My Own Device

[aeroman]

While trying to figure out how the formulator works from watching posted videos I was thinking, "that looks effective, but I can't afford it". I then thought that if I took a 2" I.D. PVC pipe (about 2' long) and drilled a one inch hole through the middle, I could make my own cheap formulator with a standard dumbbell handle inserted through the hole and held in place with a spring clamp or whatever and weights on the other end. It works pretty well for wrist curls, reverse wrist curls and even levering. I also like to grab one end, with the weight hanging down, and twist the weight up to parallel to the ground. Oh, the wrist curls can also be done thumbless. Leaving the PVC bare makes it even more difficult. It was free to make since I had the PVC and the dumbbell handle already.

See what you think.

Karl

[Scott Styles]

I think the key features of the formulator are:

1. It allows you to do reverse wrist curls without the thumb limiting the amount of weight you can use to train the wrist extensors.

2. Its pads are designed to make the device follow the natural range of motion of the wrists when doing wrist curls or extensions.

Does your device do this? I'm getting disturbingly close to dropping down the $149.99 for one to train on during my next cycle.

[Bob Lipinski]

The wood one I made works great for reverse wrist curls, but not so well for wrist curls.

[aeroman]

My device is just like doing thick bar wrist curls and reverse curls with a weight that swings up in front of the bar. So in that respect it concentrates on grip maybe more than the isolated wrist curls where you don't have to grab the bar very hard. If you are looking to attack just extensors and flexors then you should shell out the $$$ for the formulator. I, on the other hand, am cheap and will continue to use my own contraption.

P.S. You could do both. Since mine is free or very nearly so. Then you could get the benefits of both. I didn't mean to say my device is a substitute for the formulator. That's just where I got the idea.

Karl

[Revtor]

Aeroman, get some heavy leather gloves that fit you pretty tight and some 5 minute epoxy. Rough up your pipe device with some 60 grit sandpaper, and clean off all the dust and shaggies. Now mix up a big pile of the epoxy really well and plant your gloved hands down in it. Then grip your device tightly as if you were doing reverse writs curls with it (overhand grip) make sure youre holding it at the right angle, because this is going to be a permanent grip position : ) Feel the warmth as the epoxy cures, and hold on tight for ten minutes. Then slip out of your gloves and let it set overnight. Maybe now with the tight gloves attached yout thumb wont be as much of a limiting factor for those extensor curls.

haha I'd try it if I had your setup!!

have fun, keep inventing

~Steve

[TelegraphKey]

Would it be possible to use a DARD instead of The Formulator for the same thing? The DARD is for ankle rehab, but it looks like you could fit your forearms in there instead of your ankles, and do wrist/reverse wrist curls. Or would the gap be too wide to effectively clamp down the forearms, so you'd have to use grip anyway to do wrist curls?

Here's the link again:

DARD is for ankle rehab

If it works well enough like Formulator, can't help but notice it's about half the price or less.

Edited November 18, 2005 by TelegraphKey

[TelegraphKey]

Formulator webpage

DARD webpage

Scrolling down on both pages & looking at them in action for curls/wrist curls side-by-side, it appears the DARD has its supporting lever well behind the wrist, while the Formulator is above the wrist, on top of the back of the hand. Since this lever on the back of the hand is what removes the grip from the motion, it would seem that the DARD wouldn't be any good at doing what the Formulator does.

So would the DARD completely fail to replace the Formulator, or not?

[apttdwler]

The wood one I made works great for reverse wrist curls, but not so well for wrist curls.

←

Not sure how you made yours, but if tightness is the problem, try a pair of gloves. Vary thickness until you get something that works.... Mine works great, but my friend when he used it had to wear winter gloves....

The Dard will not work, nor will making a Dard with pipe and useing different lengths. At least for me the distances just don't work out....

http://www.geocities.com/fightraining

Edited November 18, 2005 by apttdwler

[Bob Lipinski]

apttdweler-

Tightness isn't the problem (mine is very tight and it takes a little bit to wedge my hands in there), it might be lack of flexibility or something but the movement just doesn't seem to give me anything normal barbell curls don't. Just doesn't feel natural.

The reverse wrist curl is very nice though, I extend my fingers when doing it and it feels very natural.

Of course, it will be some time before I can correlate any improvement between using this thing and results with anything else.

[j.scribner]

Karl- I was sitting around waiting for my wife to get ready to go out of town, and thought about your toy. I had a spare threaded 1" DB handle, and some 2" OD PVC. I drilled a 20" piece dead center, (took a couple of attempts before I got it right, had to use a 1"Forstner wood bit and some careful measuring), threaded the DB throught the holes, secured it with one of the big star nuts, and then put on 10#, again secured with 2 more star nuts. VOILA! Instant forearm and grip tool. Cost? Zero. You can vary the different exercises, sitting, standing with arms outstretched, standing with arms over the head, etc. Within minutes my forearms were aching. I can't wait to try more weight. Excellent idea for a cheap toy- thanks for the idea. Try a thumbless grip for a challenge....

John Scribner

[TelegraphKey]

I was sort of thinking along those lines. I have a spare Olympic db handle. I wonder if I can't take 2 plates, 10's or 25's, put them on one end, but space them apart with extra collars, and use that gap to put my hands in. This leaves the other end of the db free to put on the work weight.