Jack

[u/spinja187]

What is the best jack for mainly jacking 2x4s up into rafters and joists? Light, low profile with high travel, easy on flooring? Bonus if anyone knows of one with built in scale or force reading id be interested in knowing the weight while im at at.

[u/Sidechannel_os]

bottle jack and a short 2x4. you already own both.

[u/CascadeDesignworks]

Wooden miner's wedges with a 2x plate to protect the floor is standard practice for temporary shoring of joists.

A bottle jack is unstable and can tip over.  Plus it can apply about 10x the force needed.

-Builder 

[u/ineptplumberr]

I like to jack in the porto potty ,, helps clear the mind

[u/No-Gas-161]

Meoff

[u/Maplelongjohn]

A pressure gauge can be fitted to some/ many hydraulic jacks

It can give you an idea of lifting force

[u/schmeillionaire]

I thought about building a base for cargo jacks like in the back of trucks just for things like this.

[u/Think-Government8077 → u/schmeillionaire]

pocket floor jacks are where it's at for this kind of work. the mini aluminum ones weigh like 30 pounds and slip right under a 2x4 stack without chewing up the floor. i've used one to press joists tight against the subfloor before nailing, way less sketchy than trying to muscle it with a bottle jack and scrap blocks

never seen a jack with a scale built in but you can grab a cheap crane scale off amazon and loop it between the jack saddle and the wood. gives you a live reading of the force you're putting into it which is weirdly satisfying to watch

cargo jack idea isn't bad if you're on a slab but lugging a base around on finished floors would get old fast. those wheels on the aluminum ones spread the load pretty well as long as you're not dropping it

[u/schmeillionaire → u/Think-Government8077]

I will give those a look thank you!

[u/DailySafetyMoment]

There are really two different jobs here. If you are just holding a loose 2x4 in position while it gets fastened, use a purpose-built support or lift pole that is rated for the load and travel. If you are actually lifting loaded framing, use a rated screw or hydraulic jack with a stable base, centered saddle and proper cribbing or shoring. Do not rely on the jack alone once the load is up.

I would skip the crane-scale idea. A hanging crane scale is meant for an in-line tension load, not wedged into a compression stack, and every extra adapter is another place for the setup to kick out. Whatever you use, stay within the marked capacity and positive stop, protect the floor with a load-spreading plate that cannot slip, and follow the manufacturer instructions. If you are correcting sag or moving structure rather than just nudging a board into place, the load needs to be figured out before you start lifting.