Jack stand adapters - is this a no-no?

[Matt_C]

To avoid damaging the pinch welds on the sills of my car, I made up some adapters using 2x1 structural timber, that I cut a channel into deep enough so the pinch weld doesn't touch it, so the "uprights" of the block make from contact with the reinforced section of the sill either side of the pinch weld. I tested this out today buy raising the car and letting it down on them and left it for about an hour before removing them - they came off with barely a mark on them form the jack stands, and no marks from the car.

So they seem strong to me - but is this a no-no in as far as working underneath it with the car weight on them? I mean, I suppose there is the possibility they might split but it didn't look like it, the load seems to be distributed nicely and the jack stands fit around the width of the wood nicely leaving next to no jaw marks in the surface.

 

[ttpete]

Hockey pucks with a groove cut in them work very well and won't split.

 

[Matt_C]

I have puck adapters for the jack cup when lifting on the side sill, but they don't fit nicely on the stands, hence why I made these

 

[LXCam]

The only thing I’d suggest would be to run a couple screws thru it (with a pilot hole). So just in case one split, that’s all that would happen.

 

[Ralf11]

worst case: it splits, the car drops down a couple of inches, but... but that is enuff to destabilize it and it keels over on ya

 

[turbowoodworker]

If I was going to split a 2x4 lengthwise, I would make a groove in it then put a lot of weight on a knife edge. Wait. Sorry I thought you were using the car to split the lumber. My bad

 

[Firebrick43]

Get some esco jack stands, wonderful stands and take the puck style adapters with no issues.

 

[benjamintmiller]

Why not cut the groove the other way, across the grain?

 

[pioneer1]

No Way I would be under that car!!!

 

[Skin]

I'd never get under that. The wood will eventually split. You can buy pinch weld protectors made out of very high density rubbers on Amazon for $10-$15.

 

[latebreak]

This is a joke right? There is no way I’d be under a car supported by a couple scraps of wood.


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[rlitman]

worst case: it splits, the car drops down a couple of inches, but... but that is enuff to destabilize it and it keels over on ya

That's what I'd be worried about. And NO, a couple of screws across the grain are NOT sufficient to hold the wood together as the knife edge of the car drops through them.

 

[PJNJ]

I bought this and it works just fine.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073SQRYB3/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[unslow1]

I wouldn't get under it.

 

[tool_scrounge]

No thank you

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

just like others said, don't do it. this is bad idea and I am glad you posted this.

 

[Denwood]

Don't use the wood. They will split eventually and you'll have a potential safety issue on the stands if they roll out and the car drops to the metal stands.

Either hockey puck or buy these aluminum/CNC versions for $13 via Amazon:

The magnets hold them in place over the reinforced sill area so you don't have to jockey the jack or lift pads around as you lift. Just remember to retrieve them after

 

[tarmy]

Get some esco jack stands, wonderful stands and take the puck style adapters with no issues.

Yep...this right here.

OP...there are certain times when you should buy and use the proper tool for the job...like when your life may depend on it...

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

How is using a jackpad designed for a hydraulic jack, on top of a jackstand like in the pic the OP posted "using the proper tool for the job"?

Balancing something like a modified hockey puck that on top of that type of jackstand is not "safe".

That type of jackstand needs to be in contact with the pinchweld. Little bit of rubber, on the top of the jackstand is all you need. I've used rubber, cut from an inner tube for years and it works perfectly.

Obviously jacking a vehicle would be different but the OP asked about those jackstands.

K.I.S.S

 

[four.cycle]

OP...there are certain times when you should buy and use the proper tool for the job...like when your life may depend on it...

Your question causes me to wish I'd taken a photograph of every jack stand and every set of "wheel ramps" that we took back as "warranty".
Bent, Crushed, Mutilated, and Destroyed - like Godzilla had walked through the guy's garage.

Douglas Fir has some incredible properties when it comes to the amount of weight it will carry, BUT: I certainly wouldn't trust two puny little pieces of it between me and two tons of car.

