Scissor Type of expander

[Mike]

I need a clamp/expander that is exactly like a Scissor type car jack. It needs to expand about 4-5 inches and be cheap enough to leave in place. A Laboratory scissor jack is about $25 but I was hoping for $10. Does anyone know of such a tool?

[Bill Houghton]

Does it have to be a scissors-type expander?  I've successfully expanded components a piece of threaded rod or long bolts (threaded full length), a nut or three, and a piece of pipe sized to slip over the rod/bolt.  If you use threaded rod, you need three nuts, two to lock against each other and hold the rod still while you turn the nut against the pipe to push it along the rod, expanding the whole assembly.

[amecks]

What about those tools used to tighten fan belts?  somewhat like Bill's rod and tube method.   Here's a photo of a sorta fancy one:

Cheaper ones are made of metal and have pressed steel ends with a turnbuckle center.
Al