Home made equipment..

Planning on making home made dumbells , and home made incline bench.

either with steel pipe , or square tubing from lowes for the bench.

just wondering if anybody here has done it and if they have some simple low material quantity designs.

Im thinking the me using square tubing would be better depending on cost vs pipe.

because easier to mount the seat. But im guessing square tubing costs more. but with one a single bar to connect the pad to , its about alot of torque on the edges and connecting screws or bolts , since there would be pad hanging off the sides.. So think Im better off making bars that go out as wide as the pad. i'd make with support bars that run between them.

just looking for a little help on ideas. My ideas for the dumbells are either using pipe with brackets to have ends certain amount of weight can put , and lock on. and either buying the plates or making them also.

if I made the weights on my own they would most likely ... be concrete , but an adjustable dumbell I think be better for me because I could recycle that weight from the dumbells to the barbell later on , instead of pipe in concrete in a can or bucket.

but so just need a simple design made out of steel buyable from lowes , hopefully it will be used for mainy dumbells for now , but later on plan on being able to use a barbell on it. So probably build that in on the default design.

looking for opinions and ideas for now

Doubt it , only way would be internet , which would be killer shipping fees.......... The county the people who do workout mainly just go to the gym , but its expensive as hell with the jobs available around here. the people who have equipment wouldnt give it up.

from what I was looking at , the weight of concrete iron is in the ballpark per cubic meter with each other.

So I could make a mold pretty easy for concrete plates IMO , I dont need to be comparison to iron weights , as long as the size plates are same weight per size im happy.

if I mix up the plates at the same time together so same water mixture when it dries it should come out as the same size per weight im guessing.

bucket , or cans just change the diameter of the mold , preferably thicker since they'll be stronger , and then coat them with rubber coating , but still take care of them dont toss them around. Have tube in the center to allow a hole to slide onto dumbells and barbells whenever it drys but the pipe that goes in the mold will probably have to be left inside of the plate so im guessing PVC , and whether the outiside mold would come off... im thinking it would just with few minutes of work and tapping.. w/e.

But cheap 5lbs for what like 60lbs of concrete? cheaper than around 69cents + a pound for weights. Then just coat with a rubber paint on coating. or spray on coating.

mark the weights with how much they weigh.

bar if the bar I have hasnt been stolen , then reuse it after clean it up , or use some thick black pipe brackets or clamps to have the ends spaced equally for weight plates. and marks for hand placement.. but bar is un needed for now i think.

the bench im thinking I could make for about 50-70 bucks thats with a bar placement on it , 20-40 dollars for just an incline bench with no bar spotter placement.

dumbells can be made just like normal barbell , just smaller scale and maybe thicker handles , or same handles.

The only equipment I think if I dont have , and would have to rebuy would be a bar , because the length , along with the amount of weight , I think steel pipe , wouldnt be able to support withstand the right amount of weight , which I will try to see if I still have the bar.

But for dumbells , im thinking the pipe will definitely hold... if worse comes to worse I can fill it with sand or something on the dumbells , to add reinforcement.

But the weights I DEFINITELY , have to make by hand to save loads of money , even though I dont need much weight , right now maybe 300lbs if I want to still have to switch weights around from bar to dumbells. and such.

but concrete weights would save much a hell of alot. probably 50-150 dollars.

The only concern is I will more than likely need to make the molds myself.. Because of the different diameters I will be using for each different type of weight plate. I have idea of how to make mold by hand with no weights to make a copy of , ill just have to use wood and glue and screw the different layers together. for the bigger plates. using plywood.

The center hole is easy , and a must , I dont think I will use any holes for picking up.

I think the only necessary ones I need for the way im training , are maybe 3 different types of weights.. like 50lb ones , 25lb ones , 10lb ones

because with endurance training whenever I increase the weight I will make big jumps 50-100+ totals on barbell exercises , and dumbells , roughly increments of 20lbs.

