Can Anyone Recommend a Decent Christmas Tree Stand?

[romantico]

Just curious if anyone here has had good luck with Christmas Tree stands. For years I have used this cheap plastic stand I get at Target for about $7.50. I usually replace them every other year or so. Balancing the tree in it then pouring water in the base is usually tricky,but always seems to work. Well, this year it was a disaster. I usually get the tree up over Thanksgiving weekend but this year I finally got it up this afternoon. The tree was a little smaller this year than usual but not by much.

I was curious if anyone here has had any luck with any other tree stand. I saw a cast iron one at Home Depot for about $50. I am tempted to possibly get one next year. Maybe I should switch to an artificial tree but I love the smell and look of a real tree for some reason. The tree is still very wobbly and I am going to be watching it like a hawk til Christmas. Maybe I'll be able to afford a better tree stand next year and was just wondering if anyone can recommend a decent tree stand they have had luck with.

[Kali]

1. well I can recommend it, but you probably won't like it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=9574853&mesg_id=9575081

I have a funny round holiday themed patio umbrella table cloth that I wrap around the bucket to hide it

but the real trick is all the carpet thread:rofl:

[tigereye]

11. Kali you are such an innovator. Love it!

[Phentex]

2. We bought a Swivel Straight years ago...

and haven't looked back. You can put the tree in it outside and adjust very quickly once you have it inside the house.

[romantico]

3. THANKS!

Thanks for the replies!

[LoveMyCali]

4. I have a StandStrait tree stand

and it's the best thing ever. There's a little spike that goes into a drilled hole in the bottom of the tree and all you do is set the tree on it and it stands perfectly straight. No tightening pegs to try to make it stand straight and even the devil cat I used to have wasn't able to knock the tree down anymore.

[MorningGlow]

5. +1,000,000

It's the only way to go. Have the hole drilled at the tree farm, hammer in the spike, and it's up--and automatically straight--in seconds. I LUUURRRVE my Stand Strait. :thumbsup:

Preserves marriages, too. :evilgrin:

[romantico]

6. Never

Never heard of it but I will definitely look into it next year. SOunds great. I usually get mine at Home Depot or Loews. Not sure if they sell them but I will keep an eye out. Thanks a bunch!

[tigereye]

12. hmm, my husband was not a happy camper Sat when he was struggling to

get the Scotch pine straight. Maybe we should get on of those stands. :think:

[jmowreader]

7. Santa's Last Stand

http://santaslaststand.com/

Good name, better stand.

[cyberswede]

8. Cedar Valley Tree stands

We got this one a couple years ago, and I'll never use another type of stand again. It works even with super-crooked trunks. It takes 5 minutes to attach to the tree - and holds plenty of water.



http://www.strawberryhillchristmas.com/treestands_frame.html

[Gormy Cuss]

9. I've had good luck with the large welled, wide circular base plastic stands.

They cost about $10-20. Here's a picture of one of this type:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07192301000P?sid=IDx20070921x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=07192301000P

Note the extra rim on the base --- that will catch about half a cup of water should you overfill the water well.
I've tested that feature. :+

The very broad circular base combined with the weight of the water in the well makes it pretty stable for a 7-8' tree. We position the tree in the empty stand and place it in the room before filling the well. Also, because the well holds so much water you don't need to top it off every day.

[tigereye]

10. ours is tilting like a drunken sailor- many bad words were heard as my

husband struggled and recut it to get it straight, to little avail. I actually think it's more a function of the tree than the stand though. The stand we've had for a number of years has been pretty good. Not sure of the brand.