Good afternoon everyone. I have a diamond jack, I lost the handle from it, it was made in the form of a hook. Raising a car with such a jack without a handle is not very convenient. In two or three stores I asked about a pen, they didn’t have one, so it was decided to come up with something else. Therefore, it was decided to modernize this jack, so to speak. Moreover, it is necessary to install summer wheels, winter has passed.
So, we take a grinder and carefully saw off this eye, where we had to put the hook-handle in order for the jack to spin.
So I sawed off the ear. 
Now we need to find, or rather select, a head that we will weld instead of our eye. So I picked up such a head for myself; you don’t need to do anything additional with it, you just need to weld it well. 
Now let's take welding machine and weld the head. 
It turns out like this.
After welding, I ground this place a little, but did not grind it too much so that a little iron remained for hardness. 
With such a head it is easy to turn the jack and lift the car, it is especially convenient to turn it with a ratchet. 
Yesterday I tried the jack in action, changed all four wheels, put on summer tires, and working with the jack became simply convenient and easy.
Well, that seems to be all, if this article helps anyone, I will be very glad. The idea came from Alexey from Tambov.
Motorists, and especially those who like to spend a couple of free hours in the garage, are people who, at the genetic level, develop a talent for getting practical benefits from things at hand. They don’t have to be persuaded to do new experiments or be tested new way fix, assemble, or remove something without owning a specialized tool.
Why invent something new when in three or four hours and practically for free you can assemble a jack with your own hands– useful, practical and indispensable tool for every car owner.
The photo shows types of jacks and methods of their use
Car jack - universal device, capable of supporting structures weighing up to two tons, and sometimes more, for days. It's like a third hand for a car mechanic: super strong, durable and one hundred percent effective.
Simplicity of design and abundance of varieties functional tool allows you to make an exact analogy of any branded jack with your own hands.
How to make a screw jack
The classic and most common diamond-shaped jack is the screw jack. Make one like this DIY jack- a matter of two hours, especially if you have one and a half to two meters of channel and a basic set of fasteners. The compact tool will easily fit in the trunk, and in any emergency and unforeseen situation you will praise yourself for your foresight and intelligence.
Many people know how to assemble a jack from a channel, but have never tried it. There are only five elements, and the tool is already 90% ready:
- Levers made of bent steel channel with equal flange sides - 4 pcs;
- Channel fragments for the lower and upper arms (the lower arm can be replaced with a wider and more stable base);
- Rubber gasket (on the upper shoulder, for the jack);
- Axles holding the upper and lower arms (pins with heads on the axle, secured with cotter pins);
- A threaded screw secured to the shaft on one side.
On preparatory stage Drill holes at the joints of the elements, and then begin assembly. Connect the shoulders, secure them together and on the bases. Insert a threaded screw into the shaft and check homemade jack on lifting force.
The photo shows a diagram of the screw jack assembly
As you can see, a simple method that does not require welding and professional equipment(except for an electric drill), takes only an hour or two of time, and does not damage the budget.
How to make a jack from an air spring
It’s a completely different matter when a jack is needed for more serious work than, for example, changing a wheel on the road:
- Lifting vehicles weighing more than 2 tons;
- Work in the inspection pit;
- Professional activity in car service;
- Lifting a car in hard-to-reach places.
In cases where classic screw models cannot cope, homemade hydraulic jacks made from air springs come to the rescue: they are relevant not only for cars, but also for other heavy-lifting loads - safes, workbenches, large-sized furniture.
To build a homemade air jack, you will need a minimum of materials:
- Air spring from a bus or truck;
- Air hose + supply and bleed system;
- Cushion stand + car lining;
- Compressor (which, by the way, can also be made with your own hands).
Details about how to make a jack with your own hands from an air spring, watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg8z68ObTEA.
In the same way, you can make a pit “lift” (for an inspection ditch), or rolling jack: The type of air bag does not matter.
In the photo - pneumatic (rolling) jacks
How to make a rack and pinion jack
He always comes to the rescue when other models are powerless, and human imagination and physical capabilities are exhausted. A rack and pinion jack will help if you need:
- Raise the motorcycle to a height;
- Lift a truck, bus, train or truck body;
- Pull the car out of off-road conditions (mud, sand, swamp, stones);
- Raise the car by the towbar.
There are no secrets in how to make a rack model; it only takes three steps and about an hour of time:
- From the existing slats, weld one elongated one (1.5 - 2 meters, depending on needs);
- Weld a stable base to them;
- Put on top a jacking mechanism with a heel, found in the bins of the garage (or purchased by agreement with a neighbor).
If desired, it is possible to additionally make fasteners for such a device, allowing you to lift the car by the wheel rims.
Simple manipulations and a little spatial imagination will allow you to save money and assemble the device with your own hands, without which not a single replacement of wheels or other parts of the suspension is complete. And with the right approach and proper use of resources, a homemade jack will help you out in many situational troubles.
Having a drawing at hand - a screw jack, we make it with our own hands from equal-flange bent steel channels GOST 8278-83.
The types of sizes of the used assortment are highlighted in blue rectangles in the figure.
The screw jack consists of the following parts:
Base
Lower shoulder
Upper shoulder
Emphasis
Screw mechanism
BASE
We will make it from assortment with a cross-sectional area of 2.63 (cm²). We drill four through holes with a diameter equal to the diameter of the pin. When drilling, strictly maintain the center distance between them. If necessary, the base can be attached to a wider removable platform.
LOWER SHOULDER
We will make it from a range of sections with a cross-sectional area of 1.99 (cm²) by analogy with the base.
UPPER SHOULDER
We will make it from a range with a cross-sectional area of 2.28 (cm²) by analogy with the lower arm.
UPOR
We will make it from a range with a cross-sectional area of 1.99 (cm²) by analogy with the upper shoulder.
We attach a rubber gasket on top.
SCREW MECHANISM
1. Shaft - screw. Let's make it from a metal rod with a diameter of twelve millimeters. On one side there is an M12 thread, on the other there is a clamp, which is attached to the shaft using a cotter pin through through hole on the shaft.
2. Axis - stop. Relative to which the rotation of the lower and upper shoulders occurs.
The axles on both sides are pins with cylindrical flat heads, which are attached to the axle using cotter pins.
A through hole with a diameter of ten millimeters is drilled in one stop, and a thread is cut in the other internal thread M12.
3. Latch. Fixes the shaft on the side of its rotation and provides the ability to transmit torque to the shaft.
Performance characteristics of a self-made screw jack.
“From the presented material you will learn how to make a garage rolling jack for lifting a car with your own hands, and we will also look at drawings, photos and videos of the design. Car enthusiasts know very well that when operating a car, they often have to jack it up to change tires from summer to winter and vice versa, and there are also punctures in the inner tube and to repair it it is necessary to remove and disassemble the wheel. “Curious things” also happen with tubeless tires. Fiddling with a standard car jack is not always convenient, as they say, “bent to death))” For this reason, a rolling jack was invented, which is very easy to operate and maintain.
The design includes hydraulic jack 2 t “bottle” base and lifting arm with rubber “cushion” gasket For ease of moving the jack, support bearings are installed Attention! The wheels are installed in such a way that they touch the floor surface only in an inclined position, and in the working position they are raised - this is done to prevent slipping while jacking up the car.
Lever arm has a unique shape, all dimensions and angles are given in the drawings. The lift is carried out 50 cm from the floor level, which allows you to replace both wheels of the car without reloading the jack. There is a rubber cushion at the end of the lever
The lifting height of the lever is 50 cm.
General view of the structure.
The jack is placed on a movable platform.
Almost every person now has a car. For some, it acts as a source of income - taxis, buses, cargo transportation, etc. Some people just need it for transportation. But for true car enthusiasts, a car is the closest friend that helps out in difficult times and never lets you down. They take care of it, treat it with care, and repair it on time. Often such people are friends with technology in life and love the instrument. They like to do things with my own hands because it brings great pleasure. Often you end up with some useful and interesting things for your car.
For example, it is a good idea to make a jack. Indeed, no motorist can do without this device. Many, of course, will now say that it is easier to go and buy it in a store. But for a true mechanic, building such a thing, especially for his car, will not be difficult. It is only important to know how to make a jack and what it will consist of.
Before you start making a car jack with your own hands, you need to decide what design it will be. To do this, you need to know the main types of these devices that can be found in stores:
- Rack and pinion. This type has been used for a very long time. It is based on a long metal strip with holes, a lever and a ratchet with a perpendicular end. By pulling the lever down, the ratchet lifts the weight along with it. By pulling it upward, it is triggered, locking itself into one of the nearest holes on the rail along with the load. Then the cycle repeats again;
Rack jack
- Screw. The most common jack among domestic car enthusiasts. It can be presented in different ways, but the principle of operation is the same - by rotating, the screw raises or lowers the dynamic part. It is often made in the form of a durable lever attached to a movable mechanism, which in turn moves along brackets in the housing. There is also a diamond jack. It is much more practical and is a diamond-shaped case, which is made of four moving parts. There is a stand attached at the bottom and a lifting platform at the top. There is a long screw going through the side mounts. If you twist it, the figure will either fold or stretch upward, lifting the load;
Screw jack
- Hydraulic. Most often, such devices can be found among truck drivers who lift heavy truck axles when changing wheels. They can be presented in different ways and have different principle work, but the meaning is the same for everyone - there is hand pump, which creates oil pressure in the master cylinder. Under its influence, the platform begins to climb out with heaviness. These jacks are characterized by high load capacity, as well as large weight and height;
Hydraulic jack
- Pneumatic. Somewhat reminiscent of an air cylinder, which are installed on the air suspension of a car. Simply put, this is a small platform on wheels (maybe without them), on which a hollow, thick-walled rubber cushion is attached. Air from a compressor or cylinder is supplied through the fitting. Pressure is created and the pillow begins to rise.
Pneumatic jack
These are the main types of jacks that are used most often. They are classified precisely by the type of force used (mechanical, hydraulic, etc.), but there are many varieties of them. For example, hydraulic devices can be haulage, cylindrical, trailed, or two-level. That is, there is only one type of jack, but there are several types. Therefore, there is a large choice in order to independently make your own model using a prototype.