So I just have to calculate mainly the diameter vs thickness of the plates , using rougly 2-3 thick , I will need to find out the estimated diameter that each one will have to be when made.

These numbers are rough increments , since whenever I make the mold I dont need dead on numbers just dead on between each of the sizes so the barbell or dumbells are balance , but for the most part , this is in the 10lb range.

10lbs plate of concrete = 115.2 Cubic inches
25lb plate of concrete = 288 Cubic inches
50lb plate of concrete = 576 Cubic inches

So if thats the cubic inches of concrete I need , the rough measurements of the size plates I need to make , without finding out the difference of of cubic inches due to the missing center of concrete because PVC pipe will be in the place of the center hole. Without the calculated weight of the PVC difference.

I will try to make molds this size to accomade each of the concrete mixtures. Hopefully the evaporation weight of the water lost of hardening wont affect weight majorly. But even so just need a balance I have a scale to measure after effect weight after I put a protective rubber/urathane or whatever.... Just after I get it done I need to measure out the weight of protective coating to apply and put in evenly as possible all around coat. I will put up finish product when done. Since im not looking for a commercial quality product I wont calculate with surface area coating to get specific weight.

10lb plate - 8.5" diameter , 2" thickness = 113.490036 cubic inches
25lb plate - 13" diameter , 2" thickness = 286.27762 cubic inches
50lb plate - 19" diameter , 2" thickness = 567.0575 cubic inches

I expect to lose a bit of thickness from water evaporation and w/e ... but so , I think the thickness will be good enough to be able to incorporate a good dumbell.. With the mold sizes if I were to use nothing but 10's on each side to make a 100lb dumbell , grip width and dumbell width I except to lose 25% of the total thickness so a 20inch thickness drops to 15 inches of weight , 7.5 inches on each side of my hand for 100lb dumbell... Now lets be realistic , I would be better off with less weights on each side when benching yes... but at the bottom it best to turn the dumbell for shoulder and wrist protection anyways... So they wont interfere too much with my range of motion.

and training high rep they will do fine.. for lost cost equipment. but realistically since I will have other size plates I probably wouldnt stack loads of 10's on each side anyways.

But whenever I get to the limit for dumbells for a practical length dumbell with the weights is when Im switching to barbell which the weights wont affect me at all from then on.

weights can be made as I need them.. which I think 4 of each to start with is a good amount which equals to roughly 340lbs of concrete , which a 60lb bag is what 5 dollars????? so 30 dollars for a 350lb set of weights.

first of all... i think this is awesome. I do agree and say this is a serious task (at least the calculations and trials) to get this up and running for yourself. Talk about conserving cash and 'do it yourself' projects... damn.

anyway, I haven't done any calculations but over all, of course you need to consider a few things.... for example:

1) Stability of your clamps and bar (will the clamps hold, will they dent your bar, kink or damage your bar, will it hold your concrete 'plates' on correctly so they don't wabble)?

2) PVC - using that as a sliding piece or holder for the center portion of your plates, will it crack under pressure from the concrete (i.e. rotation of your plates on your bar... the chances of your plates being flush from a home made mold may be slim, regardless expect some uneven area's in your concrete

3) concrete - do you think a rubber paint will hold out moisture - maybe use a kilns sealant (or whatever that shit is called), concrete is porous and will change the consistancy of your plates... if they aren't sealed you will get different weight, moisture, inconsistancy, and more importantly mold

4) damage control - how often will you make plates? .. what type of flooring do you have? type of storage? ... like i said, moisture, mold, rubber mats to prevent plate chipping or floor damage? ... if you go high reps to complete failure, do you have a spotter to prevent damage?

