Farmall450
Well-known member
I do generally leave the jack lurking around should the stand fail. A lift is really the ultimate solution here.
Safety of Jack Stands
- Thread starter WES51
- Start date
Pressingonward
Well-known member
I've done a lot of work on jack stands. I'm usually on gravel, so I put a 12"+ square of 5/8" plywood under them. The procedure is to slowly lower the car onto the stands, looking at them as the weight sits down on them to make sure they are sitting right. I then give the car a very thorough shake side to side and front to back with most of my body weight - if the car is going to fall off I'd rather it do so during my test shake than when I'm reefing on a breaker bar underneath the car. As others have said, slide the tires or some other blocking under the frame rails as added insurance. I will leave the jack in place (but not supporting any weight, just snugged up to the lift point) if I have room.
One final point - the car must be on level ground with the wheels chocked. I've seen some really sketchy setups on sloped driveways and I value my life too much to even consider lifting a car on a slope.
One final point - the car must be on level ground with the wheels chocked. I've seen some really sketchy setups on sloped driveways and I value my life too much to even consider lifting a car on a slope.
e36jon
Well-known member
I modified some stands marketed for supporting trailers. They are rated for way more weight than I needed, could go higher than most car stands (I bought a new jack that could go much higher than I had before.), and they had a screw-adjust to eliminate that awkward lowering-to-hit-the-stands bit. I added a gimballed head with custom pucks that fit the jack points on my car so that the top of the stands couldn't slip during jacking. So far they've been a big improvement!
Even with the CNC top pads I still spent less than the fancy tripod stands...
Here's a link to the stands on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PE2VIVE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I also considered these pipe welding stands but they were all taller than I wanted: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002N2I3BG/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Even with the CNC top pads I still spent less than the fancy tripod stands...
Here's a link to the stands on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PE2VIVE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I also considered these pipe welding stands but they were all taller than I wanted: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002N2I3BG/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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mcbane
Well-known member
The most important point when using jackstands. The label on the side of the stand is for twice the safe working load of that stand, and nowhere on the jackstand label or instruction sheet does it mention that they have overstated the safe working load per stand. Outside of the packing box usually has fine print saying "per pair".
Probably the most unsafe labeling practice I have ever seen.
atch
Well-known member
I've read this entire thread.
I have several of just about every type of jack stand mentioned. I NEVER go under a vehicle supported by them. I only use them for other purposes (like those mentioned above).
I have about 20 pieces of 6" x 8" x 24" cedar that I helped cut at the saw mill. I use them as cribbing under anything I go under. I lay them with the narrow dimension up and down. Never the wide part up and down. I don't know what weight it would take to induce failure of them but I'm pretty sure that it would be many many tons. I always put them at all 4 corners. No individual piece could possibly be holding more than a ton. b-t-w; these things are always indoors and dry. They haven't been wet since they were part of a standing tree.
This is my opinion; your mileage may vary.
We won't discuss the things I did when 17 years old and bulletproof.
I have several of just about every type of jack stand mentioned. I NEVER go under a vehicle supported by them. I only use them for other purposes (like those mentioned above).
I have about 20 pieces of 6" x 8" x 24" cedar that I helped cut at the saw mill. I use them as cribbing under anything I go under. I lay them with the narrow dimension up and down. Never the wide part up and down. I don't know what weight it would take to induce failure of them but I'm pretty sure that it would be many many tons. I always put them at all 4 corners. No individual piece could possibly be holding more than a ton. b-t-w; these things are always indoors and dry. They haven't been wet since they were part of a standing tree.
This is my opinion; your mileage may vary.
We won't discuss the things I did when 17 years old and bulletproof.
ericlar80
Well-known member
Not all of them. It depends on how they were sold, and some of them are sold individually.
driz
Well-known member
I modified some stands marketed for supporting trailers. They are rated for way more weight than I needed, could go higher than most car stands (I bought a new jack that could go much higher than I had before.), and they had a screw-adjust to eliminate that awkward lowering-to-hit-the-stands bit. I added a gimballed head with custom pucks that fit the jack points on my car so that the top of the stands couldn't slip during jacking. So far they've been a big improvement!
Even with the CNC top pads I still spent less than the fancy tripod stands...
I sure do like that acme thread and flexible tops. That style will give you that extra inch or so that you lose setting it on those ratchet style stands like I have. It doesn’t outwardly seem to mean much but when you’re only getting up 23 3/4 inches and [emoji2955]you giveaway 3/4”of it that tiny bit can matter. That’s one of the reasons that when I switched out my jacks I wanted the highest ones I could get. Every little bit helps.
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You guys ever seen anyone use cinder blocks?
I frequently used cinder block piers with a softener on top, especially if there was any work. the heavy cursing under there had no affect.
