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Quality Lifting Equipment: Jacks, Jack Stands, Etc.

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Flash21

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Jul 23, 2008
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Hey Guys - Eventually I would like to replace my 2 crappy jack and jack stands with some quality gear.

I used to think Lincoln was great but I think they go bought. I bought two jack stands from Lincoln in High School and they are awesome.

What lifting equipment do you prefer and why? What are some of the good companies out there, especially for good bang for the buck?

I prefer USA made, but let's not limit the conversation to that.

Thanks!

KL
 
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eschoendorff

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Feb 6, 2005
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Location
Michigan
I know you wanted high quality... but let me offer this....


So many of the jacks and jack stands that are available today are directly from China. I have a set of 6 ton jack stands from HF, a 3 ton and a 2 1/4 floor jack. These items have never disappointed me. They didn't cost an arm and a leg and they certainly work well for me.

Might want to at least consider this route before you lay down any cash. If you have an HF store near you, I'd suggest that you go and look at the items and see what you think...
 
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malibu101

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Jul 1, 2005
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Location
Walnutport PA
eschoendorff said:
I know you wanted high quality... but let me offer this....


So many of the jacks and jack stands that are available today are directly from China. I have a set of 6 ton jack stands from HF, a 3 ton and a 2 1/4 floor jack. These items have never disappointed me. They didn't cost an arm and a leg and they certainly work well for me.

Might want to at least consider this route before you lay down any cash. If you have an HF store near you, I'd suggest that you go and look at the items and see what you think...
Click to expand...
I'm pretty much agreeing with you.
I got tired of begging and borrowing a ****** jack. I bought an HF ****** jack, the "best" one they had figuring for my (maybe) once a year use it would be fine.
BUT
once my buddies found out I was the who they come begging to to borrow a ****** jack. Even with the "abuse" of loaning it it still works smoothly.
 
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dxdexter

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Aug 1, 2006
Messages
1,923
eschoendorff said:
I know you wanted high quality... but let me offer this....


So many of the jacks and jack stands that are available today are directly from China. I have a set of 6 ton jack stands from HF, a 3 ton and a 2 1/4 floor jack. These items have never disappointed me. They didn't cost an arm and a leg and they certainly work well for me.

Might want to at least consider this route before you lay down any cash. If you have an HF store near you, I'd suggest that you go and look at the items and see what you think...
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree. I bought some smaller 2.5 or 3 ton stands many years, from Princess Auto, and they stood up so well that I Bought the 6 ton ones last year. They were on sale for less than $20 each if I recall correctly. For these items I would not discount the Chinese models.
 
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hamburglar

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Mar 10, 2008
Messages
523
eschoendorff said:
...They didn't cost an arm and a leg...
...
Click to expand...

So far, so good.

I have a kind of mixed attitude around this. I can see where the Chinese can make perfectly good jackstands, although I have a huge allergy (probably unwarranted) against those ratcheting ones. The Blue Point aluminum ones with the round base look like a great idea as far as weight and small size, but they also look dangerous as hell. Like anything else, the quality products cost 5x as much as the HF items with the typical small improvement in useability.

The thing I'm always looking for(and have probably repeated myself on) is a decent set of jackstands and a decent jack that both come with a plastic case so I can store the things neatly on a shelf or stuff them in the trunk...that's a thing that simply is not built, but I like the idea. One problem with 'quality' in that world is that size and weight tend to go up too.

There's also a lot of talking at cross purposes on this topic. The setup you need for a Datsun 510 is quite a bit different than the one for your Dodge 1 ton 4wd truck.
 
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goodfellow

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Dec 17, 2006
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Location
NoVA
eschoendorff said:
I know you wanted high quality... but let me offer this....


So many of the jacks and jack stands that are available today are directly from China. I have a set of 6 ton jack stands from HF, a 3 ton and a 2 1/4 floor jack. These items have never disappointed me. They didn't cost an arm and a leg and they certainly work well for me.

Might want to at least consider this route before you lay down any cash. If you have an HF store near you, I'd suggest that you go and look at the items and see what you think...
Click to expand...

That's good advice. I still have a nice 70's style US Hein-Werner 1.5 ton jack. I also have an HF 2 ton model and except for the ram being a bit longer, the design is the same. The Chinese models (like anything chinese) are exact copies of the Hein Werner jack. They take the best design and copy it.