5) health - i understand that making a bench and weights are cheaper, however between the inconsistancy of your materials, (and no offense), but how is your welding skills? ... if you're going to use straight bolts to keep things together, there is alot of room for error in the construction and overall design. watch yourself. you don't want to have failure over a screw and bolt... maybe workout with core groups and keep doing what you are doing untill you get enough cash to get a set, look at garage sales in the meantime, or in the local classifieds to see if anyone has anything for sale, or flea markets.... bottom line is if you make it yourself, you can only hold yourself liable if something were to happen to you.. at least the other way - well.. they have insurance b/c as far as I'm concerned work out equipment is a high liability product, can be... if quality assurance doesn't do thier job well enough

just be careful bro... you sound smart... but sometimes even the smartest might agree with the K.I.S.S. method... (keep it simple stupid) ... this way, even the smart bunch of us can work out another day... and if you are that smart to think about engineering your own work out equipment, the you should be able to make money doing something!!!

just my.02. Keep us updated, i think it's awesome... i'm just saying take some pics when your done and let us know how it goes...

Im hoping the plates would be maybe a 1-2 time process. Which the molds would still be kept.

From further thinking the PVC tube probably wont connect really good to the concrete , so it should come out rather easy , its just either having it go through the base of the mold an brackets on the top of the mold to keep it straight angle through the plate , so I dont have a lopsided plate.

First things first , when doing the mold I need to find a level area to place it to do the pouring , excess will overrun the mold , and I will have to flatscrape / level it.

This way I wont have PVC in the part at all , just on the mold , flip the mold over and try to knock the concrete block out from the bottom side while having it land on a flat rather soft area like pile of sand.

The bar im actually thinking the clamp stopped to keep the weight spaced , I will use a connecter.. like how the normal elbows at , but straight connector , this will create a bigger area for the plate so to keep it in place , the outside will be threaded. or same diameter as to use normal spring colars or something like that.

The dumbells im thinking 1-2 inch diameter pipe would hold up to the weight without cracking , bending / caving. Which to ensure strength I will probably after getting the length I want , cover one end and fill from the other with either dirt / sand , or even concrete ANY will do as long as I can have it plugged where it wont come out if its dirt and sand. This will add some reinforcement.

The bench im still not entirely sure whether to make or buy , im going to look around but the weights are a definite homemake. the barbells if the one I had outside if I can find it , are expensive so im hoping I still have it , if not I will have to find out the strengths of steel pipe , and see what I can do.. But im thinking the strength is there , due to the fact that 4 foot long piece , 2 of my friends I had them hand from it at one time thats slightly more than 500lbs , like 550+

on a 4 foot long piece , Im going to be using filled bar , probably an even bigger diameter , 2" and I dont need a bar any longer than just a little wider than normal wide grip bench. So the variables of leverage should be abut the same. probably more in my favor because I wont be benching 550 pounds with it , and then the distance is reduced due to the weights not in the middle its on the ends and my hands are cutting the bar in half.

only thing im thinking is the hand area connector , rest of bar , maybe instead im better off with solid piece with clamps , like a few hose clamps. Because I have read up on somebody elses homemade dumbells , and used normal plates and their hoseclamps worked fine , put a 60lb dumbell through a shake test and it didnt budge. I dont intend on having the dumbells on anything more than level with the ground.

But I will do my own testing , and shopping around before the fact of getting around to anymore more than the weights since thats the first and foremost thing I will be doing since I looked on lowes.com found 80lb of concrete for 4-5 bucks.

The coating im not really too sure about , the concrete would be left to cure fully id probably after initial hardening put it in a safe place for around a week before coating. It needs a rough pourous surface for a good layed of the coating to adhere to and it will protect against scapes and cuts on the concrete also not just help absorb slight impact , which I plan on taking care as much as possible with them. the coating would be water resistant , and dry pretty smooth. so it should work pretty fine.

Worse comes to worse theres a like 10ton roll of like 1.25" rubber that a person I know and has more than welcomed me to a bunch of it or as much of it as i needed in the past without me asking. So I could maybe cut strips and help it paint it on the outside of the weights when im finished. its super thick , super strong rubber.

of course my first trial will be with a small 10lb plate to trial and error do things. figure out the exact order of what needs to be done.

