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Homemade Squat Rack and Bench

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10-04-2012 1:14am

#1

Colm Moran

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#2 10-04-2012 1:57am
Colm Moran

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A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.
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Colm Moran
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#3 10-04-2012 2:03am
Colm Moran

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A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.
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#4 10-04-2012 2:07am
Colm Moran

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#5 10-04-2012 3:07pm
UL_heart_throb

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Alright colm.

Any pictures of the fnished product yet?

What kind of loads is it safe for? Just plywood+wood glue+nails =/ a power rack.

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#6 11-04-2012 2:35am
Mellor

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UL_heart_throb wrote: »

Just plywood+wood glue+nails =/ a power rack.

No plywood there. They look like ceiling joists. Prob 175x50 or so. He used screws not nails, definitely a better option. Nail could pry apart over time.

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#7 11-04-2012 3:58am
O.P.H

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Hmmm?... I dunno man.... I've got a feelin you WILL be needin someone else to hold the pen after your first heavy lift in this unit :P

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#8 11-04-2012 4:11am
Parsley

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i dunno man, looks like he's put a lot of thought and work into this. looks fairly solid to me anyway!

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#9 11-04-2012 5:05am
Mellor

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Parsley wrote: »

i dunno man, looks like he's put a lot of thought and work into this. looks fairly solid to me anyway!

The four posts are really solid. Two 175x44 joists in each glued and screwed. They aren't coming apart. And are strong enough for the load.
But the base connection of these would concern me. That's the weak point and its made from the smallest pieces. They look like shelve supports and a shelf.

I'd rather see some steel fixing angles and steel straps in that area.
Its not going to explode under a barbell or anything. It just might pry apart over time which isn't that safe.

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#10 11-04-2012 9:12am
Thud

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those shelf supports do look like the weakness.

What are you using for your pins?

you using this design?
http://www.home-gym-bodybuilding.com/homemade-power-rack.html

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#11 11-04-2012 12:04pm
Doctor_Socks

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Four posts are going to be incredibly solid, as long as he gets solid pins he should be grand. As for the base, looks flimsy as hell and thats where a power rack should be strong. Any sway from heavy weight will buckle it to the side. Should have joists cut for a 45 degree angle about a foot out from the bottom on each side. Same for the top aswell.

Something along the lines of this would be ideal:

http://www.home-gym-bodybuilding.com/image-files/homemade-power-rack.jpg

edit: Sorry, just realised Thud linked to the same design, damn!

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#12 11-04-2012 9:02pm
UL_heart_throb

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right,i was way off on my assessment, never really done any wood work or diy like that before. hope colm comes back with more photos.

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#13 11-04-2012 9:04pm
COH

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Colm Moran wrote: »

Colm Moran
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Ask them to give you a gym membership instead of the foul tasting supplements

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#14 12-04-2012 12:46pm
Colm Moran

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#15 12-04-2012 12:49pm
Colm Moran

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#16 12-04-2012 1:15pm
kevpants

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You have the same lawnmower as me. We have this in common as well as the fact that we are both likely to die in our shed gyms. But my family can sue Bodymax, yours will have to be content with throwing dirty looks at trees.

In all seriousness the part of a rack that takes the most beating is the hooks where the bar will rest 90% of the time and you'll be slamming a weighted bar into them at the end of every set. In reality you're not likely to have a catstrophic collapse and drop the bar mid-set so the hooks are likely to fail first. Those bolts you are using will most likely compress the wood on the underside of them quite quickly meaning they'll slant and potentially allow your bar to roll off. That's the bit I'd be concerned with.

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#17 12-04-2012 1:19pm
Thud

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is that your bench? might need a bit of padding.
Could have put a hinge in there for the inclines?

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#18 12-04-2012 1:31pm
Thud

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Are you planning on stress testing the rack and bench?

if that design doesn't work out, this looks light a sturdy squat rack design:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-PFKa9pAVM

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#19 12-04-2012 8:20pm
MungBean

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kevpants wrote: »

Those bolts you are using will most likely compress the wood on the underside of them quite quickly meaning they'll slant and potentially allow your bar to roll off. That's the bit I'd be concerned with.

I'd be worried about that too OP. Maybe a metal plate drilled to the same size as the hole to take the impact off the wood. Even a large washer either side of the pin would help. As it is I cant see those pins staying level for long with any kind of weight on it.

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#20 13-04-2012 4:52pm
Colm Moran

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man this can take the 140kg we have without a budge... there isnt a chance of the bolts giving out they could hold up a house!...

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#21 13-04-2012 4:53pm
Colm Moran

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Thud wrote: »

is that your bench? might need a bit of padding.
Could have put a hinge in there for the inclines?

Your dead right padding is on the way...

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#22 13-04-2012 5:08pm
Colm Moran

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kevpants wrote: »

You have the same lawnmower as me. We have this in common as well as the fact that we are both likely to die in our shed gyms. But my family can sue Bodymax, yours will have to be content with throwing dirty looks at trees.

In all seriousness the part of a rack that takes the most beating is the hooks where the bar will rest 90% of the time and you'll be slamming a weighted bar into them at the end of every set. In reality you're not likely to have a catstrophic collapse and drop the bar mid-set so the hooks are likely to fail first. Those bolts you are using will most likely compress the wood on the underside of them quite quickly meaning they'll slant and potentially allow your bar to roll off. That's the bit I'd be concerned with.

Man that lawnmower is the business..

I cant see the bolts wearing the timber down that much but I am a little concerned with the height of the hook we have. Im going to try and get my hands on bigger washers...

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#23 13-04-2012 5:13pm
Colm Moran

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A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.
Colin Powell

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#24 13-04-2012 5:19pm
Colm Moran

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Finished Product... and no where near €100...
140kg barbell set for €280 in elveries

The catch bars i got from a scrap yard, they would catch a train. The holes for the catch bars ended up perfect for benching. Were going to add a pull up bar soon...

Now all we need is sick sound system...

A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.
Colin Powell

Colm Moran
Fitness log:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056567273
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#25 13-04-2012 5:25pm
top madra

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Colm Moran wrote: »

Finished Product... and no where near €100...
140kg barbell set for €280 in elveries

The catch bars i got from a scrap yard, they would catch a train. The holes for the catch bars ended up perfect for benching. Were going to add a pull up bar soon...

Now all we need is sick sound system...

A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.
Colin Powell

Colm Moran
Fitness log:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056567273
Maximuscle Sponsored Athlete

GJ, looks cramped as faurk in there though..

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#26 13-04-2012 5:30pm
Colm Moran

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FACT!

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#27 13-04-2012 8:04pm
kevpants

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top madra wrote: »

GJ, looks cramped as faurk in there though..

Jaysus I'd be practicing hammer throwing and pole vault if I'd that much space.

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#28 13-04-2012 8:49pm
UL_heart_throb

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Looks great well done.

Heart Throb
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