A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS

Ph@tBoy wrote:
>
> It's the portland cement in the concrete on the surface that
> is being damaged, not the steel wheels.
========

That's great news! Better the parking garage's concrete floor
than the Michelin's wheels

I love this floor jack but it's a bear to lug around: 90 pounds
to lift it in and out of the car's trunk. (My apartment
building's contract doesn't allow working on the car in the
building's parking lot

It wouldn't be so bad lifting up the jack, but there isn't a
good place to grip it near the casters. Plus during
the summer, I usually stop weight-lifting and begin running,
so my biceps and triceps aren't what they were 6 months ago
when I last lifted the jack. It was easy to lift then,
but much harder now.

If you need a good, reliable floor jack, Sam's Club is
selling the Michelin for $65--best cheap one I've seen
anywhere.
 >> Stay informed about: A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS 

Well, I guess if wood or particle board might hamper the forward
movement of the jack, perhaps because of a warp in the board, how
about just laying a piece of double-corrugated cardboard down?
 >> Stay informed about: A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS 

Built_Well wrote:
> Steel wheels aren't as robust as one might suppose. The 3.5-ton
> Michelin floor jack's steel wheels laid down a thin layer of
> a white, chalk-like substance which I can only suppose was
> ground steel extracted from the wheels by the heavy weight of
> the car as the jack rolled forward on the concrete ground while
> lifting the car.
>
> The substance looked a little like chalk scrawled on
> a concrete street.
>
> I think next time I'll lay a thin piece of wood or particle
> board down on the floor for the jack to roll forward on as it
> lifts the car.
>
> Using a wooden runway probably isn't keeping with the rules of
> floor jack operation, but I want the steel wheels to last.
It's the portland cement in the concrete on the surface that is being
damaged, not the steel wheels.

You can take a metal punch or chisel and scrape it on cement to observe
the same on a smaller scale.

On a larger scale it does the same when you drive a dozer on concrete.
The tracks scrape the surface quite badly leaving the white marks,
especially when turning.

Your thought to protect it is a good plan. I don't have to do it often
but I use sheets of particle board when working on tracked equipment
rolling on a concrete floor that is six inches thick and reinforced. A
couple of times can ruin the boards but the floor surface is saved for
the most part. Even a small Cat dozer can weigh twelve tons.
 >> Stay informed about: A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS 

Moe wrote:
> Ray O wrote:
> > "Built_Well" <Built_Well_Toyota.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:caaa78d9-1b38-4bab-9ea4-b7e90578039f@t54g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> >> Well, I guess if wood or particle board might hamper the forward
> >> movement of the jack, perhaps because of a warp in the board, how
> >> about just laying a piece of double-corrugated cardboard down?
> >
> > As several others have pointed out, the white marks are from the concrete,
> > not the jack's wheels.
> >
> > Concrete is the most stable surface for using a rolling floor jack, and
> > putting anything under the jack would reduce the stability. I have been
> > using a rolling jack for 40 years and still cannot see any permanent visible
> > marks on any of my garage floors. Since you are not working in your own
> > garage anyway, I'd skip the cardboard, particle board, steel plates, or
> > anything else and just sweep the dust away when done.
> And I'm wondering if you leave the jack in the trunk all the time? If
> so what about the extra amount of gasoline used hauling a 90lb jack
> around in the trunk. The auto manufactures spend millions getting 90lb
> off the weight of a car.
========

You're funny

Of course I don't leave the 90-pound jack in the trunk all the time.
A real comedian, you are, sweety
 >> Stay informed about: A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS 

"Built_Well" <Built_Well_Toyota.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:caaa78d9-1b38-4bab-9ea4-b7e90578039f@t54g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>
> Well, I guess if wood or particle board might hamper the forward
> movement of the jack, perhaps because of a warp in the board, how
> about just laying a piece of double-corrugated cardboard down?

As several others have pointed out, the white marks are from the concrete,
not the jack's wheels.

