What Is The" Official" Size?

[1stCoC]

AS we ready for Summer Strong #3 I want to make sure equipment is what is needed for acceptable records. If the V bar actually used is a full 2.000 " diameter Olympic plates WILL NOT fit on it. Pipe,solid 1 15/16, DOM tube, and Olympic bar ends are "close" to 2.000" but WHAT IS the standard to be accepted? Jedd, Mr. Rice, Bob,... anyone? Thanks RS

[climber511]

It all started with the LCG 25mm V-bar - then the 1" American version - then came 2". If my memory serves me correctly (always a question anymore) the FBBC 2" v-bar was the original in the so called 2" size. It is an actual 2" solid piece of bar stock. The only plates that will fit on it are the cheaper Barbell or Standard brands and not all of them will fit even. The 1 15/16" size I don't think is used often as it is not an easy size for most people to find at the average steel retailer and costs much more than a hollow version when going the homemade route. I think most people are actually using a piece of 1 1/2" Pipe with an OD around 1.9" (it varies just a bit). For what it's worth - I would guess the Standard is the FBBC model that John sells - which does require certain plates to be used.

Perhaps others can shed more light on this.

[mobsterone]

Sounds right.

[Jedd Johnson]

I just went down and put a tape to my FBBC 2" vertical Bar and it looks like it is exactly 2 inches.

My York plates do not fit on it. I use mostly TDS plates for my lifts.

[1stCoC]

While doable that sure makes things difficult when now you have to get different(off brand olympic standard plates) to use such a thing. What V bar implement was the "American " record set on listed by Andrew Durnait(301)? He along with other capable men will be here and I want to give them a fair chance.I can have anything made, other than making it a bit more expensive( the bar) AND a bit of machine work to make a bar to fit all plates at 1.975"is certainly possible. (1 1/2" pipe is 1.915" and 1 15/16" solid steel is 1.940") (1/32" (less than a millemeter off 2") on a 1.975" bar I think would be more universally acceptable. The cheapest, most universally "easy to get" material would be a 1 1/2" Id. pipe (1.915")with a welded flange on the bottom.RS

[andurniat]

The 301# was on an FBBC 2" Vbar. I personally don't have a problem with the 1 1/2" pipe at 1.915".

[Bob Lipinski]

I am not the only one whose opinion matters, but I don't think the pipe would make much of a difference. As long as we all agree beforehand.

My pipe with flange is harder because of the smoother surface.

[climber511]

If we go with pipe - (and I'm fine with that)- I think it should be cleaned down to bare metal where your hand grips it.

[Hubgeezer]

Richard,

I have to warn you about "seasoning" of bars. In 2005, when I purchased a FBBC One Inch Bar, I could barely do 200 on it, which made no sense to me whatsoever. After a few weeks of using heavy chalk, the chalk starts to adhere to the bar. If the metal is right, it does not take very long for the bar to "season". It makes a difference of close to 25%. I was doing 260 without being any stronger. Years later, when I purchased a Two Inch, it just took a few sessions to season, but I had the same experience; low numbers until the surface got the right feel to it. There are other implements, like David Horne's Two Hand Pinch Device, that are exponentially more difficult to season. Vertical Bars, no big deal. However, it is a big deal if it is brand new.

There is always the issue of "chalk or no chalk" on implements, but the Vertical Bar is Universally "heavy chalk" no matter who the individual is.

Sorry to go into all of this detail, but I know this is one implement that is relatively new to you. I think it was a David Horne contest invention, popularized in Sweden. The Two Inch Bar is pretty much a John Beatty creation. The one inch bar is all about hand conditioning, pain tolerance, and mental toughness. The two inch bar is a little closer to a traditional Thick Bar event, without as much prejudice towards hand size as a Thick Bar event. The One Inch Bar is very "painful". The Two Inch does not have that effect and does not seem to shred the skin like the One Inch does.

[mobsterone]

I think Mikeal S may have played apart as the 1" originals are all Swedish.

[dthor]

1 15/16" solid steel is 1.940"

This is most likely something that John Beatty (FBBC)could also make.

It would be nice to stay with a solid v-bar, and he has did an excellent job on the 1" and 2" v-bars.

[Cannon]

Richard, have you searched through your weights at Sorinex for ones that would fit the FBBC bar? Put somebody's kid to the task to look through them all. You only need to find a few to have enough.

