Klein Tools has launched their own heavy duty construction jack lift, model 77000.
The Klein construction jack has a 10″ lifting range and 350 lb load rating.
The design looks familiar. “If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all” seems appropriate, although I can’t say whether that’s good or bad.
Here’s a reminder of what the Dewalt construction jack looks like – it’s available at Home Depot and elsewhere.
The Klein lifting hack comes with removable non-marring and anti-slip footplate covers.
You can also operate the squeeze-activated lifting mechanism with your foot.
The footplate can be removed and attached to the top of the bar, “for clamping applications.”
Price: $90
Discussion
Here’s the Viking Arm, which was the original innovation that kicked off the construction jack lifting category.
Stanley Black & Decker launched Dewalt, Irwin, and Stanley FatMax construction jacks.
The Viking Arm company brought a legal complaint against SBD, arguing that the designs infringed upon their patents. The two companies entered a licensing agreement.
The Bessey Beyceps lifting jack launched most recently, and it was borne from a partnership between Bessey and Viking Arm.
I think this is the best one so far.
There are also a ton of cheap knockoffs at online marketplaces.
And now there’s one from Klein.
Part of me is thinking “this will work great for all of the doors and cabinets that electricians are installing.”
On the other hand, Klein has been working hard to expand into other tool and trades categories. I guess it’s good to have a little more variety.
I’m trying not to judge.
A lot of tool brands have been facing hardships. Some have shut down.
This seems like a “me too” product, but at least Klein isn’t sitting back and twiddling their thumbs. They’re seeking to grow, and it seems to be working.
A few years ago ToughBuilt had a huge roadmap depicting all of the different product categories they were planning to expand into. They seem to have abandoned all of that and put all of their aspirations into the StackTech modular tool box system.
One of these days it might not seem strange anymore to see general construction and installation tools from Klein.
Stanley Black & Decker has Dewalt construction jacks at Home Depot stores, and an Irwin version at Lowe’s stores.
The Irwin construction jack is not bad, but it’s not as good as the Dewalt.
Home Depot got the better Dewalt construction jack, and Lowe’s got the cheaper and less functional Irwin tool.
The new Klein lifting jack seems to be on-par with the Dewalt, but also more featured than the Irwin.
If I were the Lowe’s buyer, I’d drop the Irwin jack and stock the next in-store promotional displays with the Klein version. Maybe that’s what prompted Klein to launch their own version.
Lowe’s doesn’t have a listing for the jack (yet?), but online retailers have started accepting orders.