 

[demarpaint]

I wouldn't use them.

 

[seber]

Let us know when/if you get out of the hospital.

 

[a_whale]

<deleted>

 

[16again]

I wouldn’t use a wood block. I have pucks for the pinch welds. Use them on my ESCO / AC Hydraulics flat top stands.



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[rlitman]

How is using a jackpad designed for a hydraulic jack, on top of a jackstand like in the pic the OP posted "using the proper tool for the job"?

Balancing something like a modified hockey puck that on top of that type of jackstand is not "safe".

That type of jackstand needs to be in contact with the pinchweld. Little bit of rubber, on the top of the jackstand is all you need. I've used rubber, cut from an inner tube for years and it works perfectly.

Obviously jacking a vehicle would be different but the OP asked about those jackstands.

K.I.S.S

With that type of jackstand, I totally agree. For my part, I just use the stand as-is, but if I were going to put something soft in there, I'd probably use a piece of tire sidewall (like I used for my snowblower mod).

 

[Brelsfor]

Search Amazon for jack stand adapter. They make rubber pieces that go over the jack stand meant to be used on the pinch welds. I have used them many times and they work well

 

[HaroRider]

I wouldn’t use a wood block. I have pucks for the pinch welds. Use them on my ESCO / AC Hydraulics flat top stands.



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I have the same stands, where did you get those top pieces of rubber? I like the fact that they are very large.

 

[jacked_72]

I used wood on a jack for a while. Then it split. I wouldn't get under a car with wood split that way.

 

[zkdiesel]

I’m over here like just use the jack stand unless this some extreme show car!

 

[visionguru]

I wouldn't use wood: once splits, it's not fun.

For ~$10, you can get rubber jackstand caps to protect the pinch welds.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

Honestly it blows my mind that jack stands aren't just made to handle pinch welds or don't include proper pads. Who here is jacking up cars by their axles? (Which is what I'm assuming the design of their 'pad' is for).

It's just a bad design and it seems no one can be bothered to fix it. They'd rather all just copy the same crappy design. Probably all coming from the same factory.

 

[16again]

I have the same stands, where did you get those top pieces of rubber? I like the fact that they are very large.

Word of warning they STINK when you open the package. I aired them out for a couple days.
GeeWatom Universal Floor Jack...

GeeWatom Universal Floor Jack Rubber Pad Jack Pad Adapter Pinch Weld Side Frame Rail Protector Puck/Pad (2 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V2ZRNZQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20



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[ultgar]

When Niels from AC Hydraulic and I developed the flat-top jackstands back in Aug 2002, we were targeting BMW and Porsche customers who were supporting their cars with the jackstands on the flat frame rails. The standard 3000N stands were denting the rails and not as stable. Lots of iterations in the product over the years and then AC gave up in it and Esco started making these in China. Price point was good but there were quality control issues over the years. Here are the first flat-top stands in Niels living room back in 2002.

 

[mooman]

I wouldn't use wood: once splits, it's not fun.

For ~$10, you can get rubber jackstand caps to protect the pinch welds.

Where can I find these?


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[unslow1]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S7F7KQQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Where can I find these?


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[Coach James]

HF has them too. They have worked fine for me.

https://www.harborfreight.com/rubber-pads-for-jack-stand-2-pc-63373.html


Coach

 

[ex-x-fire]

Usually there's a couple places to lift/support a car, I'd lift on the pinch welds and put stands at any boxed section of the floor pan.

 

[icu2tsx]

Not helpful information since you have jack stands already but they also sell jacks stands made for pinch welds lift points. They had a v grove versus the flat grove you have.

 

[mr.lemons]

Want to try the rubber adapters, but I'm not sure if I trust them.

Would you trust a $2 bit of rubber from AliExpress? I assume they are the same ones that are sold on Amazon.

 

[Ralf11]

$12 for 2

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WRMSHP2/?tag=atomicindus08-20