Here's another thought on jackstands. When you see a "6 ton" rating, does
that mean that each stand can safely hold 6 tons (I really doubt that!),
does it mean that each pair can support 6 tons, or does it mean that each
pair can support just one end of a 6 ton vehicle? I have never seen a
definitive answer. The reality is that 95% of shop tools like jackstands
come from countries that don't use our alphabet. I would purchase
jackstands from a known source (NAPA, etc). Also, buy one 6x6/8' Doug Fir
post and cut off four 12" or 16" lengths or 1/2" shorter than your standard
jackstand height. Make sure your cuts are really square. Those will be good
safety posts. That way, you will still have some 6x6 material if you need
some special post or block. Of course, I'm assuming that you have the luxury
of working on a concrete or asphalt floor. I hope we didn't sound too
vicious before. All in the name of keeping ourselves in one piece.
Alex Thomson
-----Original Message-----
From: triumphs-bounces@autox.team.net
[mailto:triumphs-bounces@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Tim Gaines
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2012 8:39 AM
To: Triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: [TR] backup to jack stands?
Okay, I've heard from enough of you to know that I'm not the "king of
safety", a title I actually thought I held. ;-) When I mentioned using
cinder blocks as backups to jack stands and started getting all the
warnings, I first thought that you folks couldn't read! I apologize for a
few snippy replies. But, Bob's short warning (below) finally got my
attention. It was something like my Dad used to say to me when I was a kid
and he found me doing something stupid.
So now I know that cinder blocks have no place under a car. They provide no
backup whatsoever, and their probability of explosive failure actually makes
them worse than nothing. Now, as a recent retiree who plans to catch up
with several projects on (under) my two LBCs, I want to start doing things
the safest way possible. A couple of you talked about using wheels as
backups, and I have done that myself, but I decided that they provide too
little clearance and probably would deflate with all that weight on the
sidewalls anyway. Several others mention using lengths of deck supports,
but having just finished a deck renovation, it seems to me that that stuff
is too prone to cracks and might actually split under sudden weight. Short
of laying that wood flat and piling up 2 or 3 layers (I can see problems
with that too), I don't really see a good, convenient backup system. The
more I think about this, the more I wish I could afford a lift, but I think
that is out of the question.
So, my question to the list is, is there a better backup to jack stands?
Maybe it's a matter of doubling the number of jack stands used!?
Thanks,
Tim
1980 Spitfire
1974 TR6
>Don't say you haven't been warned by a bunch of guys about their use.
>
>Bob
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