Old aluminum jack stands??

Jason280 · Dec 16, 2014

Scored a quintet of older aluminum jack stands yesterday at the local scrap yard, found them laying amongst a pile of scrap aluminum. I've been on the hunt for weldable aluminum to practice TIG welding on, and couldn't pass up the stands:

Only markings are "Tiidee Products Dayton, Ohio 45404"

Jason280 · Dec 16, 2014

Only one came with the threaded "jack" portion, and was missing the nut and cross bar. Fortunately enough, its threaded standard 7/8-9, and I had a few 7/8" nuts laying around...

Jason280 · Dec 16, 2014

Here's what they're supposed to look like:

trainer · Dec 16, 2014

those look like stabilizer jacks for RV's Definitely not made to support a vehicle while you work under it.

Jason280 · Dec 16, 2014

Best I can tell, they were used on older pull behind campers/travel trailers.

I have to figure out a source for the threaded rod portion, as I would like to weld in my own adapters for various projects around the shop. I don't intend to use them on vehicles, as I have enough stands, but don't want them sitting around collecting dust.

I'd planned on using Grade 8 bolts, as seen here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=272741

...but the more I think about it, I don't think Grade 8 will be necessary. Due to the relatively low weights involved, I'm pretty sure I can get by with standard threaded rod. Looks like Tractor Supply has 3' lengths for around $14, so it may be my best option.

Cope · Dec 16, 2014

trainer said:
those look like stabilizer jacks for RV's Definitely not made to support a vehicle while you work under it.

That's what they are.

Jason280 · Dec 16, 2014

Any suggestions on the best way to clean off the oxidation?

maneri · Dec 16, 2014

trainer---cope 100% all the way

Chris Stapley · Dec 16, 2014

Read your other post about lengthening the threaded rods,if you don't wish to end up dead,take them back where they came from. Some things are not meant to be....

larry_g · Dec 16, 2014

Chris Stapley said:
Read your other post about lengthening the threaded rods,if you don't wish to end up dead,take them back where they came from. Some things are not meant to be....

Chris; don't be such an alarmist. He already said that he knows they are not car stands. I have a couple that I use a lot around the shop for holding the other end of a bit of lumber or an end of a welding project. Never in a critical position, but very handy for what they are.

lg
no neat sig line

plow · Dec 16, 2014

Not that it matters, but I used to work in a scrap yard and that looks to me to be made from Magnesium and not Aluminum.

Hephaestus29 · Dec 16, 2014

Well you could sacrifice one and take
it somewhere and see just how much
force it takes to make it fail.

As far as the oxidation goes i think i
would polish those and make em shine.

Jason280 · Dec 16, 2014

Read your other post about lengthening the threaded rods,if you don't wish to end up dead,take them back where they came from. Some things are not meant to be....

Huh? I've already stated I won't be using them on vehicles, and will primarily be using them for other in-shop projects. In fact, I would really like to weld up some cradles and use them to store axles off the ground. Surely they will support a couple hundred pounds without killing me or a busload of nuns...

but I used to work in a scrap yard and that looks to me to be made from Magnesium and not Aluminum.

Interesting, how would I figure out which?

Dick in Wisconsin · Dec 16, 2014

If you know they won't support a vehicle, why are you so interested in using Grade 8 bolts? That seems like extreme overkill for something like this.

BDT/NWMN · Dec 16, 2014

larry_g said:
Chris; don't be such an alarmist. He already said that he knows they are not car stands. I have a couple that I use a lot around the shop for holding the other end of a bit of lumber or an end of a welding project. Never in a critical position, but very handy for what they are.

lg
no neat sig line

Larry;;; similar use here...... I have a set of four leveling jacks from an old camper.... They are handy for positioning a small load at an exact height in the shop.. They are what they are;;; camper leveling jacks...

Jason;;; the added nut on the bottom side in your photo is not needed.. Actually,, with the threaded screw removed from the base; the bases can be stacked.. the threaded screws can then be wrapped in an oiled cloth and placed in a bag to keep them clean and lubed, ready for use..... This storage method may not be of much value in your shop; but more so in the storage compartment of a camper..