Concrete is the most stable surface for using a rolling floor jack, and
putting anything under the jack would reduce the stability. I have been
using a rolling jack for 40 years and still cannot see any permanent visible
marks on any of my garage floors. Since you are not working in your own
garage anyway, I'd skip the cardboard, particle board, steel plates, or
anything else and just sweep the dust away when done.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS 

Built_Well <Built_Well_Toyota.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in article
<b4e043c4-829a-4823-a307-31f122c68d1a.DeleteThis@e39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>...
>
--best cheap one I've seen
> anywhere.
>

Now, THERE's a classic oxymoron.......
 >> Stay informed about: A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS 

Ray O wrote:
> "Built_Well" <Built_Well_Toyota RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:caaa78d9-1b38-4bab-9ea4-b7e90578039f@t54g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>> Well, I guess if wood or particle board might hamper the forward
>> movement of the jack, perhaps because of a warp in the board, how
>> about just laying a piece of double-corrugated cardboard down?
>
> As several others have pointed out, the white marks are from the concrete,
> not the jack's wheels.
>
> Concrete is the most stable surface for using a rolling floor jack, and
> putting anything under the jack would reduce the stability. I have been
> using a rolling jack for 40 years and still cannot see any permanent visible
> marks on any of my garage floors. Since you are not working in your own
> garage anyway, I'd skip the cardboard, particle board, steel plates, or
> anything else and just sweep the dust away when done.
And I'm wondering if you leave the jack in the trunk all the time? If
so what about the extra amount of gasoline used hauling a 90lb jack
around in the trunk. The auto manufactures spend millions getting 90lb
off the weight of a car.
 >> Stay informed about: A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS 

"Moe" <BubbleleLand RemoveThis @Fat.City> wrote in message
news:485d1c7c$0$4067$bbae4d71@news.suddenlink.net...
> Ray O wrote:
>> "Built_Well" <Built_Well_Toyota RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:caaa78d9-1b38-4bab-9ea4-b7e90578039f@t54g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>>> Well, I guess if wood or particle board might hamper the forward
>>> movement of the jack, perhaps because of a warp in the board, how
>>> about just laying a piece of double-corrugated cardboard down?
>>
>> As several others have pointed out, the white marks are from the
>> concrete, not the jack's wheels.
>>
>> Concrete is the most stable surface for using a rolling floor jack, and
>> putting anything under the jack would reduce the stability. I have been
>> using a rolling jack for 40 years and still cannot see any permanent
>> visible marks on any of my garage floors. Since you are not working in
>> your own garage anyway, I'd skip the cardboard, particle board, steel
>> plates, or anything else and just sweep the dust away when done.
> And I'm wondering if you leave the jack in the trunk all the time? If so
> what about the extra amount of gasoline used hauling a 90lb jack around in
> the trunk. The auto manufactures spend millions getting 90lb off the
> weight of a car.

Good point!
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS 

"Built_Well" <Built_Well_Toyota DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c1eca60f-22a5-4173-b40b-bd15da44a9e1@i76g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Moe wrote:
>> Ray O wrote:
>> > "Built_Well" <Built_Well_Toyota DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> > news:caaa78d9-1b38-4bab-9ea4-b7e90578039f@t54g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>> >> Well, I guess if wood or particle board might hamper the forward
>> >> movement of the jack, perhaps because of a warp in the board, how
>> >> about just laying a piece of double-corrugated cardboard down?
>> >
>> > As several others have pointed out, the white marks are from the
>> > concrete,
>> > not the jack's wheels.
>> >
>> > Concrete is the most stable surface for using a rolling floor jack, and
>> > putting anything under the jack would reduce the stability. I have
>> > been
>> > using a rolling jack for 40 years and still cannot see any permanent
>> > visible
>> > marks on any of my garage floors. Since you are not working in your
>> > own
>> > garage anyway, I'd skip the cardboard, particle board, steel plates, or
>> > anything else and just sweep the dust away when done.
>> And I'm wondering if you leave the jack in the trunk all the time? If
>> so what about the extra amount of gasoline used hauling a 90lb jack
>> around in the trunk. The auto manufactures spend millions getting 90lb
>> off the weight of a car.
> ========
>
> You're funny
>
> Of course I don't leave the 90-pound jack in the trunk all the time.
> A real comedian, you are, sweety

Buy a condo or membership here in Chicago's western suburbs where auto
enthusiasts are welcomed: http://www.autobahncountryclub.net/

They are almost sold out so act now before it is too late!
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS 

On Sat, 21 Jun 2008 08:07:40 -0400, "Ph@Boy" <user.DeleteThis@example.net> wrote:

