Weights-bench. Oly bar - saving em from the elements

WHIP IT!

Quick question - I'm building a new deck in the few weeks (okay, my brother's building it but I'm gonna hand him nails and lean on the wall with a mug of tea occasionally saying "That one looks crooked...") and I'm likely gonna get myself a weights bench and weights set...

Thing is - I won't have anywhere to keep em except in the garden. Well, I can put the Oly bar and the weights themselves in the shed actually, but the bench will have to be left fend for itself against the elements.

I was planning on trying to get some sort of tarp cover from Milletts or somewhere... Just wondering - how wise is this, will the tarp be enough to keep it in good nick longterm or will the bench end up the worst for wear..

Despite recent sh*tty weather, our winters aren't all that drastic so I reckons it'll be alright. Any one else leave gear like this outdoors permanently?

rubadub

We have a BBQ out the back that has survived so far, has a decent cover on it, came with it but they well them in woodies. I think argos do bike or motorbike covers too. You want it to be weighty so it wont blow off.

If it is sitting on the ground then you can expect the rain to track along towards the bottom, you might be able to raise it or have some sort of barrier to this. Any exposed stuff should really get a coat of hammerite, or at least paint.

TerrorFirmer

Yeah, give it a lick of weather resistant finish and get a cheap small tarp from Atlantic or Woodies - should only cost about 10-15 quid.

I was in Elverys last night and saw some nice, solid looking benches on sale (as in, reduced, not just for sale...), some of them half price - so nothing to stop you getting a cheap one and seeing how it works out over the space of a few months.

Malteaser!

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Yeah, give it a lick of weather resistant finish and get a cheap small tarp from Atlantic or Woodies - should only cost about 10-15 quid.

I was in Elverys last night and saw some nice, solid looking benches on sale (as in, reduced, not just for sale...), some of them half price - so nothing to stop you getting a cheap one and seeing how it works out over the space of a few months.

Sorry for going off topic but how much were those benches you saw?? I'm looking to get a bench for the house!!

TerrorFirmer

I saw one basic, flat bench for about 50 (but it looked solid, not like the wafer thin stuff you see in that price range in Argos), and some large, multi-function benches for about 99...I think they were all the same brand actually, maybe they're dropping that supplier...

Their plates are pretty bad though - 40 quid for one 20kg plate.

Malteaser!

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

I saw one basic, flat bench for about 50 (but it looked solid, not like the wafer thin stuff you see in that price range in Argos), and some large, multi-function benches for about 99...I think they were all the same brand actually, maybe they're dropping that supplier...

Their plates are pretty bad though - 40 quid for one 20kg plate.

That's great thanks. I may pop up later and have a look. (Actually which Elverys was it? I'd be going to Blanch, I presume they'd have them there!!)

That is pricey, lucky I already have all the plates i need!!

WHIP IT!

Thanks people - never thought of treating it with Hammerite or anything, should help...

rubadub

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Their plates are pretty bad though - 40 quid for one 20kg plate.

Mickk is still doing oly plates for €1 per kilo, and standards (1") for €1.50 per kilo, world steel prices are rising a lot.

You can always look for second hand plates too, many people will have got them and never used them. Argos are also cheap for 5kg and 10kg standard plates. Mickks are nice tri grip ones though, easier for loading/unloading.