*Bottle Jacks*
The purpose of this is to demonstrate how to use a few different types of jacks.
(CAUTION!!!!- When using jacks, take all precautions to ensure that your load can’t possibly fall on you. Don’t be stupid.)
A bottle jack is nothing more than a small hydraulic piston. Despite the size they are extremely powerful. They are rated in tons. You can jack up a house or a barn….pretty much anything with one of these.
The piston houses a shaft which has screw threads on it. The screw part will extend out usually 7-9" before actually extending the ram. This increases the efficiency of the jack. You can gain a lot using the screw.
In order to be able to extend the ram, you need to make sure the valve on the bottom of the jack is shut (all the way clockwise). If not, you can pump all day long and it won’t work. The handle will fit over the knob. When the valve is fully clockwise then use the handle, insert it in the round hole and start pumping up and down. The ram will slowly extend.
To retract the ram, turn the valve counterclockwise. BE CAREFUL!!! If you have any weight on the jack. If you just crank the valve open the ram will retract rapidly and could cause injury….ie, something falling on you. Just crack the valve open and the ram will retract slowly, to stop it shut the valve.
Here’s some pix of bottle jacks in action. I needed to level up my oil barrel, 2 bottle jacks worked perfectly. Notice the blocking between the ram and the tank. This distributes the weight and will prevent the ram from puncturing the tank. You can also set the jack on blocking to keep it from pushing in to the ground.
The jacks held it up while I reset the cement blocks under the feet.
These are invaluable tools when you need ‘em.
Coming later, High-Lift Jacks.
Jaden
www.alpharubicon.com
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