I’m a believer. I have a newish set of Heinwerner stands and floor jack. I was working on a combine head and put the stands under it just because. They weren’t tight at all. When done after about an hour I went to remove them and they were holding the thing up, lots of weight.
Don’t know when or how but they did their job.
Don’t know when or how but they did their job.
slackdaddy1
Well-known member
I use jack stand a lot,, but always slide a "Dead man" under there.
I made up 4 "dead men". Sometimes I use them strictly as deadmen, sometimes I put a jack stand on them for extra height, but even if it toppled the deadman would save me.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipN8ywDe2-ioMi1JUuNaXQismHjTAGhhVt_abHlN
I made up 4 "dead men". Sometimes I use them strictly as deadmen, sometimes I put a jack stand on them for extra height, but even if it toppled the deadman would save me.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipN8ywDe2-ioMi1JUuNaXQismHjTAGhhVt_abHlN
slackdaddy1
Well-known member
slackdaddy1
Well-known member
Oh well, guess I can not figure out how to post photos,, wish we could upload from computer
slackdaddy1
Well-known member
My phone does the whole "Phone thing" (as in "Hello, yak, yak, yak, goodby")
I'm on the computer, where all my pics, internet, etc is.
GJF does not have upload from computer option??
I'm on the computer, where all my pics, internet, etc is.
GJF does not have upload from computer option??
slackdaddy1
Well-known member
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slackdaddy1
Well-known member
rburke65
Well-known member
I have a Mohawk lift and I still slide 2 tall jack stands under the front and rear of my Chevy. I at least feel safe.
Super Mech
Well-known member
UNSAFE....
In the 80's, the parts store sold a **** load of these tri-pod stands:
Their stability was at the mercy of six chintzy tack welds at the bottom. It is my understanding they're unacceptable by OSHA and are no longer permitted in shops or to be sold in the US.
If you have any of these, please do yourself a favor and get rid of these widow makers.
Wow! I did a ton of work in the 80s with those things holding up sizable vehicles from that era. Looking at them now, I’m lucky to be alive.
Eds_tls
Well-known member
I’m a lot more careful using jack stands now. Something about having kids and seeing other people unexpectedly experience tragedy makes you realize how important life is.
Now If I spend any time under the car on Jack stands I’ll spend at least 15 minutes making sure the frame is setting on them squarely and resting on at least two points on the each saddle. Also making sure the base of each stand is sitting on clean flat concrete. I don’t go under until I’m 100% sure all 4 are good. I also use 6 ton stands when I could probably use 3 ton
I also keep checking them every once in a while while I’m working.
Now If I spend any time under the car on Jack stands I’ll spend at least 15 minutes making sure the frame is setting on them squarely and resting on at least two points on the each saddle. Also making sure the base of each stand is sitting on clean flat concrete. I don’t go under until I’m 100% sure all 4 are good. I also use 6 ton stands when I could probably use 3 ton
I also keep checking them every once in a while while I’m working.
chipjumper
Well-known member
When I was a young medic in the late 90’s the first “mechanic” accident I saw was a shade tree working on his kids sh*tbox ride who appeared to have been trying to yank on something on the engine. He had it on SIX jack stands. The garage floor had a slight angle. As you can guess, the entire vehicle had shifted and it crushed him just enough. His wife had left to go shopping for 15 minutes while he was working on the car. She was clearly freaking out knowing that she should have been home to save him. It was sad as he probably would have lived if someone was there. We obviously removed the body ASAP and I used the already positioned 3-ton jack to pump it up a few inches so we could pull him out and check for signs of life. None; flatline rhythm with obvious signs of death; lividity.
You guys are certainly pulling out the list of bare minimums. Flat surface with a quality jack stand.
Don’t even get me started on the bodies we’ve yanked out from cars due to failed hydraulic jacks or people replacing U joints with a truck parked on a hill (tires not chocked).... it’s just sad.
You guys are certainly pulling out the list of bare minimums. Flat surface with a quality jack stand.
Don’t even get me started on the bodies we’ve yanked out from cars due to failed hydraulic jacks or people replacing U joints with a truck parked on a hill (tires not chocked).... it’s just sad.
I never used a set of those stamped steel jack stands and probably never will. I think those thinks crossed the gap between the steel ramps and whatever was on hand back in the 70's.
Greeny
Well-known member
Luckily now you can but something way beefier and totally adjustable for around $200 a set (2). 10 ton ea.
Who makes those?
I like....
Back in the 80's/70's I used those red/orange jack stands all the time, then I got the kind that has triangle-like shape solid legs as the base, so makes me wonder how safe these are?High load range on them?I got some 10x wood beams, I'll cut some blocks to use as a back up.
JRC3
Well-known member
Thread about them. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=397383&highlight=stands
I got them for $200/pair but the price is up to $250 now. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sunex-1410...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
https://sunextools.com/products/1410-10-ton-high-height-pin-type-jack-stands-pair/
JEGS or Summit also has them, they are a different brand and yellow. I can't recommend them enough.
