Rick Walker Posted January 25, 2002 Share Posted January 25, 2002 Tonight after some grueling grip work, I picked up one of the 60-pennies and gave it a go. It feels like my wrists are not strong enough?? I have bent the 40-penny but with my hands a little wider apart on the 60 it feels like my wrists are the weak link. Is this common? I broke both of my wrists-the right one in 1993 and the left in 1995. One was a gym class accident durning lacross and the other was a football injury. That coupled with years of heavy benching have made my wrists pathetic. I have been doing the wrist roller (2.5 inch dia.), levering, and the Heavy Hammer to help strengthen them. Any other suggestions to get my wrists up to par?? Rick Walker :hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryduty Posted January 25, 2002 Share Posted January 25, 2002 Rick, the 60-penny that you're trying to bend might be a very tough one! Since 60-penny nails can vary quite a bit, you might want to try picking up some other 60-penny nails from different hardware stores and trying them. You could also buy some 1/4" metal rods and cut 6" lengths to bend. Hot rolled steel (HRS) is easier than cold rolled steel (CRS). If 6" of HRS is too challenging, you could get brass and/or aluminum and work your way up to 6" steel. You could also order Ironmind's Bag-of-Nails - this would provide you with metal "nails" (rods) of varying strengths. With determination and persistance, that 60-penny will be yours! Train smart! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Walker Posted January 25, 2002 Author Share Posted January 25, 2002 Thanks-I will be getting the Ironmind bag o' nails soon. I just think I need to keep training my grip and wrists hard and quit trying to bend the 60-penny for awhile. I will give it another go in 6 months. Rick Walker :hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AP Posted January 26, 2002 Share Posted January 26, 2002 yeah, in a 60d you've just picked up a #3 (or at least a master) and been dissapointed that you couldn't close it. your quest for steel mastery has just begun, good luck.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuel Crusher Posted January 26, 2002 Share Posted January 26, 2002 :0 Are 60d nails realy at that level? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest baldy Posted January 26, 2002 Share Posted January 26, 2002 Rick, your levering work should get your wrists up to speed for bending. I haven't ever used the Heavy Hammer but I have done some sledgehammer levering. I have done enough to know that Tom Black is levering some HUGE weight in his sledgehammer lifts. My lack of form was the holdup when I first tried to bend 60d nails. Again, carefully watching Tom Black's videos and the videos on Strongman's site (thanks to both for their generosity) should help you with form. Watch the videos and experiment on weak nails like polebarn nails or something until you have the form down, then I am pretty sure you will knock out the 60d. Taking some time off bending might be just the thing too, to clear your head a little. Some guys on here are bending monsters (Woody, Tom Black, Strongman, Terminator, etc.) and you should check their posts and workout logs for tips. In a recent post Terminator said that he is working on ironing out his form so he can make a good go at the IronMind red, so form is essential no matter what your level of bending. Fuel Crusher, remember that different brands of 60d nails vary in difficulty. Some 60d that I have bought I have bent fairly easy, and I am not a good bender by any standard. However, Terminator has some that I am sure I couldn't even get started. They sound like that grade 5 bolt I tried to bend... I had to cut the head off it and roll it to see it was about 1 degree out of true. Also, if I were you and bending is a priority for you right now I would be sure to thoroughly read all of Woody's workout logs on bending. I think that both of you are in the UK, so you should have many of the same materials available for bending. Tom Black has bent one of the grade 5's I mentioned above, BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest woody36 Posted January 26, 2002 Share Posted January 26, 2002 Rick, When i bent my first 60d,i wasn't doing any training whatsoever. I got reasonably good by bending alone (though not good enough to be mentioned in the circles Tim kindly put me in) even now i would struggle to do a rep in the wrist curl with 150 pounds. I don't lever,although i've done a 14 pounder with no training in the lift,i don't wrist curl,plate curl,or any other direct forearm work,and my diet leaves a lot to be desired, most days i'm lucky if i ingest 30 grammes of protein. I don't let any of this become a factor where bending is concerned,because it isn't, the desire to do something is the main motivation for eventually succeeding at it. Best Regards Woody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuel Crusher Posted January 26, 2002 Share Posted January 26, 2002 Baldy, at the moment I'm trying hard not to make bending a priority, it's more a habit . When I tried a 60d nail it was only about the fourth bend I'd ever done, I kinked it around 10 to 15 degrees but my wrists hurt like ####, so I'm forcing myself to back off on playing with the nails in case it detracts from my other goals. As I said though it feels like a habit and I must admit I'm itching for a bend, maybe just a small one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kINGPIN Posted January 26, 2002 Share Posted January 26, 2002 I am the same. I have got addicted to bending but I don't want to lose my focus on what really counts for me and that is closing that #3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest baldy Posted January 26, 2002 Share Posted January 26, 2002 Woody, the modesty is noted but your bends show you deserve to be in the category with those others mentioned. Also being a bending specialist takes nothing away from your achievements. Levering a 14 lb sledge first time out is amazing. It took me forever to get an 8 lb sledge levered decently overhead, then (feeling confident) I almost split my skull open with an added 2.5 lb plate. I am going to have to visit the UK sometime and see what is in the water over there. Fuel Crusher and Kinpin, I know where you guys are coming from. Bending is fun, especially when you feel that you can bend the nail that you just missed 2 or 3 days ago. Myself, even though I never personally logged any impressive bends, I seem to take forever to recover from the efforts. My personal best bend (done on 2 separate occasions) took about 2 weeks to recover totally from each time. Therefore bending is in the way of my other goals, and I regretfully had to put it on the shelf for another day. If all goes well, I might set a bending goal if my current goals are met in April. Bending is the epitome of functional entire lower arm strength (IMHO), and it should not be neglected for long periods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuel Crusher Posted January 27, 2002 Share Posted January 27, 2002 Baldy, I agree on the recovery thing. If there is one thing that is making me back off on the bending it's the chance of injury. Same as Rick I feel it alot in the wrists, when I try a 60 penny I feel as though I have enough strength to bend it but I'll break my wrists first :0 . So I'd rather back off and lose the bend and not risk an injury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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