Home made jack stands

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While working on a trailer project i had a need for some jack stands to hold the trailer so i could work on it. I decided to make some that were stong enough to hold what ever I wanted. This is what I came up with.This is the stand all togetherThis is the base by it selfThis is the top by it selfAnother shot of it togetherAll of the steel I used was 1/4" so it is a stout jack stand. I haven't begun to reach the limits that it can hold, Not that I am even trying.Kroeker
Reply:Hello and welcome. Looks nice. The handle is a nice touch.One down side I see is the base. A nice big base like that is nice if you work on dirt, but on an uneven asphalt surface like I have, it would rock and be very unsteady. Note that most stands usually have legs that only hit 3 or 4 points on the ground. They do this so they are very stable when there is a heavy load on them and will not tip, especially when extended full length. Your base looks fairly large, so that may not be an issue, but on  an uneven surface and any kind of a slope, I'd be very cautious. You could solve some of this is you welded a couple of large nuts to the bottom so you reduced the contact points..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Those should last longer than you! LolRanger 305gMillermatic 140 AutosetDewalt Chopsaw2 grindersMy Fists
Reply:Beefy!  Nice work!-AaronJet 17.5" Drill Press1942 South Bend 16x84 Lathe1980s Miller 320A / BP --- 2013 Power Mig 2562012 Jet 7x12 Horizontal BandsawVictor O/A Setup
Reply:Originally Posted by DSW ... One down side I see is the base...
Reply:Yup.  That should hold it.  Pretty much, no matter what "it" is...(Retired) Professional firefighter, amateur everything else I try to do...Oh yeah:  Go Big Red!   (You know: one of the 12 members of the Big 10 cuz we left the 10 members of the Big 12...)
Reply:Well thought out design. I prefer the plate style stands on pavement myself. Leg stands are fine on the concrete but they tend to sink into the pavement unless they have pads or you put something under them. Another plus of the plate stands is that they work well off road. In the shop I use leg style stands, they are lighter weight and very stable on the concrete. Each design has it's place. Thanks for sharing.
Reply:Nice Work!
Reply:Thanks guys. I should have talked a little more about where I was using these stands. My only work area is in the dirt so I needed something that wouldn't sink down it to the ground when weight was applied to them. I myself would agree that I would need to have something under that base plate to keep it from wobbling. If I ever have a need to use the stands on a hard surface I will add something to the bottom.Thanks again guys!Kroeker
Reply:Nice to see Lincoln, Ne guys on here Kroeker
Reply:There was a test of probably 8 diffrent easily available jack stands made some time ago here in sweden, checking if they followed the rules, could handle the rated load plus margin etc. Every single one failed on one point, they had a too small "footprint" in relation to the maximum height, making them tip over too easy, at a small angle. Yours are looking very strong in every other way, but a bit unstable if the load for some reason moves sideways, the ground is softer on one side or something like that.
Reply:Originally Posted by G-sonEvery single one failed on one point, they had a too small "footprint" in relation to the maximum height, making them tip over too easy, at a small angle.
Reply:Great Idea on using a slice of channel for the handle, I like it.14' PowerMig 210 MP13'Burntables 5x10 CNC Table14' SAE300 HE on a 12' Ram 4500 60 CA 4x4. Custom bed/bottles/reels.87' SA250d, 78 SA200,11' Ranger 250 GXT AC/DCThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 8112' Lincoln Precision Tig 22508' LN25
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireDid the study make any recommendations as to the size of the foot? I'm sure there is a formula or rule someplace. Any ideas?
Reply:I like them but agree that I'd rather have a larger base on them especially if used on dirt. The only other thing I'd add is some more holes in the base part to allow for finer adjustment. If you space them right it would allow halving or less that distance available for the adjustment. Scroll down about half way to see how I did the holes on my stands in this thread.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=97901  In my case I drilled the holes in the pipe on 6" centers and put three holes in the base to allow for 2" adjustment. Looking at you pics I'd guess that you're about 3" centers on your holes. You could drill another hole 1 1/2" below the current hole (I wouldn't go above because of the chance of over extending the center) and get twice the adjustment. You might be able to drill two holes on 1" centers depending on hole size. Just be careful to leave enough meat between the holes.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:good work!
Reply:Nice looking stands!!! I'm sure your design will be copied!Brian
Reply:I made some similiar stand out of hitch recievers many years ag and agree that the base must be extended out for more stability.  Eventually I added some legs and am much happier
Reply:Very nice!MillerMatic 212, Lincoln Precision TIG 225, Hypertherm 45XP
Reply:Yeah nice design but I would be scared to use them unless the base was at least twice the size you have there. I do everything on grass yard or dirt floors so I need them to be less of a tip over then what you have there. I'd be scared I would be pulling on a breaker bar to crack a bolt loose and pull them over then squish bye bye Inkydoggy!
Reply:Originally Posted by G-son*must have big enough foot area so pressure on the ground is less than 2MPa at maximum load*must not have max height more than 4.5 times the tipping radius
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireAny comments?
Reply:Forhire thanks for all the great information.I finally remembered to measure the stands last. The bases are 10" in diameter. At the shortest setting the stand measures 14" and 20" in the highest. Plug in the number of 5 for the radius times 4.5. 5 * 4.5 = 22.5I am clear by 2.5" according to the info above.I’m definitely not going to overload them. 20" is way to high with 1100lbs on the stands for my stomach to handle it. Kroeker
Reply:Originally Posted by KroekerI finally remembered to measure the stands last. The bases are 10" in diameter. At the shortest setting the stand measures 14" and 20" in the highest. Plug in the number of 5 for the radius times 4.5. 5 * 4.5 = 22.5I am clear by 2.5" according to the info above.:
Reply:22"x22" base, 49" extended height.So.....................22x22=484sq in x 22psi bearing in virgin soil = 10648lbs tipping radius is 11" x 4.5 =49.5 max extended height.I guess I made a good eyeball decision when designing them   KEWLI really don't believe I'd trust them at max weight/height, but I'm a little cautious.  And I do still have all my fingers, toes, and other assorted appendages Biggest danger is load balance, and work surface levelness."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/definately going to remember this one. I did have one additional question.As one of the common stands blew out the side of the houseing, and another split the metal below the pin hole. what a minimum recomended wall thickness for home built jack stands, and minimum spacing for the adjustment holes in said stand?I would think that if you put your gussets on the corners of your square tubing you could have two different directions at which you pinned said stand, allowing you to have either A)more meat between the wholes, and/or B) more adjustments for height.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Originally Posted by ThorsHammerdefinately going to remember this one. I did have one additional question.As one of the common stands blew out the side of the houseing, and another split the metal below the pin hole. what a minimum recomended wall thickness for home built jack stands, and minimum spacing for the adjustment holes in said stand?I would think that if you put your gussets on the corners of your square tubing you could have two different directions at which you pinned said stand, allowing you to have either A)more meat between the wholes, and/or B) more adjustments for height.
Reply:Originally Posted by cd19At what capacity?