Making adjustments

[Tom K]

Does anyone have any good tips for making barbells? I'm not sure my scaffold pole will take the weights needed going forwards long term.

Barbells are still out of stock, I think I can risk 100kg on my setup currently but after my squat stands are made (now hardware shops are open again I can get the 4x4 timber to make them) I need a better barbell.

Any tips? The second hand market is more expensive than the new equipment currently, but new equipment sells out faster than I can find it!

[peter yates]

Hi Tom, there are several things you can do depending on availability. First you can get a piece of pipe same length as what you have now but smaller diameter so it just fits inside the pole snugly.This will double up and be strong enough for quite a bit of weight.If scrap yards are open you can usually buy lengths of 1" diameter cold rolled steel at these places.Many of the bars we had at the weightlifting club came via this way.Or maybe there is an engineering shop open that would have some lengths of steel.As a last resort for the time being you could pack the pole with cement which will make it stronger and also heavier, though this is not as good as the first option.Hope there is something of use here.
Regards,Peter.

[colinkbell]

Hi folks, i`m back again! Hope you are all well. I have alot of posts reading to get caught up on ! Colin.

[peter yates]

Hi Colin, so good to have you back mate,i hope you will stay around a while. Funny as i was about to send you and email asking how you and the family were doing with the lock down. I know you have a good home gym set up, so that part is taken care of. Plenty to catch up on.Once again great to see you back with us.Stay safe and well.
Regards,Peter.

[colinkbell]

Thanks Peter. Yes it was just a combination of getting out of habit, and my password, which i cannot remember, is auto-stored on my old laptop which i am using right now. Normally i use a tablet, but cant access the forum due to password. Yes we are well thanks. I am very thankful to have a home gym during these days!

[peter yates]

Colin, you can always change your password and Diane can always help out if you have any glitches.Glad you are all OK.Are you still singing?

[colinkbell]

Thanks Peter. Yes i just changed my password there now, so all is good now. Yes still learning singing!

[Handson]

Hi Peter/Tom

Going back to the subject of improvising equipment in the present climate I was able to help out one of my young relatives with a makeshift bench.

As the attachment shows removal crates can be really robust there's 250lb in weights on it and I clambered on too taking the total weight to 470lb without a problem.

So for most day-to-day training one of these items [currently available for around £15 including delivery] they're a bargain until of course the sellers cotton on.

Regards
Handson

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[peter yates]

Thanks Handson, way to go.Love the Reg park plates.I remember reading that the York barbell sets came in a big wooden crate that could be used to store the weights when not in use.Enterprising youths used the box as a bench,this was in the days before commercial benches and the floor press was performed as an exercise.Have also used a plank of wood, three breeze blocks and a blanket as a bench. Love improvising.
Regards,Peter.

[Tom K]

Also love the reg park weights!

I finally got hold of some scrap 4x4 timber, so I built my rudimentary Squat stands.

2 buckets of concrete and wood, notch cut at the top the hold the barbell.

Squat stands diy

IMG_20200520_202106_compress35.jpg (991.92 KiB) Viewed 2109 times

That's 60kg, a warm up weight ~8 weeks ago. If I can high rep Squat 100kg at home and continue with the hack squats, Rdl and all the walking I'm doing I think my legs will be in good shape to bounce back fast when the gym opens again.


Worked well, but after nearly 8 weeks with no squats, I'm going to be sore in the morning. Now I just need to buy more ballast to make more weight plates!