That's a lot of angle. Are those front wheels at least chocked?
rlwhitetr3b
Well-known member
Use the advanced button instead of the default quick one and you can insert an image.
My first thought too! I wouldn't even trust chocks because the stands might still slide/kick out backwards. I'd want the front up on stands so everything is on the level. This scenario could be just fine if the stands sit under a tubular crossmember, but the stands are sideways which means they are probably just under the body rail. It is smooth and sloping so it would be very subject to slide on the saddles with that much angle. Again, might be OK if the saddles are wedged against an attachment so they can't slide, but can't see that part from the pic.
I've used 6 ton ratchet stands since the early 80's, under hundreds of different vehicles. Positioning is critical, can't have them under sloping areas or under something that doesn't fit down in their saddle. I always set the vehicle down on stands then shake it real hard to make sure it's stable. Also only use them on solid level concrete and never on gravel or blacktop. For anything I feel is sketchy I dig into the pile of big, solid wood cribbing instead. Keep a stack of 4x, 6x and 8x's out in the shed just in case.
UNSAFE....
In the 80's, the parts store sold a **** load of these tri-pod stands:
Their stability was at the mercy of six chintzy tack welds at the bottom. It is my understanding they're unacceptable by OSHA and are no longer permitted in shops or to be sold in the US.
If you have any of these, please do yourself a favor and get rid of these widow makers.
Here's my old set. On rare occasions I use them to hold something light like a lawn mower. These were acquired around the late 1970s or early 1980s.
bluedog225
Well-known member
EMT friend says lots of deaths due to jack stands. Just dead. Gravel shifting and just falling off for whatever reason. Another dead guy. No one cared. She didn’t do an analysis of the failure. I always have a wheel under and leave the other tires on if possible.
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
I DID have maybe 5 or 6 of these until I moved in 2020. Sold them at a garage sale and now I feel guilty that I didn't just trash them. Get this: 2 of them were yellow and I bought them at Montgomery Wards for $1.99 each back in early 70's. That was cheap even then. I know because I worked at Sears then and we sold them for $4.99....so I went to the competition. Good thing I only ever put a small car on them. Scary to think of.UNSAFE....
In the 80's, the parts store sold a **** load of these tri-pod stands:
Their stability was at the mercy of six chintzy tack welds at the bottom. It is my understanding they're unacceptable by OSHA and are no longer permitted in shops or to be sold in the US.
If you have any of these, please do yourself a favor and get rid of these widow makers.
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
I have these but they scare me. Why? I imagine the toothed part is made of whatever kind of metal the Chinese had in their scrap heap, old toothpaste tubes, beer cans, etc. Seems like the teeth will snap off at any time.The Harbor Freight units have been around since the mid 1980s. They've served me well.
I keep the jack AND the wheels under the car in addition to these.
58Yeoman
Well-known member
I pitched mine on the recycling heap a few years ago, even though I didn't use them much for anything. I've got 4 Craftsman left like what you show from HF. I've got a pneumatic air jack that I use if I have to get under the old car and will use it as 'stands' as it has locks on it.Here's my old set. On rare occasions I use them to hold something light like a lawn mower. These were acquired around the late 1970s or early 1980s.
littlebean
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2018
- Messages
- 756
interesting thread, certainly made me think..........
problem I have is a sloped drive, still trying to figure out the safest way to use stands given I don't have any other (practicable) options
problem I have is a sloped drive, still trying to figure out the safest way to use stands given I don't have any other (practicable) options
vrinner
Well-known member
Sorry...but not acceptable for lawn mower use...clearly states that on the label!Here's my old set. On rare occasions I use them to hold something light like a lawn mower. These were acquired around the late 1970s or early 1980s.
oldmachinenut
Well-known member
Took this picture at lunch today.
Pics won’t attach
Pics won’t attach
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
My summation on this subject is DON'T TRUST ANY OF THEM.
Our squishy little bodies under thousands of pounds of metal suddenly crashing down on it is "Party Over"
Our squishy little bodies under thousands of pounds of metal suddenly crashing down on it is "Party Over"
Daniel Dudley
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- Joined
- Sep 4, 2009
- Messages
- 3,546
Even sitting on a couch will kill you, if you do it long enough. Common sense will tell you not to put jack stands on gravel, or on a slope, to use wheel chocks and to buy quality equipment, but you know what your pappy said about common sense.
If you have any doubts about your ability to use jack stands, don't use them. Seriously. They are made for level concrete surfaces. More people are going to die from not using jack stands than using them, but you still need to understand how gravity works to use them correctly.
I work with people every day who are in construction trades and still don't understand what holds a house up. Doing can be taught. Thinking is something you do.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
How sloped?