EAA Sport Aviation - November 2009

Turn the jack stand upside down and cut off the “U” flange, leaving approximately 1/8 inch of flange overhang when cutting to keep the pipe from falling through the sleeve tube.

Determine the maximum available height between the wing jack point and the floor. Set the leg length to easily slide the stand under the wing and clear the jack point.

Building two jack stand frame extensions will require six pieces of 1-inch by 1-inch by 1/8-inch steel angle iron cut to approximately 18 inches in length. One end of each piece will need to be bevel cut (both faces) at approximately 65 degrees (to the vertical) or 25 degrees (to the floor) sit

The tripod base is reinforced with three strips of 3/16-inch by 3/4-inch steel scrap.

Bill of Materials (for two low-wing jacks)
160 inches of 1-inch by 1-inch by 1/8-inch angle
iron stock
84 inches of 3/4-inch by 3/16-inch flat steel strap
40 inches of 3/8-inch rod for truss straps
5 inches (length) of 2-inch diameter aluminum
bar stock
2 each 6-inch stroke hydraulic bottle jacks
Paint
Tools Required
Arc welder
Chop saw, cutting torch, or plasma cutter
Lathe to machine end caps and jack point
receptacle cups

flush on the floor. Clamp and tack weld one leg on to the jack stand. Attach the other two legs with C-clamps and adjust the leg lengths to make the axis of the jack stand absolutely vertical before welding the other legs.

Bridge nominal 13 inches length with 45 degrees bevel on one end. Mirror for opposite side. Legs are 18 inches nominal length with approximately 25 degrees bevel on one end for a flush mating surface to the floor.

Make good welds. The health of your aircraft will depend on them.

Then weld each leg in four places. Two welds at the top of each angle iron and 1-inch welds on the edges of the jack stand frame near the bottom. Next, reinforce the tripod base with three strips of 3/16-inch by 3/4- inch steel strap. The height above the floor for these reinforcing straps is a function of three variables: