workout equipment - HELP!

Im adding to my home gym and wondering what some good brands are?

Ive got the old school HEX dumbbells and my one DB rack is full. I need another one but need a GOOD one to hold the heavier dumbbells (50lb-80+).

Anyone know what brands to look at? I want some quality stuff. Should I get 2 or 3 teir?

Also, my smith machine if total rusted crap. I hate smiths and was thinking of a good cage/free rack for benching, squats, military and etc. Any good models/brands.

finally....does anyone know if you can put STANDARD plates on an OLYMPIC bar? Or does anyone know where/if they make a standard bar than hold decent weight? Like 500lbs up? I only see olympic bars with tested weights max's listed. I dont wanna have to buy all new olympic weights!

bumping...come on guys.

should I only go commercial or is some home stuff good?

Drew, Check E-Bay or if you have a "Craig's list" - My buddy own's a gym and
he has gotten some like new good stuff for WAY cheaper then new.
Also, you know somebody who welds - sheetmetal or iron worker. You could
make a custom cage or racks pretty cheap (material). I've built a set of racks
for my friend. He researched it and designed how he wanted it - we cut the
Iron and welded it up. That way you have just what you want for the space
you have available.

Oh yeah, I'd go comercial if I was serious about working out. (that's the beauty
of making your own - as heavy duty as you want)

When I was 10 I began my journy in weight training by duct-taping (gallon) milk jugs to some POS barbell/bench set I found in the dumpster...

Anyways, I like MCGarets approach but I'm not a welder. So, I would try and contact the distributor of your local gyms and buy equipment from them. I wouldn't fuck with these cheap ass POS that they sell on EBAY (i'm sure there are some good products on there but most of what I found was crap).

I wouldn't buy the cheap ass POS on e-bay either but sometimes they have
some good comercial shit when a gym closes down.
Sandiego, thats funny - my first equipment was a nightstand laying
on its side for a bench and 5 gallon drums stacked 2 high on either side
to set the plastic weight set I had. Wish I had a camera for every time
those drums would fall over and drop that barbell on my neck. LOL

http://www.newyorkbarbells.tv/ check out this link.They have some pretty good deals sometimes.I've gotten some equipment from them and they're pretty good to work with.

swoool said:

http://www.newyorkbarbells.tv/ check out this link.They have some pretty good deals sometimes.I've gotten some equipment from them and they're pretty good to work with.

Click to expand...

i tried them, but their prices dont include shipping...which they RAPE you on.

I think Im gonna go with a cage I found on some sites (bb.com, bigfitness.com, etc.) made my powertec. Its "mild commericial" use or heavy duty home use. It can hold 1500lbs and I know I'll never be that strong.

seems to have good reviews. they also make a db rack Im gonna add.

Big A, as I know you just refurnish your gym, can you give the lad some tips?