Hydraulic Jacks and Hydraulic Shear Jacks - Their Benefits

The hydraulic jack or "floor jack" and the shear jack or "screw jack" are two very useful tools that have the same general results. So which one is right for your project? Which one should you try to buy for the trunk of your car in an emergency? Both types of hydraulic jacks and shear jacks have some amazing benefits, however, both may not be right for your project.

Hydraulic jacks are an impressive tool to add to your disposal, and they are most commonly used in the home environment to lift cars for maintenance and tire changes. On a larger scale, other forms of hydraulic jacks are used for many of the things we do, in construction equipment, platform lifting, material handling and even earth moving. Hydraulic jacks work according to Pascal's Law; if you don't remember your high school science class well, we can work for you. In short, "A small force is applied to a smaller area of hydraulic fluid, and that force creates some pressure in the fluid. That pressure is then applied to a wider area at the output to create enough force to lift the load." 

A scissor jack is a simpler machine, a mechanical jack that works with the help of a lead screw. You use a small crank to tighten the screw and pull the connecting rods together. This will raise the jack - as you loosen the screw (also by cranking), the linkage will pull farther and the jack will lower. While shear jacks have many benefits, they also have some drawbacks. Shear jacks are relatively slow to operate ...... you may need to spend more time lifting and lowering to get the desired results. Another disadvantage is that they are a bit light and not recommended for use on heavy vehicles.

Transmission Jack

So, what makes a hydraulic floor jack different and/or better than a regular shear jack? Here are some of the advantages we have found. One of the biggest advantages is speed, hydraulic jacks can reach the same height as a shear jack in seconds! They are also a bit heavier for the task and can be trusted with many different vehicles and objects that are a bit heavier for the task. Finally, while hydraulic floor jacks may not be ideal for moving around, because they have wheels they are usually easier to roll around on the floor without having to pick it up with your back!

How does a hydraulic jack work?

A hydraulic jack generates pressure by causing oil to flow through the two cylinders by means of a pump plunger. The pump plunger is pulled back, which opens the suction valve and draws oil into the pump chamber. When the plunger is pushed down, oil is delivered to the cylinder chamber through the external discharge valve. The suction valve then closes, causing the pressure in the chamber to rise; causing the piston in the chamber to rise and lift your weight.

This process can be repeated many times, allowing you to get higher and higher loads.

Quality Jack Stands

About our hydraulic equipment

Reliability is critical when dealing with heavy loads, and we specialize in heavy-duty hydraulic equipment that can lift extremely heavy weights safely and reliably. In some cases, our hydraulic jacks are capable of lifting up to 200 tons - please check the maximum load capacity of your chosen product before completing your purchase.

We offer many different types of jacks, including cylinder jacks, bottle jacks, toe jacks, trolley jacks, and more. We also offer all the necessary accessories and connectors for the jacks we sell, as well as additional items such as nut separators and pipe benders.

Please contact us for a quote and more services.