a minimalist toe jack design

[metalmagpie]

I have long considered building a toe jack. Every time I see a posting describing one someone built, I think about it all over again. Today I built one. Mine is *much* lighter duty than most I've seen, and it fits over a tiny old filthy 4-ton hydraulic bottle jack. I don't see why you'd need an 8, 12 or 20 ton bottle jack to lift one end of a lathe or mill. Seems to me 4 tons is plenty. Anyway, I put together a little page. Have a look, and let me know what you think.

metalmagpie

http://www.nwnative.us/Grant/shop articles/toeJack

 

[metalmagpie]

If that link doesn't work try

http://www.nwnative.us/Grant/shop articles/toeJack

 

[nadogail]

I would use it if it were in my shop.

I just might attempt to build one for myself.

 

[Zeke]

Nice job! I think that will work in a lot of situations not just in the shop.

 

[RStewart]

Nice job. Makes a lot of sense.

 

[matt_i]

Looks good, I think a light coat of grease or oil (at the proper time) would save the "bottle" a little longer. One can never have too many rigging "tools" in their possession when it comes to moving machine shop machinery I have always wondered if the rod guide bushing of a bottle jack is built (better, worse, about the same) as a standard air or hydraulic cylinder...

 

[Cyberbear]

This is a clever design that no doubt works well for light loads. The only concern I see is the 1/4" thick toe may bend down if over loaded. A simple pinch bar will get any large machine up high enough so that a 1/2" piece of steel rod or water pipe can be used as a roller. I moved my 2500 lb. SB lathe using these simple methods.