Convert An Oly Bar To A Thick Bar?

[Jacko]

Hey, I've not got a load of money at the minute but I really want to get started with some thick bar work, my local gyms don't have any thick bars.

What would you do? Are there any attachments available to give a normal bar a thick grip, or would even wrapping some material around the bar do the trick?

Thanks.

Edited April 12, 2005 by Jacko

[OldGuy]

Take it apart and sleeve it with pipe until you get the thickness you want. In other words a pipe that fits closely around the bar, and then another on top of that and so on.

[climber511]

You can do a lot of things to make a thick bar but it's easier and cheaper to make a separate bar the thickness you want. 1 1/2" schedule 40 or 80 black pipe will make a

1 7/8" bar - if you want 2 3/8" - just sleeve it with 2" pipe. Easy, cheap, and works very well.

[OldGuy]

You can do a lot of things to make a thick bar but it's easier and cheaper to make a separate bar the thickness you want.  1 1/2" schedule 40 or 80 black pipe will make a

1 7/8" bar - if you want 2 3/8" - just sleeve it with 2" pipe.  Easy, cheap, and works very well.

←

Very true, and much easier than converting an Olympic bar, which means that unless you restore it you no longer have an Olympic bar. I use plumbing pipe to make many training tools.

[Jacko]

I was thinking more along the lines of an easily attachable/detachable sort of thing so I could use it at the local gym.

But after some more thinking it'll be more beneficial to just get myself 4x20kg plates, a wrist roller and make a thick bar, no messing around .

Thanks for the replies.