Posted for "David Lowry" <dave@edt.com>:

All,
  I am thinking of using my new fiberglass skills to
  make a jack pad for my C182 landing gear leg. The pad my mechanic
  uses is a steel affair that doesn't quite fit right and digs a corner into the paint, chipping out a chunk.
  This leads to rust and paint touch up.   I can make a fiberglass pad fit perfectly using
  release techniques and then reinforce the outside to keep it from   bending. The weight will be distributed along the
  whole length so no digging in. On the bottom I will have to build up a flat
  surface to interface to the jack. This angled lump will be in compression.
  It seems like the usual foam won't work for a core.
  Should it just be solid glass, wood, steel?
  David Lowry
  Legacy


[I'd suggest either a chunk of aluminum, or just use some 1/4" phenolic.  Use packaging tape on the bottom of the wing (or wax the bottom with 5-6 coats of paste wax, buffing between coats) as a release.  Build up 3-4 BIDs to match lower wing surface shape, embed the 1/4" phenolic hardpoint in line with your lift point and micro a fillet around the hard point, then another 2-3 BID to close out.  Drill the hole for your jack pin and you're set.  You can protect the lower wing surface by lining your finished part with some carpeting. FWIW......                    <Marv>                     ]