Mechanical vs. Hydraulic Jack- Which is better for your Construction Project?

Does your construction project involve lifting of extremely heavy loads? How do you then determine which type of jack is ideal for your project. Read the following article to know if mechanical or hydraulic jack is better for your construction project.

A jack is a device that is useful for lifting loads. In construction industry however, you need a jack that is capable of lifting extremely heavy structures such as construction equipments, buildings, bridges, towers etc. In short, the construction industry needs lifting devices that are capable of lifting many tons of loads.

So how do you determine which is the better jack for your construction project? Mechanical and hydraulic jacks are extremely common and can be seen in various industries such as automobile, shipping, mining etc. These jacks are also used for various construction applications such as lifting heavy equipments, supporting or lifting a building and for renovation or relocation purposes. Read the following to have a better understanding about mechanical and hydraulic jacks to use the more suitable one for your construction industry.

Hydraulic Jacks

A hydraulic jack makes use of a fluid that is incompressible and constrained into a cylinder with the help of pump piston. Hydraulic jack or hydraulic high pressure oil pump makes use of the oil as the plunger backs away allowing it to drive the oil through a discharge check valve into the piston chamber. The best thing about hydraulic jacks that a small amount of pressure are enough to lift loads that seem impossible to pick otherwise. One of the common applications of hydraulic jacks is while lifting vehicles for repair and maintenance purpose. You may also be familiar with hydraulic jacks being used in various industries such as automotive, fabrication and health care. In Construction Company however, hydraulic slipform jacks are used for lifting complete formwork along with work decks. Hydraulic jack is quite important equipment in construction industry and workshops since it reduces a lot of work for mechanics and workers.

Mechanical Jacks

As opposed to hydraulic jacks, mechanical jacks make use of only physical means for raising and lowering loads. You can commonly see mechanical jacks in the automotive industry for lifting loads and vehicles. The scope of mechanical jacks is not limited to the automobile industry and you can also find them in other applications such as moving platforms, changing settings on woodworking machinery, for adjusting radio telescopes and various other purposes. Mechanical jacks are self-locking that is, when their power is cut off the screw remains in the same positions till power is supplied again. Due to these properties mechanical jacks are considered a safer option as compared to hydraulic jacks. However one of the major drawbacks is that they are not capable of lifting as heavy loads as hydraulic lifts.

Whether you should choose mechanical or hydraulic jacks depends on your requirements. Consider parameters such as the weight of the load, safety, efficiency etc before locking down any type of jack for your construction project. You can even consider hiring a reputed company to help you with heavy lifting construction projects.