Simple Custom Jack Stands
#1
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Location: Minneapolis, MN
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Simple Custom Jack Stands
So I'm just about a week away from completing my MIG certification through the local Tech school program, and for the final class we just needed to do a project. Figured I'd make some jack stands.
Ended up using a template based on a 3-legged stool. Made 3 different heights.
Things that I already want to change. The 30/60 Angles I used for the legs aren't narrow enough. I'd prefer 20/70, but at the same time I didn't have a saw that could go that far (saw only goes to 60).
Also, I might have to reinforce the legs with connectors to really make them strong. For now, they'll be used for light duty action so they should hold up fine. I really just wanted something that was completely adjustable as far as height went.
Also, it would have been great to use a notcher on the legs. The space between center tube and the legs made the welds a bit of a pain. Vertical up just put too much heat into it, so I ended up doing vertical down. Gravity is your friend. Haha...
Anyway, feel free to let me know what you think.
Jig made for welding legs.
Testing out the Jig
Everything all cleaned up for welding.
Stands. Only thing not done is the tops. Plan is just weld a bend piece of 1/4" and tack it to the top of the nut and leave it on top.
Not the prettiest welds ever, but it'll get the job done.
Ended up using a template based on a 3-legged stool. Made 3 different heights.
Things that I already want to change. The 30/60 Angles I used for the legs aren't narrow enough. I'd prefer 20/70, but at the same time I didn't have a saw that could go that far (saw only goes to 60).
Also, I might have to reinforce the legs with connectors to really make them strong. For now, they'll be used for light duty action so they should hold up fine. I really just wanted something that was completely adjustable as far as height went.
Also, it would have been great to use a notcher on the legs. The space between center tube and the legs made the welds a bit of a pain. Vertical up just put too much heat into it, so I ended up doing vertical down. Gravity is your friend. Haha...
Anyway, feel free to let me know what you think.
Jig made for welding legs.
Testing out the Jig
Everything all cleaned up for welding.
Stands. Only thing not done is the tops. Plan is just weld a bend piece of 1/4" and tack it to the top of the nut and leave it on top.
Not the prettiest welds ever, but it'll get the job done.
#3
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Also, I might have to reinforce the legs with connectors to really make them strong. For now, they'll be used for light duty action so they should hold up fine. I really just wanted something that was completely adjustable as far as height went.
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#10
Probably the ease of it and that you can have it set at the perfect height instead of it having to be at one of the heights of the holes.
#11
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Too much. Haha... all said and done I'd have to charge like $100 per Jack Stand to make any money off them at all. Probably more if I had to make them out of my garage instead of out of the school's shop. Having a big *** horizontal bandsaw with coolant is way too nice.
Also, if I was going to sell them I'd most definitely be bracing the bottom just for a safety point of view. The way they are now is definitely LIGHT DUTY ONLY!
See below.
Exactly. Basically, I wanted to have jack stands I could use for mocking up Bumpers, Sliders, etc. Using the screw style might take a little bit longer to get where you want, but at the same time, I can get the exact height I want.
Anyway, last night at class I got ends welded onto 4 of the 7 stands. Finish the rest up tomorrow on my last night of class. I cheated a bit and used this as an opportunity to level out the stands using different thickness scrap I had for each leg. Got most of them pretty much dead nuts on.
Simple top I welded up for 2 of them. I can screw this top off and put it on any the stands. Wanted to leave the ability to come up with really weird tops for projects where I had to hold something where I needed a very custom fit.
Also, if I was going to sell them I'd most definitely be bracing the bottom just for a safety point of view. The way they are now is definitely LIGHT DUTY ONLY!
Anyway, last night at class I got ends welded onto 4 of the 7 stands. Finish the rest up tomorrow on my last night of class. I cheated a bit and used this as an opportunity to level out the stands using different thickness scrap I had for each leg. Got most of them pretty much dead nuts on.
Simple top I welded up for 2 of them. I can screw this top off and put it on any the stands. Wanted to leave the ability to come up with really weird tops for projects where I had to hold something where I needed a very custom fit.
Last edited by Rooks; 05-04-2011 at 10:18 AM.
#14
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Might be a bit high for axle stands. The lowest ones I have stand at about 18" at the top and each has 12" of thread rod. So realistically 18" to 30" for the small ones. I have 4 that are at about 24" and 1 that is at 30". I some how lost the center tube for my second 30" one but now that I've made them, 30" is very tall for a jack stand so not sure if I'd ever use it. We'll see.
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