I have purchased repair parts from HF and used them in other chinese clones and they fit perfectly. I also have the 6 ton stands and they are a great bargain -- tough as nails. New craftsman (chinese) jacks look exactly the same as my HF model
 
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billymade

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Apr 2, 2008
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New Mexico
Well, having seen quite a few Craftsman jacks come back to the store for leakage; I quote from this website, IMHO there is a difference between high quality USA made jacks and the cheap Chinese models:


"In early May of 1998 I had the opportunity to talk with a Vice President of a major jack manufacturer. We talked about the future of American jacks, especially with his company making a big move into importing Chinese jacks in the next year, During the course of the conversation he mentioned that he was at a trade show and had gotten into an argument with a VP from another major jack maker about importing jacks. Somewhere along the line the question of 'How many cycles can you get from a typical, bargain priced, All-Chinese made floor jack before it starts leaking' came up. They BOTH agreed on the number 10! Let me say that again, two VP's from major jack makers agree that you will only get 10 (ten) uses out of a typical ($59 - $79) All-Chinese made floor jack before it starts to leak!!!

I guess if you only use a jack 3 or 4 times a year to change your oil or adjust your brakes you might get a few years of use out of a cheap All-Chinese made floor jack, but if you are at all SERIOUS about using a floor jack - Quite honestly, you're ******* away your money on one!

So, there you go - Your Mileage May Vary..."


This guys sells high quality jacks and has some good advice as well!
http://www.hyjacks.com/wichjac.htm
 
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goodfellow

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Dec 17, 2006
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billymade said:
Well, having seen quite a few Craftsman jacks come back to the store for leakage; I quote from this website, IMHO there is a difference between high quality USA made jacks and the cheap Chinese models:


"In early May of 1998 I had the opportunity to talk with a Vice President of a major jack manufacturer. We talked about the future of American jacks, especially with his company making a big move into importing Chinese jacks in the next year, During the course of the conversation he mentioned that he was at a trade show and had gotten into an argument with a VP from another major jack maker about importing jacks. Somewhere along the line the question of 'How many cycles can you get from a typical, bargain priced, All-Chinese made floor jack before it starts leaking' came up. They BOTH agreed on the number 10! Let me say that again, two VP's from major jack makers agree that you will only get 10 (ten) uses out of a typical ($59 - $79) All-Chinese made floor jack before it starts to leak!!!

I guess if you only use a jack 3 or 4 times a year to change your oil or adjust your brakes you might get a few years of use out of a cheap All-Chinese made floor jack, but if you are at all SERIOUS about using a floor jack - Quite honestly, you're ******* away your money on one!

So, there you go - Your Mileage May Vary..."


This guys sells high quality jacks and has some good advice as well!
http://www.hyjacks.com/wichjac.htm
Click to expand...

I don't doubt your sources, but I think those execs are full of it. I have been a member of a local car club for over 20 years and we review and recommend equipment to members on a regular basis. Overwhelmingly, most members now own Taiwan or PRC sourced jacks. We do find some junk (had a bad batch of Pep Boys 2 ton models back in 2003) but most have been very satisfied with their Asian jacks.


Since there is a HF store nearby, many members have purchased HF equipment and they have been pleased with the performance. They go through many cycles each year and have done well with serious hobby garage duty.
 
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wantedabiggergarage

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Independence, MO, USA.
hamburglar said:
So far, so good.

I have a kind of mixed attitude around this. I can see where the Chinese can make perfectly good jackstands, although I have a huge allergy (probably unwarranted) against those ratcheting ones. The Blue Point aluminum ones with the round base look like a great idea as far as weight and small size, but they also look dangerous as hell.
Click to expand...


Unless you find some old Jackstands, I think you would have to make your own to find some here, easily.
One of our parts stores, put out a recall to ALL of their customers, who bought some (mostly actual garages) a few years back (10?). The ratchet bar was made upside down on a whole production run.:scared: :rocker: (rock on you drunk production dudes)

Now since I have access to a lift and a good jack, I have a Michelin from one of the clubs, that is my home jack (emergency use) for big stuff, and a little (don't know brand) that was a gift for the little vehicles. I had a Torin aluminum/steel jack that I used for portability. I loaned it to a friend for trailer work (lower profile) and it got dropped off at the garage. One former (censored description) had some of his tow truck driver buddies down there. He used it because he didn't want to walk farther and of course didn't get it under there good. It got bent so it doesn't drop all the way. If it didn't turn out to be the perfect size/location for raising and lowering engines, I would find where the (again censored for your protection and to keep any old sailor's from learning a thing or two), and throw the jack through his vehicles window, preferably when he was driving.
 
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Moose-LandTran

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Messages
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The Brink of Insanity (England)
malibu101 said:
I got tired of begging and borrowing a ****** jack. I bought an HF ****** jack, the "best" one they had figuring for my (maybe) once a year use it would be fine.
BUT
once my buddies found out I was the who they come begging to to borrow a ****** jack. Even with the "abuse" of loaning it it still works smoothly.
Click to expand...

