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Marv, I am really sorry to hear about your catastrophe with your jacks.
I am very curious about the construction of your jacks because from your
description it sounds like my jacks are of similar construction.  I have
never had any problem with them.

My bottle jacks are mount in a wood tripod frame (about 16" Dai. at the
base)  with water pipe inside another water pipe (supported laterally by the
tripod) to transfer the load from the aircraft.  I put an automotive ball
joint on top of the inside pipe so as to accommodate any changes of aircraft
attitude.  Thus, I hoped to avoid concentrated pressure at the edges of the
2" Dai. pad interfacing directly with the aircraft.  One thing that is very
important -- make sure that the bottle jack is setting on something that
transfers the load to the tripod legs, not directly to the floor.

If your jacks were constructed like mine,  I don't understand this accident
could have happened.

At least this was not as bad as a hanger being blown down on top of your
finished airplane,  as happened to me last June.
 Good luck with your repairs

Bob Jude
N65BJ