Gazzar Posted January 5, 2023 Share Posted January 5, 2023 The chassis on my recent indulgence is taller than my largest able stands, and, as I want to take the axle off to do a bit of repair work, I needed something more suitable. Tall axle stands look expensive, so I'm improvising. eBay yielded some trench struts at reasonable money which arrived today. These are rated for several tons each so will form the heart of my axle stands. They're a bit shorter than the eventual stands, so have space for box section underneath. They'll be modified quite a bit, starting with a clip on the end of the pin. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted January 5, 2023 Share Posted January 5, 2023 2 hours ago, Gazzar said: The chassis on my recent indulgence is taller than my largest able stands, and, as I want to take the axle off to do a bit of repair work, I needed something more suitable. Tall axle stands look expensive, so I'm improvising. eBay yielded some trench struts at reasonable money which arrived today. These are rated for several tons each so will form the heart of my axle stands. They're a bit shorter than the eventual stands, so have space for box section underneath. They'll be modified quite a bit, starting with a clip on the end of the pin. Very good, that's what I used to support my mog axle chassis with Regards Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 6, 2023 Author Share Posted January 6, 2023 I'm working through that thread, very impressive! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 6, 2023 Author Share Posted January 6, 2023 Progress is progress. The upper part of the stands evolved nicely. The props were made out of alignment, that's annoying. The holders were originally for the axle dolly, so are repurposed easily. My welding may not be good, but it's certainly strong. And the tops are ready to enter service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 6, 2023 Author Share Posted January 6, 2023 The bases are causing me to scratch my head. Not so much the main upright, I quickly decided to go with the 60mm box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 6, 2023 Author Share Posted January 6, 2023 But the side struts are still unclear in my mind. I want them to be stable, but tidy and light. So was thinking of 30mm thick wall box, but that's no lighter than 50 mm medium wall box. And I've more of that. Do I use full box? Take off a side for weight? Brace with box, or flat? How wide a base is not wide enough? Time to stop and let the hind brain think about this over night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 Happy with the height on these, and I think I'll go brutal on the legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 Okay, that worked. Times six. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 And using the hot steel gun was, well, hot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 That's going to be excellent, may even knock something up myself for when crawling under LGT.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 9 minutes ago, Bowie69 said: That's going to be excellent, may even knock something up myself for when crawling under LGT.... Ahh but, you have a distinct advantage! LGT is hardly going to hurt you if he falls, it's not bloody heavy enough .....lol Regards Stephen 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 The 101 isn't light, so I've gone (just a little bit) a little bit Sid on these Anyway, done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 More crude welding, if it isn't about to blow holes, it isn't hot enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 And the final product. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 Further refinement may include bracing on the cross bar, and a load spreader under the main column. Not on the feet, as I want the stands to have a bit of bite, so they don't slide about. I might need to strengthen the brackets on the cross bar, some of the holes are a bit closer to the edges than I'd like. Maybe welding a thick washer on the outside might be enough to reassure me. But, for now, done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 Oh, and I might blast them and epoxy them, in pink. I also need to buy a few bolts, these were robbed from the axle dolly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share Posted January 7, 2023 Design copyrighted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 8, 2023 Author Share Posted January 8, 2023 This is the bit that bothers me a bit. I think I'll stick another piece of steel over that. Might hide the rough welding a bit, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
De Ranged Posted January 8, 2023 Share Posted January 8, 2023 I wouldn't worry the side loading won't be great (fraction of a ton) your force is being countered by the length of your bar and its your clamping force from the bolts that holds it not the shear Like the design 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 9, 2023 Author Share Posted January 9, 2023 I know, and agree with you. I'm still going to strengthen it. It bothers me. It's the concern of working under it. Or working on it, and something shifting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 That bit doesn't bother me at all. Loads that way are tiny and the friction from the clamping is what takes the load. What I would do though is brace the legs together to stop any splaying. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 9, 2023 Author Share Posted January 9, 2023 I think I'll do that, too, though I'm confident they won't spay; there's several inches of heavy welding at the join, multiple passes in some parts as that was my concern. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 Even if its a bit of plate thats got a bead to each of the legs. I like your idea about keeping some 'bite' in the feet so it could be ~0.5" or so up from floor level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 9, 2023 Author Share Posted January 9, 2023 Yes, I'll see what in the scrap box. Even a stick of rebar would do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted January 9, 2023 Author Share Posted January 9, 2023 Thoughts about finishing this tonight were ambitious. I've the steel cut, though, so could achieve this tomorrow after work. @landroversforeverthe cross bar isn't clamped to the stands, the bolts are doing the hard work. The cross bar isn't a tight fit on the bracket. So a couple of options, add more steel to the box/bracket, Or, beef up the cross bar. Or both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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