I wish we had a transmission jack at work, instead i use a trolley jack and have to be careful.. :(

15072008090.jpg
 
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goodfellow

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Dec 17, 2006
Messages
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Location
NoVA
wantedabiggergarage said:
One of our parts stores, put out a recall to ALL of their customers, who bought some (mostly actual garages) a few years back (10?).
Click to expand...

I hear ya' -- ten years ago most all of the tools/equipment from China was cheap **** made on second/third rate tooling and by untrained employees. BUT ten years is a lifetime in the manufacturing business.

Many large scale Chinese manufacturers have retooled with top quality American, European or Japanese equipment. They have up to date training programs and produce very good equipment.

Most people who say that "Made in China = Junk" still have a 1990's view of the situation. In 2008, they produce some world class consumer products and some very fine tools.
 
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Rory Bellows

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Jan 14, 2006
Messages
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Location
Ohio
HF 6 ton jack stands are on sale now for 32.99. If I didn't already have 2 Walker 5 ton stands I would pick these up.
 
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hamburglar

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Joined
Mar 10, 2008
Messages
523
Rory Bellows said:
HF 6 ton jack stands are on sale now for 32.99. If I didn't already have 2 Walker 5 ton stands I would pick these up.
Click to expand...

Every time I look at that sort of thing, I wish you could buy a $39.99 jack where five bucks or so went into premium seals or something.
 
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WSMC633

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Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
484
Location
Los Angeles, CA
I have my dad's old craftsman Floor jack which must be going on 20 yrs and I bought an Aluminum C-Man Jack a few years back. I certainly don't use them everyday, but they've seen some decent use and are holding up fine. No leaks. Also have a few sets of the C-Man jackstands with no complaints.

I did grab my friends HF aluminum racing floor jack and used it to drag the back end of my '40 cadillac over across some torn up asphalt (trying to get it down a skinny driveway and onto a trailer) . Bent the **** out of it. Obviously wasn't using it as intended and it probably would have lasted fine under normal conditions. However, I'm sure I could have done that with my jacks and they would have been fine.


I do agree that China=Junk is really an antiquated view these days. They certainly produce some cheap ****, but so do we. They also have some real quality products coming out of there now.
Reminds me of an article I was just reading about some Japanese company building a motorcycle to go racing many years ago. The world laughed at them because only crappy inferior products came from Japan. Well a few years later when they were kicking everyone's *** on the track it wasn't as funny any more. It was a little company called Honda. Well, now the a Chinese company is building a Gran Prix bike, and the story is shaping up to be very similar.
 
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Frank Elson

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Apr 12, 2008
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Lancashire, UK
I have five high quality scissor jacks.
I don't know who made them, I got each one from going into scrapyards and asking if they had any out of the boot of old cars.
I use one for lifting my caravan but the others are used mainly for spreading.

As for hydraulic jacks, trolley or otherwise, mine are all British made (I live in the UK) because I really don't want to find one that doesn't work when I have my car up in the air and am trying to place an axle stand under there. Certainly there may be some well-made Chinese ones but it's not a gamble I want to take.
If I lived in the US I would buy US made.
 
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billymade

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New Mexico
The problem Craftsman customers have been running into is the jacks leaking; we try to find a rebuild kit, the kits are not available and the only thing available is a new replacement hydraulic ram. Unfortunately, the new part is generally 75% or more the cost of a new jack; while USA made jacks are expensive; you can get rebuild kits for them. Needless to say the customers have been aggravated and frustrated with this situation; I don't have any solutions for them, except to buy a whole new jack. I don't think this problem is unique with off shore products; it is typically cheaper to buy a new tool and not attempt to repair it. Professional grade tools usually have the ability to be rebuilt and repaired, plus service to back them up; this is a definite part of what you are paying for. All things will break, wear out and when you are at that point; what will you be able to do with it? Repair or throw it out and replace it? Cost effectiveness comes into play here; this is a primary issue with a purchase of any tool at this day and age; buy a higher quality tool that can be repaired/serviced or a cheaper tool that you throw away and buy another one when its broken? I believe this is the core of most of the debates on this forum; I believe if a tool is something you are going to use allot; you will save money in the long run, over buying cheap and throw way, replace with new when needed. I'm sure many will disagree but this just happens to be my opinion!
 
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wantedabiggergarage

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If your picking up and carrying them around, the aluminum jacks are worth it (cheaper then having to go to the chiropractor all the time).