Weights - definite
Dumbells - 60-40 on the make side
barbell - 50-40-on make side with a 10 looking up on more statistics.

incline bench 40-50 , with a 10 still wanting to look up the strengths and design vs cost and such..

Welding wise , I know how to weld I took metals tech during highschoo for 3 courses. Didnt weld much mainly wrestled inside the metals tech trainer , strength feats ect lol.. did projects that we never really go to finish. Also my oldest brother is taking college courses for welding he just doesnt have a welder but if need be I can always drop by to see my old metals tech teacher and see if I can do it. since we used to always repair things.

thanks for the comments though stickler , definitely look into the whole sealant and coating more.

the stability issue idt will be too much of a problem though before I use them , I will definitely put them through a trial by fire , and also.

I will probably start the whole design process , simple sketches of dumbells and equipment , along with molds and notes on the images. before the building starts , and try my best to keep updated on progress. But will definitely put up the end result.

my main reason for this project to begin with is distance from the gym , and availability of it being open when I have the chance to train along with the time and way to get there. Then the heat , air conditioning issue with the really cheap gyms around here , the lights , since its practically completely dark except for a nitelight. , and the equipment gets destroyed sucks whenever you need to move up to 120s from 110 dumbells , and there gone , or you find one cant find the other.. Or find one and the other one is broken.

Then the other gym that we have , its expensive.. around 50 dollars a month. I think thats also even with student discount. Which they close at 8pm on weekdays , and 6pm on weekends.. close on holidays , and ect...

Those arent houses that fit into my schedule with being able to get there and train. Also who wants to carry 145lbs up 3 sets of staircases to do weighted dips , the placement of equipment is a hassle. Not to mention returning the 145lbs when your done. Then as strength increases it'd get worse.

The money I could save , as long as I take my time to do it right in the long run.. priceless.

but I will be careful and update. later bros.

Having a hard time finding the bending force of steel pipe

Thinking since I cant find that bar its stolen im guessing.

That I probably will just make my own bar , just make it a shortbar. which minimizes on the stress and at a 2" diameter it will have alot of tensile strength , Its hard to find the specs and calculation formulas to find out the bending force.. Ive spent 2 hours trying to find information and have gotten no where. Maybe just because im looking for big step information instead of small steps. Going from tensile strength of flat sheet , then find out cross sectional area and so on would be the way to go to find out the weight that the bar could handle... But so I was looking for bigger steps without the math of finding the information , and Couldnt really find any that way.

But with a short bar , 2" diameter , and I will just fill it for added strength. It should hold up amount of weight that I would ever be able to use for the most part for high rep. Especially for dumbells.

Only question is the 2 inch diameter isnt an accurate measurement for outside diameter just in the ball park... So calculations have to be exact by handbook also to find out the actual force it can handle which means alot of time spent. I am better off making and testing due to the cost and functional use that I think it can handle , where it will pass the test.

Only thing about using 2" is that I am keeping the useless 1" steel pipes that are on the bases of my equipment now. So looks like those will not be used for anything i dont think. Atleast not for now , but still needs to be modified with height in order to move rings to have full range of motion with bar grip. But for now chins and pullups with the rings are good enough.

So time to start the design process along with cost projections of projects.

good luck...

I just found my 7' bar , it was hidden under a table , that was surrounded by a bunch of junk , its majorly rusted , I need fix that.