>Built_Well wrote:
>> Steel wheels aren't as robust as one might suppose. The 3.5-ton
>> Michelin floor jack's steel wheels laid down a thin layer of
>> a white, chalk-like substance which I can only suppose was
>> ground steel extracted from the wheels by the heavy weight of
>> the car as the jack rolled forward on the concrete ground while
>> lifting the car.
>>
>> The substance looked a little like chalk scrawled on
>> a concrete street.
>>
>> I think next time I'll lay a thin piece of wood or particle
>> board down on the floor for the jack to roll forward on as it
>> lifts the car.
>>
>> Using a wooden runway probably isn't keeping with the rules of
>> floor jack operation, but I want the steel wheels to last.
>It's the portland cement in the concrete on the surface that is being
>damaged, not the steel wheels.
>
>You can take a metal punch or chisel and scrape it on cement to observe
>the same on a smaller scale.
>
>On a larger scale it does the same when you drive a dozer on concrete.
>The tracks scrape the surface quite badly leaving the white marks,
>especially when turning.
>
>Your thought to protect it is a good plan. I don't have to do it often
>but I use sheets of particle board when working on tracked equipment
>rolling on a concrete floor that is six inches thick and reinforced. A
>couple of times can ruin the boards but the floor surface is saved for
>the most part. Even a small Cat dozer can weigh twelve tons.

Trying to protect the concrete is an unsafe idea. The reason why
these jacks use steel wheels is so they will roll easily on concrete.
When you jack up a car, the jack has to move to compensate for the
shifting lift saddle. Placing a piece of wood under the jack's wheels
will increase the friction to the point where it's moving, or trying
to move, the car instead of the jack. You could end up with a very
unstable lift that could damage the jack, the car or you. Although
the powder is very noticeable, brush it away and try to feel any
groove the wheels have cut in the concrete. You won't be able to find
any, it really doesn't do any great amount of damage to the concrete.

Jack
 >> Stay informed about: A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS 

On Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:17:33 -0700 (PDT), idbwill <idbwill DeleteThis @yahoo.com>
wrote:

>>...chalk-like substance which I can only suppose was ground steel extracted from the wheels<
>
>It's not steel from the wheels. Its concrete dust/marks in the
>concrete from the weight on the steel wheels. That's usually a sign of
>a weak mix or old concrete. We always called a weak mix a "barn yard"
>mix, meaning there wasn't as much "cement" in the mix, which made it
>weaker/cheaper, but was fine for a barn yard pour. Not allot of weight
>going to be on it. Was manly for ease of cleaning the barn yard.

Have you ever seen any figures on the amount of stress a hoofed animal
places on concrete. Believe me when I say that a 1000 pound cow will
stress a concrete floor more than a 4 ton tractor.

No one wants to put down a concrete floor more than once. So the mix
isn't short on Portland cement on purpose. The amount of money saved
is not very great and the durability of the finished floor is much
reduced.

Your "barn yard mix" comes from the fact that most of these older
concrete floors were mixed in a small batch mixer. You measured the
amount of sand, gravel and cement by the shovel full, not weight. The
amount of water is measured by eye and supplied by a garden hose. So
the proportions are an estimate at best. Add that to the fact that
these floors have been subjected to 75 to 100 years of acid leaching
by animal urine and fecal matter and you have concrete that isn't at
it's best.

Jack
 >> Stay informed about: A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS 

Built_Well wrote:
> Steel wheels aren't as robust as one might suppose. The 3.5-ton
> Michelin floor jack's steel wheels laid down a thin layer of
> a white, chalk-like substance which I can only suppose was
> ground steel extracted from the wheels by the heavy weight of
> the car as the jack rolled forward on the concrete ground while
> lifting the car.
>
> The substance looked a little like chalk scrawled on
> a concrete street.
>
> I think next time I'll lay a thin piece of wood or particle
> board down on the floor for the jack to roll forward on as it
> lifts the car.
>
> Using a wooden runway probably isn't keeping with the rules of
> floor jack operation, but I want the steel wheels to last.


What you see is stone and concrete dust. Nothing to worry about, unless
you start seeing big grooves or the concrete starts to crack, then you
might want to find a better floor to work on...

DON'T use anything under the jack on concrete.

Unless your doing work that requires you to remove the tires/wheels why
not buy a set of drive on ramps. Lighter, safer, easier to use and
faster. Drop the ramps, drive(or back) onto them and chock or lock the
brakes. DONE.
Now you only have to drag the jack around when you need to pull the
tires. For oil changes, greasing the joints, replacing the exhaust, even
bigger projects like pulling a transmission.
Unless you have a very heavy car the plastic Rhino ramps work pretty
well. Or you can hunt down some steel ramps.

--
Steve W.
 >> Stay informed about: A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS 

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 >> Stay informed about: A floor jack's STEEL WHEELS