Skills required when making a jack
It’s worth saying right away that needlework is not an easy task and requires certain skills. In our case, these are practically all the abilities that a novice mechanic should have:
- welding- the most basic thing required when working with metal. Since the structure will be assembled from scratch, it will only need to be welded. Moreover, this must be done with high quality so that the end result is a durable product;
- cutting- it is enough to be able to cut iron with a grinder. It’s good if you have the skill of cutting with an oxygen torch;
- treatment- without the ability to use a file or grinder it'll be hard;
- turning case- in principle, you can do without it, but if you are passionate about it, it will be much easier when manufacturing and processing some parts;
- painting- a handmade item must be painted.
If you have the above skills, then no problems should arise in the process of making a jack. The higher the level of mastery of the tool, the better the product will be.
In order to make a jack, there must be suitable tool. The first step is welding, since with its help the assembly will take place. It is desirable that this be semi-automatic device with carbon dioxide. Then the seams will be much smoother and there will be no excess slag. Second, and no less important, is Bulgarian. It’s good if the assortment includes both small and large. With their help you will cut blanks from steel. You will also need drill, because you will have to make more than one hole. To easily process iron parts, you definitely need electric sharpener. It is key in the fitting process. In addition, it is advisable to have hand tools : files, needle files, whetstones, hammers, screwdrivers, rasps, handles with a set of taps, sledgehammers, vices, etc. The more devices you have at hand, the easier the manufacturing process will seem.
The more tools you have, the easier and better the jack will be.
Lathe in any business it is an excellent assistant, but not everyone has it. In principle, you can do it without it, but if you have such a unit in your garage or workshop, it will work out much faster. After all, with the help milling installation It is easy to turn or process any part. For example, a bolt or rod. In general, your own machine will be very useful.
It's also worth talking about the material. You can buy it at the market or at a scrap metal collection point. The second option is much cheaper, since at scrap yards all the metal is rusty and broken. It is not suitable for use, but it is perfect as a donor. It is advisable, of course, to purchase more of everything. After all, depending on what kind of jack you want, you may need additional mechanisms or fasteners that you cannot make yourself. Therefore, be prepared to purchase some components from the market.
The base (both the lifting arm and the lifting platform) of a hydraulic jack can be made from a channel. A conventional hydraulic bottle jack is used for lifting force. To move the jack, you can attach wheels (can be replaced with bearings, rollers or something similar).
Construction of a homemade hydraulic rolling jack
It is recommended to install the bottle jack on a movable “swing” platform, since during operation the jack slightly changes its angle, and some compensation for movements is required. The platform should sway slightly from side to side. It can be made from the same channel by drilling a through hole in the lifting base and placing the “swing” on the bolt so that there is a small gap of 0.5-1 cm between the base and the platform.
Movable platform for bottle jack
To increase the strength of the structure, it is advisable to make braces from rods on both sides of the base. The thicker the rods, the better. They are welded to the base.
The device operates from a bottle jack. When it is moved by a special handle-rod, it rises, which moves the lifting arm upward.
The process of working a homemade hydraulic rolling jack
A drawing of such a hydraulic jack for making it yourself is shown in the image below:
Drawing of a hydraulic rolling jack that you can make yourself
Also check out a few video, where you can learn more about how to make a hydraulic jack with your own hands:
As an example, we also consider a pneumatic device that easiest way to do. So, you will need:
Basically, like this homemade device you can easily lift any a car. It is enough to place the pneumatic cylinder under the platform on the bottom and connect the hose high pressure to the fitting. By supplying compressed air, the cushion will begin to rise with the car.
The principle of operation of a homemade pneumatic jack
For convenience, such a jack can be completed by inventing a reliable platform with wheels. Thus, if the cylinder is taken apart, then the device self-made comes out for almost pennies.
Improved air jack on wheels
You can also look at a few video how to make a pneumatic jack with your own hands:
The most important question remains. Is it even worth making the jack yourself? The answers to it may be different, however, after weighing all the nuances, you can come to a final conclusion. First, it’s worth understanding the cost. It is clear that no one will buy a tool for manufacturing, however, you will need material and some parts that will still have to be purchased. It is quite possible to buy a new factory jack for 5,000 rubles. The expenses for a homemade one will depend on what kind and type it is. So, making a hydraulic one will be the most expensive, but the pneumatic one discussed above is the cheapest.
In general, the cost of a jack is not so much that you have to rack your brains and make it yourself. If you don't care about it, then it's better not to bother with it and buy a new one at the store. But, if the process itself is interesting, and you want to make something, then this great idea test your skills. You might even be able to save 1-2 thousand rubles. That is, when there is a desire to do it, try, be smart and achieve results. But if the process of making a jack is not interesting to you, then it is better to postpone this matter.
The main thing to remember is safety measures. Any tool in inexperienced hands can cause serious injury. Also remember to wear safety glasses when working on metal and when welding to protect your eyes.
How to make a jack with your own hands: instructions with photos and videos
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