black iron. Use 3/4 or 1 inch.
November 25th, 2009
Thanks!
November 26th, 2009
How are you keeping the wood clamp securely closed??
November 30th, 2009
At the moment, I’m just running a simple carriage bolt through it. I just thread the nut on the backside and ratchet it down. Ideally, I’d put a toolbox style latch on there. Just haven’t gotten around to it yet.
December 1st, 2009
Nice post & nice blog. I love both.
December 13th, 2009
I saw another one that used a pipe clamp to hold the bike, seems that would be a perfect addition to your plan here. Nice work! I love the ceiling attachment idea.
December 22nd, 2009
good design blog ! I love this.
January 9th, 2010
its very nice idea.i’m waiting for your another great idea
January 22nd, 2010
Great information! Thanks for the post.
January 25th, 2010
Excellent design. I really like the clamp on the end.
February 15th, 2010
Very cool, I admire the initiative.