If you rarely if ever lift a jack, (you just use it to lift stuff) then look next at what the minimum height they fit under is. That would be the only other reason to look at them over a regular old steel jack.
 
OP
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Flash21

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Jul 23, 2008
Messages
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kythri said:
OTC Stinger, baby!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000M1F75A/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002T5TSW/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F5HU5S/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MN4J6G/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Click to expand...

NICE Lead! I'm going to check those out. Stinger 3-Ton Jack Pack - Floor Jack plus Jack Stands for around $300 shipped might work.

3 - Ton Hydraulic Service Jack No. 1504

3-ton service jack with lifting range of 6" to 20 1 /2". Wt., 91 lbs., 5oz.

The Stinger Series 2 1 /2- and 3-ton hydraulic service jacks are designed for the budget-minded shop owner who still wants the quality of an OTC product.

Built from select steel, these jacks can stand up to the abuse that jacks are subjected to daily. Yet, their light compact design makes them easy and convenient to use. Each jack has a built-in safety overload system that prevents use beyond its rated capacity. With rear swivel casters, maneuvering and positioning of these jacks is an easy task.
Equipment you can depend on, both jacks are backed by OTC's Lifetime Marathon Warranty ®
 
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Charles (in GA)

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50 mi south of Atlanta
Much of this has already been discussed here, this thread............

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14880&highlight=napa+jack

and this thread.............

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11457&highlight=napa+jack

has lot of good info in it.

As already note, Shinn Fu is making, right here in the good ole USA, the Lincoln designed jack, and putting the Hein-Warner name on it, as they apparently own the rights to both of these names.

I've mentioned it before, and I'll say it again, take a hike to NAPA, and look for a stack of big boxes, I saw them just the other day. A jack and two jack stands. Whole thing is $199. This is a good sized jack, comparable to my old '70's Sears, made by Blackhawk jack.

From my post in the February thread about this, which was a copy of my post in last September's thread about this............

I don't care for Chinese but for some things, the choices are limited, and they do make some good stuff occasionally. NAPA has a special deal going, a 3-1/2 ton floor jack and two "4" ton jackstands for $199. I saw a whole stack of them in my NAPA store the other day. I bought this same deal about two years ago.

Its this jack here, which is regular $269

http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPag...NLE&PartNumber=7916420&Description=Floor+Jack

40030.jpg


and these jack stands, which are regular $76

http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...ion=Jack+Stand

40019.jpg


For $199, a real bargain, even if their regular prices are inflated, the $199 is a deal. The jack is large and has a wide spread between the casters and wheels, very stable.

I called my NAPA store and the part number for the special is 899-6420. This shows a jack only, but if you read, it shows "stand, rachet action height" a weight of 138 lbs (stands and jack) and a price of $273.99 (they are up to $364 on this package now). My store in Newnan, GA has a whole stack of them for $199 and I think this is a promotion price.

This is a large jack, not one of the minature floor jack wannabee's. The stands are well made and much heavier, thicker steel than some identical looking stands I've seen elsewhere. Quality of this stuff does vary in China, depends on what the purchaser specifies. You want heavy steel... we give you heavy steel......

I use this jack alot, my car, and truck, my lady friends car for oil changes, tractors, and any and everything else...... no problems, going on three years now.

Charles
 
Last edited:
K

kythri

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Where's this promo published at? I just called my local NAPA, and the part number above is $364, no promo.
 
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Charles (in GA)

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50 mi south of Atlanta
kythri said:
Where's this promo published at? I just called my local NAPA, and the part number above is $364, no promo.
Click to expand...

I saw them in the store week before last for $199, so I assumed they had the promo going again. Might be what they call an "in store promotion" and may be by region, dunno, just know I saw a whole stack of them with the $199 price on them.

Charles
 
G

goodfellow

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Just came back from a trip to Costco -- they had a nice looking 2 ton ARCAN (sp?) jack and two 3 ton stands on sale for $89.00 -- last one in my store. It had a lot of the features of the old Hein Werner jacks. Like the rolled edges on the side plates for extra strength.

Anyone know ARCAN ? -- I'm sure it's an import (but couldn't reach the the top of the display to check out the country of origin), but this thing looked beefy.
 
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goodfellow

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MAD

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goodfellow said:
Thanks Billy -- should have googled it (senior moment). Their website says "Made in the USA products" -- I can't believe that the COSTCO $89.00 jack was US made. Not at that price.
Click to expand...

I believe the Arcan presses are U.S. made but not the jacks.
 
B

billymade

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Location
New Mexico
Everyone says they are the cats meow! Are Milwaukee the baddest USA made jacks and lifting equipment out there?
 
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