Adding the nut, tho,,, on the botton end of the screw, with a few drops of Loctite, would ensure the screw to not be overextended height wise .... double nut would work also..

mechan · Dec 16, 2014

Jason280 said:
Huh? I've already stated I won't be using them on vehicles, and will primarily be using them for other in-shop projects. In fact, I would really like to weld up some cradles and use them to store axles off the ground. Surely they will support a couple hundred pounds without killing me or a busload of nuns...

Interesting, how would I figure out which?

Have the guy at the scrape yard shoot one of the stands with their Niton gun.

alwaysFlOoReD · Dec 16, 2014

I've never done but doesn't magnesium burn? Take a sliver and light it.

Jason280 · Dec 16, 2014

If you know they won't support a vehicle, why are you so interested in using Grade 8 bolts?

They were the only 7/8 bolts and nuts I have in the shop. Just so happened, I had a pair of 8" bolts in 7/8-9 in the bin.

Adding the nut, tho,,, on the botton end of the screw, with a few drops of Loctite, would ensure the screw to not be overextended height wise

That's the exact reason I added the extra nut...

plow · Dec 16, 2014

Jason280 said:
Huh? I've already stated I won't be using them on vehicles, and will primarily be using them for other in-shop projects. In fact, I would really like to weld up some cradles and use them to store axles off the ground. Surely they will support a couple hundred pounds without killing me or a busload of nuns...

Interesting, how would I figure out which?

We used a mixture of copper sulfate and water.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper(II)_sulfate

You file a spot on the metal and put a couple drops of the CS mixture on it. If it turned black it was Magnesium (IF I RECALL, That was a long time ago and I may have that black color confused with Zinc) If unchanged it was aluminum (or something else). Al. and Mag are similar in weight, Mag being a bit lighter in weight.

Like I said, That was a long time ago and it was pre whiz bang guns that told you what type of metal it was.

It may be interesting to some that old VW motor blocks were made from Magnesium.

mechan · Dec 16, 2014

plow said:
We used a mixture of copper sulfate and water.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper(II)_sulfate

You file a spot on the metal and put a couple drops of the CS mixture on it. If it turned black it was Magnesium (IF I RECALL, That was a long time ago and I may have that black color confused with Zinc) If unchanged it was aluminum (or something else). Al. and Mag are similar in weight, Mag being a bit lighter in weight.

Like I said, That was a long time ago and it was pre whiz bang guns that told you what type of metal it was.

It may be interesting to some that old VW motor blocks were made from Magnesium.

Neat use of copper sulfate! We use it for carbon contamination tests.

Jason280 · Dec 16, 2014

I just did a Google search, looks like it can be tested with vinegar...magnesium should react to vinegar.

Neat thing about the stands, I was able to get them for next to nothing. I picked up 30 lbs of aluminum scrap, the stands included, and paid $0.60/lb...yep, $18 for all the aluminum with the stands.

CNGsaves · Dec 16, 2014

Cool score on the old stands.

+1 to shine them up and continue assembling parts needed to complete.

I'd fabricate some Red Signs indicating "1,000 lb Limit" or whatever you think would be safe.

Actually, with couple stands next to each other, they "might" hold up avatar loads!!

Jason280 · Dec 16, 2014

Hmmmm, seems like an opportunity for a photo shoot!!

BDT/NWMN · Dec 16, 2014

Rack Jack

gungatim · Dec 17, 2014

those are for a popup camper. not very heavy duty. Did you get them from the scrapyard? That's where I got rid of mine last summer : ) Got tired of kicking them around the shop.

Edit: whoops, should have read the whole thread before I replied...sorta redundant...

Hephaestus29 · Dec 17, 2014

There is a set of those on ebay right now. Advertised as Airstream jack stands, They say "Reese" on the stands but are pretty much an exact copy of the ones you have and are complete.
On a side note, every time I see the picture under your screen name, it makes my tongue slap my brains out.

Old aluminum jack stands??

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