A jack is a device that should be located both in the trunk of a car and in the car enthusiast’s garage. In this case, it is better to choose a more massive second option with universal functionality and a high load capacity. These characteristics are 100% consistent with your own hands, which is not difficult to do.
Characteristics of the pneumatic device
There are three main criteria by which a homemade inflatable jack is evaluated:
- Load capacity indicator. To provide safe operation this value must exceed the weight of the vehicle. For a passenger car, characteristics of about two tons will be sufficient; servicing heavier vehicles requires a carrying capacity of at least 2.5 tons.
- Pickup height. This aspect plays important role, if the car has low ground clearance. The optimal indicator is a value of at least 100 mm.
- Lift level. A homemade pneumatic jack has a height of no more than 500 mm. This reserve is quite enough for changing wheels and some other work; a rigging unit with a connection to a compressor allows you to raise the car up to 70-80 cm.
Definitely, when choosing a jack and its manufacture, first of all you need to focus on your car, the conditions of its operation and storage.
How to make a jack yourself?
To build a jack with your own hands, you will not need much material and effort. You need to select the following details:
- a used truck cushion;
- suitable bolt;
- ball element;
- VAZ wheel clamp;
- union;
- The main tool is a drill.
The structure is assembled from the presented elements. A bolt is screwed into the hole of the pillow. First you need to make a socket in it for the fitting from the camera.
A wheel bolt from a VAZ is used as a valve, in which a hole is drilled. On next stage the existing elements are connected after a ball is installed in the hole, which will serve for air intake.
Peculiarities
For practical implementation This device requires a special pump. An inflatable jack is installed under the bottom of the vehicle. To be on the safe side, it is advisable to use wooden stand, which will interact directly with the machine.
This mechanism has one significant drawback. Since the cargo cushion is quite large, a low-slung vehicle will have to be first raised to install the device in question. If you attach a cart with wheels to the bottom of such units, you will get homemade ones for cars.
Comparative characteristics
The pneumatic version lifts the load due to the compression force of the air mass. Such modifications work by connecting to additional equipment or from car exhaust. Air mass enters the camera. Thanks to compression and increase in volume, the car rises. The advantage of the models is that there is no need to special effort, and if available compressor unit the process takes just seconds.
A mechanical jack for a car involves putting it into operation by rotating or twisting a special handle. Such modifications have a low price and compact size.
The hydraulic principle is similar to mechanical option. The difference lies in the simplification of the process of pumping out the working part of the jack, due to the presence of liquid in the working system. Similar modifications have long term services.
Mechanical jack with electric drive works from mains power, all the main work of the device is carried out by electricity. The advantages of the device are undeniable, but it requires connecting it to an outlet.
Security measures
Despite the fact that the inflatable jack is one of the most basic in operational terms, its use requires compliance with certain precautions.
To avoid the unit flying out from under the car, it must be installed correctly. Before installing a new pneumatic device, it is advisable to deflate it once without load, after which it deflates and stacks itself accordingly. To protect the jack from damage, it is better to lay a rug on the floor.
For the manufacture of the working chamber of the device, PVC-based materials are suitable. At sub-zero temperature such a structure hardens and becomes rough. As experts note, optimal temperature conditions operation is up to -10 degrees.
Hydraulic lifting device
It is quite possible to make a hydraulic jack with your own hands. It is based on a housing, the main load-bearing function is performed by a retractable piston and working fluid (oil). Variations of the device can be made with a shortened or extended steel frame. The housing serves as a container for oil and a guide cylinder for the piston.
A special adjusting screw with a lifting heel is screwed into the plunger; if necessary, you can increase the maximum lifting height. Such a device is equipped with a manual, foot or air drive.
The working mechanism and the retractable cylinder are located in the holes of the frame. The unit is lowered by turning the T-handle. Some devices are equipped with polyamide wheels for maneuverability. Operational safety is ensured by safety valves.
Pros and cons of a hydraulic device
Before making a jack with your own hands, you should consider all its pros and cons. The advantages of a hydraulic device include the following indicators:
- the device is unpretentious in maintenance and operation with a fairly high power rating;
- smooth movement of the working rod, reliable fixation of the load at the required height, precise braking;
- high efficiency (up to 80%) and load capacity (over 150 tons).
Disadvantages of use hydraulic model include a high initial lifting height, the problem of precision in adjusting the lowering position, a decent price and quite a lot of weight. The device must only be stored and transported vertically, otherwise the working fluid may leak out.
Conclusion
Making a jack with your own hands will not be much of a problem. Depending on the capabilities, scope of use and other objective circumstances, you should choose the right model for the type of work. Suitable for use on the road compact device mechanical or hydraulic type, and in the garage an inexpensive and practical pneumatic device will perform well.
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.
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.
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. Is there some more 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 may be presented differently and have different principles of operation, but the meaning is the same for all - 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 lifting capacity, as well as large mass 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 There are haulage, cylindrical, trailed, two-level. That is, there is only one type of jack, but there are several types. Therefore there is big 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, you must have the right 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 case is a great 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 of a milling machine 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 do 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. Serving 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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