Swivel Straight Christmas Tree Stand with Reservoir
The single greatest Christmas tree stand ever made.
First off, I didn’t pay $79.95 for mine, you can find the model w/o the reservoir for about $40 if you look around. But, if I could only find the $80 version, I would still buy it!
Every Christmas used to start off with me under the stupid tree trying to get it straight while Adrienne gave me directions (and I am pretty sure she was always very very high while she did it, there is no other explanation). Then when I had it close to straight I would end up rigging bizarre shims and such to try to jam the tree in place because the little screw-in holders would dig into the tree or slip or who knows what. One year the tree stand had a soup can and some twine in it to get it just right. I accept that I may have been spectacularly bad at setting up the tree, but comparing notes with other people has led me to believe this was not that uncommon of an experience.
Last year I bought the Swivel Straight Stand and I will never go back. It has a “cup” base that you stick on the bottom of the tree—I always do it while the tree is still strapped to the car. You just slip the base into the stand where it clicks in. You push down a little foot pedal and then you can easily swivel the tree around until it looks right. When you have it right you just take your foot off the pedal and kick it into the lock position.
It would be easier to just show you:
Done.
I even made it sound about twenty times harder than it is. The tree goes up straight and no more Christmas swearing. The only down side at all is that you usually have to trim some of the bottom branches off so that the cup base can fit up the trunk high enough. I apologize for telling you about this so late, but we just got our tree tonight and it was so easy to put it up I sat right down and wrote this.
These were hard to find recently, but I’m glad to see them back on Amazon
That is pretty cool. I am sorry to say we caved last year and bought the fake tree. We are pretty happy with it, works out well in our small place. Of course now that these upside down trees are available http://www.hammacher.com/publish/72376.asp?source=google&keyword=upside%20down%20Christmas%20trees&cm_ven=NewGate&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Holiday%20Preview05&cm_ite=upside%20down%20Christmas%20trees
The “hidden” pedal shown in that picture looks pretty visible.
The pedal is green in the model I have. It pulls out for adjustments and then slides into the base when you are done.
Josh:
This post brought a tear to my eye.
There is something very Blumer about getting the tree absolutely staight.
The Swivel Straight Christmas Tree Stand has saved my life! Thank you Josh. And thank you to the people at One Stop Shop Catalog!
(Insert jingle here)
This year when putting up my tree something strange happened. After wrestling with it for about an hour, I had to finally resort to my skill saw.
Now trimed. I moved on to step two. With my fingers numbed from the relentless Artic gale, I clawed at the eight stiff screws of the tree stand. Then, in the dim light of the porch, I noticed a problem and had to reset the stand.
Discouraged, hypothermic and impatient, I felt the last remnants of holiday cheer begin to slip away.
“H*#! with it,” I slurred and muscled the once dignified Douglas Fir into my living room, giving it one final throttling to loosen its dead needles.
With my startled children agape, I clumsily waltzed the tree into the corner and let out a sigh.
“Looks perfect. I’ll get the lights,” said the wife without a hint of sacrasm.
And you’re recommending a Swivel Straight Christmas Tree Stand?
After seeing the first picture, I instantly thought, “Why is there a gasoline can under the tree? Stupid novelty inventors.”
I think it is so cute that you posted this oh-so-grownup review right after your wondrous list of boyhood faves.
I’ve had a Swivel Straight nearly 20 years – can’t say enough about this wonderful little item even though it cost a small fortune. Bring the insert to the tree place and they make all the necessary cuts and then “PERFECTO” we ploop it into the stand. Talked many people into buying them – WOW!!
My swivel straight tree stand leaks like a sieve. I wish it didn’t have the water reservoir.
Is it the reservoir that leaks or the base? I don’t have the reservoir model and it doesn’t leak at all.
Also, great idea on taking the the insert with you to get the tree and having them trim the branches there.
Dr Penrod, I have been catching up on some of your previous writings…it is nice to see that shots to the groin are still your preferred method of negative reinforcement.
Just another data point, I bought one of these yesterday at Home Depot in the Pittsburgh area on sale for $17.82. I suppose this is an older model — no extra water resevoir and the tree is held via the three screw-in bolts. Anyway, it appears to be working just fine, and I just wanted to thank this site for providing some feedback which I used as input before making the purchase.
I love this tree stand I really do. Before I could not get my tree straight. However, Does anyone else have a problem getting the foot pedal out to make the adjustments? I just need a little help on that.