A close-up look at 3-ton Torin Double Locking jack stands -PICS-

SMKS · Apr 3, 2013

I happened to be at a Northern Tool recently and the Torin Double Locking jack stands were on sale, so I picked up a pair. I paid $25.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200305225_200305225

I bought them because I've seen people mention them before as an allegedly safer alternative to regular ratcheting jack stands.

I won’t pass judgement on their performance, as I haven’t used them yet. But, these jack stands definitely live up to the mantra “you get what you pay for.” They’re cheap, and they look it.

Here’s how they look out of the box. Made in China, which is no surprise.

Here’s the locking mechanism. It’s hard to tell, but the pin barely catches the edge of the tooth on the post. Not quite as confidence inspiring as I had expected.

Here are the welds. Some of the welding is ugly, as the welds on many jack stands seem to be. They had a bunch on display and they all had similar quality welds.

SMKS · Apr 3, 2013

Here’s my other 3-ton jack stand, a Wilmar I’ve owned for about 15 years. They appear very similar. The basis appear very similar, minus the pin, of course.

One difference, the Wilmar has a considerably beefier post.

alan camby · Apr 3, 2013

I like jack stand threads. Looking forward to the pictures.

HaroRider · Apr 3, 2013

Would you have bought them again if you had to?

alan camby · Apr 3, 2013

Jack stands seem to be something no one whats to pay good money for. That, IMO, is why we see the low quality in the products. I tried for a long time to find a good stand and gave up and made my own.

I made a thread on my attempt to buy good USA made stands.
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181644

Some people never have a problem with the welds and castings, and a very small amout do. jack stands are like a box of chocolates...well you know the rest.

Wi Fire 10 · Apr 3, 2013

I would not feel very safe laying under a 6000 pound load, with only those poor quality welds keeping me from being squished like a bug

c39er · Apr 3, 2013

Cheap Chinese tool ****! It's just about all we can buy anymore. We are all so cheap and won't pay for good quality-because most of it's gone.

SMKS · Apr 3, 2013

alan camby said:
Jack stands seem to be something no one whats to pay good money for. That, IMO, is why we see the low quality in the products. I tried for a long time to find a good stand and gave up and made my own.

I made a thread on my attempt to buy good USA made stands.
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181644

Some people never have a problem with the welds and castings, and a very small amout do. jack stands are like a box of chocolates...well you know the rest.

More money won't necessarily equal better welds.

Check out these USA made Hein Werners:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148786

I think people on this forum may put too much emphasis on the cosmetic appearance of the welds. I'll admit, I'm no expert, but I don't think I've ever seen a report of a jack stand failing because a weld broke. They may exist, but I haven't seen them. Most of the ones I've seen appear to be operator error, the post broke or the post mysteriously ratcheted down (possibly due to operator error).

Wi Fire 10 said:
I would not feel very safe laying under a 6000 pound load, with only those poor quality welds keeping me from being squished like a bug

Well, you should never put a total of 6,000 lbs on these jack stands. Like most stands, 3 tons is for the pair, not each. US Jack seems to the the rare company that rates their stands individually, not for the pair.

Dberglind · Apr 3, 2013

Out of curiosity, does anyone here have any personal knowledge of a jack stand failing structurally?

I have a set similar to the OPs. Never really thought about the quality of jack stands much, because I have never personally heard of a set failing (other than improper use, where they fall over), and I know a lot of people that have been using a lot of jack stands for a long time. Not that I want to be the first.

alan camby · Apr 3, 2013

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/pors...-jack-stand-accident-while-under-porsche.html

Interesing read.
At the botom of this page the guy blames the weld on the Craftsman stands

alan camby · Apr 3, 2013

This was in a forum thread about a month ago. Happened under a Jeep JK.

No, it did not happen in the kitchen :lol:

alan camby · Apr 4, 2013

here is the thread
http://www.jkowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89270

But you never know. Maybe he uses these castings as a arbor plate in his press :dunno:

SMKS · Apr 4, 2013

alan camby said:
here is the thread
http://www.jkowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89270

But you never know. Maybe he uses these castings as a arbor plate in his press

I saw that recently, too. But note it wasn't a weld that failed.

I think there is a lesson to take from that. It seems using a larger 6-ton stand may be better choice than using a 3-ton at full extension. I have 6-ton stands for that exact reason.

RegalX · Apr 4, 2013

I picked up a pair of the 6 ton Torins today and they seemed nice for the price.... however I am not sure about the second lock setup.... after all it is only a backup, and they should function fine without using the second pin.... right?

Danglerb · Apr 4, 2013

Jack stands are cheap, 20 ton shop presses common, maybe we need some picts/video of destructive testing?

ajchien · Apr 4, 2013

alan camby said:
here is the thread
http://www.jkowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89270

But you never know. Maybe he uses these castings as a arbor plate in his press

As I look at the pics in that thread, the jack stand looks over extended. I have accidentally almost done this once.

My jack stands have a hole in the bottom of the post where you're supposed to press in a roll pin to prevent the post from falling out. It also prevents you from overextending the post. For years I thought it was unnecessary so I left the roll pins out.

Without it, I could pull the post out past where the pawl engages the last tooth. I'm not sure what was is allowing the post to stay up, but it does... Until you wiggle or shift it around, and then it comes down. All the way down.

The one time I did it, I was thinking to myself, man, my jackstands can go higher than I remember.... And then looking closer, I noticed I was over extended, and the pawl was not engaging on the last tooth - yet it was still up by itself. Maybe someone else can look into whats holding the post up at this point because immediately after that, I put the roll pins into the bottom of the post to prevent me from overextending the posts.

Comments please!

SMKS · Apr 4, 2013

Danglerb said:
Jack stands are cheap, 20 ton shop presses common, maybe we need some picts/video of destructive testing?

do any of the lower-priced presses have any gauge saying how much force they're applying?

I'm not too familiar with presses, but I'm wondering how you'd measure the force.

alan camby · Apr 4, 2013

Yes they do, There are quite a few presses in the $500 and less range that include a pressure gauge.

My press does not have a gauge but does have a bottle jack rated at 40,000lbs (20 ton).
I maxxed out the bottle jack on my homemade stands with no damage to the stand.

alan camby · Apr 4, 2013

Here is a 20 ton with a gauge.
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/20-Ton-Air-Hydraulic-Shop-Press-w-Gauge

alan camby · Apr 4, 2013

Here is my stand in my homemade press. Picture was taken before I painted them.

emeraldcoupe · Apr 4, 2013

alan camby said:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/pors...-jack-stand-accident-while-under-porsche.html

Interesing read.
At the botom of this page the guy blames the weld on the Craftsman stands

those stands in that thread looked scary. looked like a few pieces of angle iron welded together with no bracing. I wouldn't have bought a pair like that.

wannab20hatch · Apr 4, 2013

I have the torin big red stands without the locking pin at work. Had them over a year now and they hold up fine for me. They pretty much see use daily. Granted I don't put the higher than about 3-4 teeth. Any higher and I get out the 6 tons.

A close-up look at 3-ton Torin Double Locking jack stands -PICS-

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