Axle stands are made from a variety of materials including steel, carbon steel, cast iron and aluminium. Certain axle stands can be produced from two of these materials for added strength.
Carbon steel
Carbon steel is a very commonly used type of steel. The properties of carbon steel depend on the amount of carbon it contains:
Low carbon steel – Contains up to 0.2% carbon. This improves ductility but has no effect on strength.
Medium carbon steel – Contains between 0.2 to 0.5% carbon. This is ideal for machining or forging and where surface hardness is desirable.
High carbon steel – Contains more than 0.5% carbon. This becomes very hard and will withstand high shear and wear.
Steel
Steel is an alloy, made by adding carbon to iron, which are the two alloy elements which give steel its strength.
Cast iron
Cast iron is a very hard material which can be readily cast in a mould and contains a higher proportion of carbon than steel. Steels with a carbon content of 2% or more without further added elements are considered to be cast iron.
Aluminium
Aluminium is a relatively soft, durable, lightweight, ductile and malleable metal. Used in the design of certain axle stands.
Any pair of axle stands made of these materials will withstand constant use, however, Wonkee Donkee says the best material to choose is carbon steel. Carbon steel is very common and is used in a lot of products because of its strength and ability to withstand wear and tear.
