Drassk Posted October 7, 2002 Share Posted October 7, 2002 I'm heading home for Thanksgiving (I'm Canadian) this weekend and a friend's father is a welder so I can get the welding done for free. My question is this : If I want to make a thick bar (~2.5") to use w/ olympic plates what would be the easiest way to go about it? What kind of steel should I use? Pipe or solid? And what would be the best way to mount plates on it (I don't know the diameter of the hole in olympic plates). Thanks in advance for any help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underdawg Posted October 7, 2002 Share Posted October 7, 2002 the easiest way would be to either get a piece of 1.5" ID pipe, or 2" CRS, and weld a piece of 2" ID pipe overtop of it. you need an outside diameter of 2" for the olympic plates and either of these will do well for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted October 7, 2002 Share Posted October 7, 2002 The solid steel would be my choice. Mine is 6' long and I put regular 2" barbell collars on it and screwed them down for the inside, and use the same for the outside collars if needed. If he can weld the inside collars in place, that would be better. You'll soon be in the thick of things. Once you've gone thick, you'll never go thin again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drassk Posted October 7, 2002 Author Share Posted October 7, 2002 Well my only issue with a solid bar is the weight. I will have to carry it to my gym (which isn't really far away but isn't really close either) so mass is definitely a concern. How much does a 6' rod of 2" steel weigh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted October 7, 2002 Share Posted October 7, 2002 Did not realize you had to carry it- mine weighs 65 lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drassk Posted October 7, 2002 Author Share Posted October 7, 2002 65 lbs might not be too bad if I just carry it yoke style. I was expecting something more in the 90-100lbs range and that would be craziness. Now I just need to go home and see the machine shop guys and the welder and see how much it's going to cost. The solid bar sounds like the nicest option but I'm mostly broke right now so I might need to settle for pipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybersnott Posted October 7, 2002 Share Posted October 7, 2002 Roark, what kind of steel is that bar of yours? Cold rolled? ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Browne Posted October 7, 2002 Share Posted October 7, 2002 Drassk, 2 inch cold rolled weighs 0.89 lbs. per inch. your 6ft piece (72 inches) should weigh 64.08 lbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted October 7, 2002 Share Posted October 7, 2002 It did weigh about 64 before I put the small/ring type inside collars on it. I am using a home bathroom scale, so there is probably some error. A friend got mine for $20 out of a heavy equipment junkyard- it was headed for meltdown to be used again. It was very rusty but some elbow grease and chrome paint made it look new! Not positive but since it was used in heavy machinery, I assume it is cold roll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Browne Posted October 7, 2002 Share Posted October 7, 2002 Hey Joe, My apologies if I came across as anal in my post. I just happen to have reference material on round stock weight from 1/4 inch to 12 inch diameters. I put the 0.89lbs. per inch for 2 in. in case you guys have longer pieces and wanted to figure the weight per length of any bar you might get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted October 8, 2002 Share Posted October 8, 2002 zcor, Details do not bother me Happy to have the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rockblaster Posted October 8, 2002 Share Posted October 8, 2002 I have a cold-rolled, 7',2"diameter steel bar stock that weighs 75 pounds empty. It works great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted October 8, 2002 Share Posted October 8, 2002 With the light weights I use (wish I were joking) my junkyard leftover bar is perfectly safe. If you live near a heavy equipment dealer, or an industrial type junkyard or salvage yard- you can sometimes pick up the bar for the same price the junkyard would have sold it for scrap meltdown- they don't care whether it enters the fire or lights yours! Worth looking into. A wire brush, sandpaper, and some paint, and you have saved shipping charges and probably a couple hundred bucks. Buy an extra one, fix it up, sell it, and yours ends up being free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobsterone Posted October 8, 2002 Share Posted October 8, 2002 Can't you leave it at the gym? That's what I do with my thick bar - I check on it from time to time. I just asked Mick the owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybersnott Posted October 8, 2002 Share Posted October 8, 2002 Roark, I wish it were just THAT easy! I scoured three different junkyards right around where I live, and I came up with DIDDLY!! :hehe Some of the junkyards in Georgia are so nasty, you don't want to be caught dead there! But I did my best... and my best came up with nothing. I still want that solid steel thick bar; the only way I might haffta get it is through a steel supplier. Oh woe is me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drassk Posted October 9, 2002 Author Share Posted October 9, 2002 Leaving it at the gym might be viable. I'm not sure exactly how I could manage it since it's a university gym but I'd imagine I could cut some sort of deal with them like they agree to take care of it and I'll leave it there for all to use. Really, what can someone do to a 6' length of 2" steel? (serious question...if someone can somehow mess it up I won't leave it there). Also, what's the consensus on coating? Should I wrap it in tape, leave it smooth...get it knurled? My grip is way ahead of my lifts so I think if it was knurled or taped I could still use close to my former weights but I'm not sure how much knurling would cost or if taping it is a bad idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Uberman Posted October 9, 2002 Share Posted October 9, 2002 For a lighter easy to carry version. Cut the size of pipe you want to the length of the inside of oly bar collars. Have two large "washers" cut from sheet metal that are, the outside of the washer the diameter of inside of the pipe. Hole in the middle of washer cut to the outside diameter of oly bar. Have welder weld washers inside the ends of pipe. Carry this and allen wrench to gym. Remove oly bar end with allen wrench, slide on pipe put end back on. Remove when you leave.. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGuy Posted October 10, 2002 Share Posted October 10, 2002 Uberman has the right idea. The bar does not have to be solid steel. Heavy gauge galvanized plumbing pipe is easily strong enough, and a bar does not have to be as long as 84'' which is what most Olympic bars are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted October 10, 2002 Share Posted October 10, 2002 Of course pipe will serve for the dimensions. But my preference is for solids. Never cared for those plastic/vinyl covered 'weights' either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybersnott Posted October 11, 2002 Share Posted October 11, 2002 I may have found that source for solid steel thick bars! Details to come later.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobsterone Posted October 11, 2002 Share Posted October 11, 2002 If it's solid, as mine is, there's bugger all that anyone can do at the gym to knacker it. They might be able to scratch it possibly (mines got a zinc coating) but bend it - no way! With the plates at the gym it'll go to 1200 and they'd have to be lifting on the roof (not poss) and drop it onto a bench from that height. Ahh thats just reminded me. On Ivanko's site there's an article stating that for the best bars even they can be bent by being loaded heavy and dropped. Hmm find out if there's a dark corner or cupboard/locker to stick it in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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