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.

 

Not bad you might want to tie the legs together for some added strength.

 

Yep...

 

Should have welded up a plate bumper for Project Unknown :p

 

Beefcake! Send me four of them.

 

ditto. how much for 4?

 

Sweet! Im with the guys above, tie the legs together and you have a set of perfect jack stands.

Wayne

 

x3

Price for 4 please lol

 

LOL at the guys trying to get in before he's certified and can charge 3x as much.

those welds are nice and the stands are too.
why did you choose the screw style and not a quick release dowel/hole style?

 

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.

 

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.

 

Those look perfect as axle stands or bumper stands. Nice work!!

 

the changeable top is a nice touch. flat, cupped, those. very nice.

 

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.