Let's take a moment for safety

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2015 5:57 am

Had me a mishap with an angle grinder.

I was wearing gloves and the guard was on the unit. Somehow, don't ask me how, it torqued out of my grip and the hand that was on the side bar got bit by the disc.

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

WhitbyKJ wrote:

Had me a mishap with an angle grinder.

I was wearing gloves and the guard was on the unit. Somehow, don't ask me how, it torqued out of my grip and the hand that was on the side bar got bit by the disc.

I had the same thing happen to me, with gloves, the cutting disk sliced my finger right open.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Mountainman · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:51 pm

I had one eat through a portion of my finger nail, but I deserved it. Guard was removed and no gloves :roll:

I've since learned to use my PPE :grim:

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2015 5:04 pm

To ally bretherin out there!!! Ppe please! Always.

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2015 5:12 pm

We can't keep wrenching if we loose the ability to do so.

The_dealer · **Joined:** Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:41 pm **Posts:** 129

Had my bronco fall off the jackstand onto me about 6yrs ago, and was almost killed. Didn't do anything wrong and had quality jackstands under it, just one of those freak accidents. My ex wife was 7 months pregnant with my son and I remember thinking, "hell no f**k this, I aint going out like that." Somehow I managed to pretty much bench press it enough to get out from under it, then I blacked out. Broke all my ribs, left collarbone, left should blade, dislocated my hip (trying to get out from under it), and had some internal bleeding. Took months just to be able to get where I could take a leak without help. Scary situation, and no doubt I got extremely lucky. Buddies make fun of me for using 6 jackstands and a stack of spares, but they've never worn a bronco before. I've gotten metal in my eye(once I was even wearing safety glasses), so I wear those bill nye science goggles all the time. Never can be too safe, especially now that some of us are alot older.

Sent from my G870a on 38's.

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Thu Oct 15, 2015 8:35 am

My hat is off to you!! You my friend are a survivor!

Same here. I feel uneasy even going under a vehicle that's on a lift. The question is always on the for front of my mind, which way to get out fastest?

The_dealer · **Joined:** Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:41 pm **Posts:** 129

Yeah, I was extremely lucky and I never even saw it coming. I heard a creaking sound and by the time I heard it fall I already figured out what the noise was. It still had a jackstand holding one corner up, and somehow I bench pressed it far enough for my wife to shove one of the wheels under so I could get out. I remember standing up and thinking I wasn't hurt, but then the pain hit and I blacked out. A leg on one of the jackstand suddenly sunk into asphalt and caused it to lean far enough for the rig to fall over, talk about freak accident.

Sent from my G870a on 38's.

jrsavoie · **Posted:** Thu Oct 15, 2015 3:23 pm

Makes me a little nervous crawling under my GMT400's now. I have good heavy jack stands, but maybe some blocking in addition too, would not be a bad idea

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Fri Oct 16, 2015 7:16 am

There is no such thing as being too safe!!!! :wink:

Jack-stands can be very dangerous under certain conditions, especially when working on asphalt or dirt or using cheap ones! Had one crush and collapse on me several years ago. I now have a very healthy respect for good quality jack-stands. I even built myself a couple super heavy duty ones with super wide flat bottom bases.
If you got the cheap jack-stands like Wally world or others sale, throw them in the trash and get yourself some good quality heavy duty wide base stands from NAPA or one of the tool suppliers like SnapOn or MAC Tools. Your life is worth the extra money!!!
Using the stacked inflated tires as a backup safety is always a good idea when getting under a vehicle on jack-stands to perform work on it. If a jackstand fails for any reason or the vehicle slips off a stand, the inflated tires will keep it from falling onto you and allow you an escape route...

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WORK SAFE!!!! :wink:

jrsavoie · **Posted:** Fri Oct 16, 2015 8:27 am

WWDiesel wrote:

There is no such thing as being too safe!!!! :wink:

Jack-stands can be very dangerous under certain conditions, especially when working on asphalt or dirt or using cheap ones! Had one crush and collapse on me several years ago. I now have a very healthy respect for good quality jack-stands. I even built myself a couple super heavy duty ones with super wide flat bottom bases.
If you got the cheap jack-stands like Wally world or others sale, throw them in the trash and get yourself some good quality heavy duty wide base stands from NAPA or one of the tool suppliers like SnapOn or MAC Tools. Your life is worth the extra money!!!
Using the stacked inflated tires as a backup safety is always a good idea when getting under a vehicle on jack-stands to perform work on it. If a jackstand fails for any reason or the vehicle slips off a stand, the inflated tires will keep it from falling onto you and allow you an escape route...

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WORK SAFE!!!! :wink:

I'd better get some extra wide tires if there is going to be room for me to slide out. Maybe some slicks from my buddy's dragster

The_dealer · **Joined:** Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:41 pm **Posts:** 129

I bought some Matco 12 ton stands after the whole bronco incident, and I use my 6 tons as catch/backup stands
I've also had the cheap ones twist and collapse, dropping my first jeep( YJ) on the ground. Luckily I was doing brakes and wasn't hanging out under it. Took me 3 hrs with 2 floor Jacks and his lift to get it stable. I

Sent from my G870a on 38's.

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Sun Oct 18, 2015 1:03 pm

I've got jack stands, cinder blocks, and some 8x8 pressure treated wood i use when working on my lady. I like the 8x8 because it's stackable and I can leave it on them for long periods of time (weeks) without worrying. I've been known to double stack 8x8 all along the "frame"...

Most of us have wives, and children. We need to keep them in our minds.

The_dealer · **Joined:** Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:41 pm **Posts:** 129

I've had cinder blocks crumble before, haven't trusted them since. They're fine for holding an axle or something in place, but other than that I wouldn't risk it

Sent from my G870a on 38's.

Ascender · **Posted:** Sun Oct 25, 2015 12:04 am

When I was younger, I was stupid enough once to change the brakes on my Taurus with just the scissor jack under one jack point, and no chock. Well, of course the parking brake rolled a little, and the jack toppled. Fortunately, I didn't have any part of ME under the car, and I flopped on my back and yanked my knees away from it as it went down. I've never trusted a jack since, though I've never had one fail on me since then, either.

I did manage to get my hand trapped a week ago when the custom air intake inside the fender of my Buick sprang loose while I was reaching into an extremely tight spot. Trapped my hand against the underside of the inner fender shelf for a minute before I could wriggle loose. Good reasons to not work on a vehicle when you're alone. You always want someone within yelling distance if something goes wrong.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Sun Oct 25, 2015 11:46 am

The_dealer wrote:

I've had cinder blocks crumble before, haven't trusted them since. They're fine for holding an axle or something in place, but other than that I wouldn't risk it
Sent from my G870a on 38's.

Amen brother, never ever use or trust 8" concrete blocks to hold up a vehicle!!! They will break and crumble! Had a neighbor years ago working on brakes while using cinder blocks and they collapsed and broke both his legs...
If you do not want to use good quality jack stands, buy yourself some 4x4's or 6x6s post and cut them into two foot lengths and use them to double stack to hold up a vehicle. Its called cribbing and is used all the time to hold up heavy loads with no danger of collapsing.... :wink:

jrsavoie · **Posted:** Tue Oct 27, 2015 2:31 pm

Does anybody have any links to heavier duty jack stands?

I have some pretty heavy duty stands, but I would not be opposed to finding something even heavier

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Wed Oct 28, 2015 6:03 am

If you want the ultimate.. My best guess would be to hit up a big rig repair shop, talk to them about maybe buying a used set or ask who makes theirs.

I am gonna be picking up some 8x8 and pinning them together.

Let's take a moment for safety

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