DRILLING:
Whenever you are drilling into heavy material you should start out with a 3/16” drill bit and increase in 3/16”, or 1/8” increments until the desired hole size is met.
For the base of the stand the holes should be drilled in this order: 3/16”, 3/8”, and 1/2”.
Drilling on the two vertical pieces in order, 3/16”, 3/8”, 1/2” for the holes that bolt the vertical supports to the base.
For the two upper holes in the vertical supports in order, 3/16”, 3/8”, 1/2”, and 5/8” to finish, this is to allow the studs to fit.
The next step is not necessary, but I like to bevel the edges of all holes that are drilled.
To do this just step up one drill bit size from the desired hole drilled. Simply done. Lightly touch the edge of the previously drilled holes with the larger drill bit, to knock the edge off. The hardware that you are going to need to assemble this wheel stand is: Two 1/2”-13 x 1.5” bolts, six washers to fit and two locking nuts.
The reason for the 6 washers is to have one on the bolt side, one on the nut side and the third sandwiched in between the vertical supports and the base to allow them to open and fold easily.
PREPARING
AND PAINTING
YOUR NEW TOOL:
Start out by sanding the mill scale off with 80 grit and then repeat over all the parts with 180 grit to refine the scratches down for paint.
When it comes to painting and protecting your new tool, a good corrosion resistant primer is the best product to use. On our wheel stand, we decided to us a PPG product (DP90); this is an epoxy primer that will last for years. Here is a photo of the stand painted and installed on a car ready to have the quarter panel replaced.