Be nice if it was a short bar , then I could have it in my room easy fit but the 7 foot still work just takes up a bit more space. Soo just need to make weights , and dumbell handle that can accomodate those weights.

and either buy clips or make clips.

just buy the clips.. seriously.. they can't be THAT expensive.. and we already know that the spring loaded clips.. WORK.. especially if you have a true bar.. that means the clips should fit right on... don't go SO cheap, that you kill yourself.. just save your cash on the weights....

and i was thinking... on many weight benches... you see it looks like a hollow 2inch squar bar... sometimes it has a T or a T at both ends.. but typically it's a squar 2inch hollow steel squar bar.. and the pads are bolted onto that... then covered/padded heavily to prevent damage to the body or the pad... and i'm sure if it's wood or plastic, but it usually is pretty sturdy... it's either 1 inch or 2 inch, but i think it's 2inches in width square... and about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick meaning the steel plate.. then usually painted with some sort of high rubber glossy paint, then plastic capped at the end to prevent cutting yourself... so you'd have to sand it down and find almost like a square pipe cap.. or something... but it definitely has welds... and if' you're REALLY suave, you can add the wheel rollers... that's half way to commercial grade.. LOL ... now just add a hinge, so it can turn into an incline, and of course some steel adjustments and a pin.. and you've got it made.. LOL...

Yah I wasnt too sure on the price of clips but I figured they were pretty cheap lol.

The bench I will make that after the dumbell and the weights , but wheels would be nice to have where the dont touch the floor until tilted , The design I will definitely take some time on.

PS.. seems like forever since ive touched a dumbell , one im making seems super long , 5" for hand placement due to some testing with a 2" diameter can to get a feel , and tape measure. the 5" for hand seems good...

but 17" overall for dumbell seems big maybe cause its straight distance with no curves since im just lookin at the tape measure not actual object to compare to. but so thats 6" on each side of the hand for plates. and im expect the weights to come out less than 2" thick without coating. first run , maybe see later down the road if more plates will be using a smaller thickness , but this thickness is for strength of plates mainly.

I project the cost of the mold making to be the biggest cost involved , unless I make my own weight bench , which only slightly outcosts the mold.

So I have 3 ideas of mold making.... Plywood cut circles , screw together , get it perfect to pour with pvc center hole.

2... 2x4 mold , more work than plywood but costs less overall since there is alot of scrap wood around my house small chunks and pieces , in sizes from 4inches all the way to full length 2x4's

Another way is dirt molds... Maybe I could make mold for the 19 inch diameter weight and then fill it with dirt compact it and have it holed out to for for the concrete. This way after it finishes curing I can scrape some dirt out and remove it for no cost of making more than 1 mold , but can make multiple weights , while still having pvc in the center since center will stay center.. but its alot of work getting the dirt hold precise.

So maybe Just use the scrap 2x4 to make multiple molds.

again with the fruit acid names.. But as long as the batches are made at the same time then the weights should be equally mixed and weighted.

Which also puts the fact in my head that I didnt think about I need 2 identical molds of each.

Hopefully I can find similar buckets , of bigger diameter around the house , just have to see and look... maybe see what I can find at walmart or where-ever

body2see said:

With homeade equipment the weights are going to be hard to make equal....

You are going to have one large pec, one small pec...One large bicep, one small one.....LOL,. j/k

But really, any chance that you are "Malic"??

You would do well in strongman since alot of our components are handmade....

Click to expand...

i know this is a joke about Malic... but honestly.. i think this goes WAY BEYOND Malic.. LOL .... we'll see though..

Im compromising with a trade off , Ok the cost of mold in order to make round plates from nothing , the easiest way would be flexible material I could wrap into a circle , and mount down , and fill.. but cost is deadly.

High rep , all exercises are under control , square weights going to probably be what I go with for now. Corners are going to be the weak points but their not being throw around and not really used by anybody except for me. So I can trust myself to keep them intact.

If need be I can always make circle plates eventually. But square should be fine , the only lifts im worried about are deadlifts but still light weight and coated in absorbant coating shoud be fine if I dont come down on a corner.. which it shouldnt.

ETA .... a week before I have pictures of progress and results.

Or I could make octogon weights , so the look is better , and the corners are stronger... But then theres a bigge chance of impact on a corner. and would only take a hair bit more material for the mold.

i think octogon makes more sense.. but either way you have to account for corner chipping... it is definitely going to happen.... you just put yourself to a point that you either need a spotter or can never go to failure... you can't drop your weights... ever..