So - I had a look on facebook marketplace and happened upon some plexiglass screens which were originally used as 'covid barriers' which a local business was giving away for free. I thought ok they will be perfect - went to collect 2, turned out they had about 30, so of course I ended up with 30 almost impeccable 5mm thick clear perspex sheets. Once I got them home I thought to myself that I couldnt possibly use them for this purpose as they are pristine and would 'come in handy' (oh no) for shed windows and the like. I also have 60 sturdy metal brackets for them which are less likely to 'come in handy' so I will have to work out what to do with them...
So, ashamed to actually use the things I had just got, I went to the port and had a rumage around. I came back with one big sheet of dibond (Sandwich of aluminium, polyethelyne, aluminium, often used for signs), and some offcuts of galvanised 2mm steel.
I cut the dibond to shape with the tracksaw and rounded all the edges with a sander, then countersunk and screwed it to the board. I will give it a go with the jack today, but I am 50:50 as to whether it will have sufficient surface strength or whether it will crack/indent. If that fails, I will clad it with the galvanised steel, although I only have a grinder to cut the steel with so it will be somewhat of a challenge to cut that straight...
Sam 93, I have a suggestion! I have several steel filing cabinets, re-purposed as tool cabinets in my barn. These cabinets have sheet steel shelves with rolled edges, to stiffen the shelves. It would be easy to cut your ply to fit inside. There would be no edges to catch on. As you are in East Sussex and I am in West Sussex, if you were ever my way I would give you one. Without measuring I would say they are around 36" X 15" and the edges around1"deep. They are painted and could be stored with a plastic bag over them. I am sure they turn up in Tips or metal scrap yards.
Thankyou for your offer that is very kind of you! It prompted me to go and have a search for something similar in the scrap areas near me.
Beware the jack sliding on any slippery surface like a worktop or sheet metal. Or the board on the driveway surface. Especially so if your driveway is sloped.
I have the same problem on my tarmac driveway. I tend to use an old bit of ply too, but as you say the jack's wheels need to move rather than sink into the ply. I wouldn't trust the jack alone either, and also use some axle stands
Hmm, yes this is a concern. My driveway is slightly sloped - I wonder if I will need to scratch up the dibond surface (currently very smooth) to make it secure. Alternatively I could probably find some kind of material to stick on to the face. Yes I always use axle stands.
Scissor jack ? The ones I have ( I have trolley jacks and bottle jacks etc too ) go down really flat to be slid in.
Yes always with axle stands. Bought some metal ramps last year..looked at the plastic ones ( on line ) wasn't sure about them as to if they really would not collapse.
I have a low profile trolley jack which is ideal becuse it fits under easily and gives a good raising height to 45cm or so which is really handy if doing a clutch or similar.