[1stCoC]

Thanks for all the info. BTW I am not new to vertical thick bars I did hanging V bar with weight in the late 60,s as a grip exercise( many old time stromgmen.. Jack walsh comes to mind did this with people hanging on their back for a stage act) and in my garage gym area pictures in my early 1980 heydays of grip you can see a 2" vertical bar fully loaded with 35s my weights used then were around 245. In the world of strength there is never much "really new". From what I am hearing seasoned steel is very important and the difference between old and a new implement is almost like lifting with or without a bench shirt(20-25%).I did secure a "new " Ironmind axle for the double overhand..I have still seen 500lb lifts go up on it seasoned or not.If people want a "seasoned" one I hope someone can bring one. I do respect Mr. lipinski's records list and perhaps he has one we could "rent" to be in accord record wise. I really don't think a loadable piece of grip equipment should dictate buying new cheap plates to "work". Long ago I saw a new company supply weight machines with 2" weight pins instead of 1.90 to 1.975(industry standard) and the equipment was promptly returned.I do like using good quality plates and make a point only sell the best of what we can find ..I like the calibration idea that many are sticklers for. I have weighed"cheap" plates that 45s have varied from 38Lb. to 52lb.!I hope Zach or others that plan to compete will have a simple viable solution so we can move ahead.Thanks again for all the input guys!RS

[Hubgeezer]

I did secure a "new " Ironmind axle for the double overhand..I have still seen 500lb lifts go up on it seasoned or not.If people want a "seasoned" one I hope someone can bring one.

The issue of seasoning seems to only apply to Vertical Bar and Two Hand Pinch. I suspect a seasoned IM axle would appear to be cheating, but not sure.

Mob, yeah, Mikeal took the V Bar to a serious level of professionalism and acceptance and popularity. I thought I remember David once saying that he invented or designed it, but I could be mistaken

[1stCoC]

Way back when one of my grip heros Bruce White did ALL kinds of thick and vertical bars(and good at them). For his small size he was truly amazing! On of the best articles I ever read was about him and his training.RS

[Bob Lipinski]

I wouldn't call a seasoned axle cheating.

In fact, I wonder how much an axle can be seasoned, at least the IM variety. Have never trained much on one, just seen it here and there. Most of my big ticket items are cheap knockoffs.

[Hubgeezer]

I wouldn't call a seasoned axle cheating.

In fact, I wonder how much an axle can be seasoned, at least the IM variety. Have never trained much on one, just seen it here and there. Most of my big ticket items are cheap knockoffs.

My son used to work out on my A Axle. He has 7 1/2 hands, and used to chalk up like crazy. I never wiped the bar clean. Only where you grasp the bar (where his hands grabbed it)the bar is rough and rusted and permanently sorry looking to the point where it is practically knurled. When I took it down to Robert Alva's a year ago, he and Bill McCaslin (Fatboy) thought it was the coolest thing in the world. Compared to a smooth bar, it seems like it would be cheating if it was a matter of comparing apples to apples. Maybe that is a common occurence, not sure, but it seems like the whopping two other bars I have been around were still smooth. Always thought I blew it and damaged the bar by not taking care of it.

I think seasoning on some implements (vbar and pinch) is a desired effect, but not so on the Axle. I may be completely wrong on this, but if someone did a World Record on my bar, I would definitely call Foul.

Just giving poor Richard more stuff to ponder!

[Mikael Siversson]

Digging up a somewhat ageing thread, me and my training partner here in Oz will have a 50 mm LGC vbar made. A major drawback with the FBBC 2'' vbar is of course that you can't use high quality calibrated 2'' weights. The 50mm LGC vbar will be made of the same high quality steel used for the 25mm LGC Vbar.

[jad]

It's just a respect thing for me. John has sponsored a TON of grip contests, big or small, and say what you want but nobody was doing 2" vbar as part of contests until BBB and now it's the standard. Any contest I run will have the 2" FBBC vbar as the implement if we run that event. Record-wise, it doesn't make a difference but let's make sure we extend that courtesy across all equipment (2HP, Axle, etc: if the specs match, then it counts, regardless of manufacturer)

Edited November 21, 2010 by jad

[Mikael Siversson]

I understand where you are coming from. Perhaps John could make a slightly thinner (50.0 mm) one that will take calibrated weights.

It's just a respect thing for me. John has sponsored a TON of grip contests, big or small, and say what you want but nobody was doing 2" vbar as part of contests until BBB and now it's the standard. Any contest I run will have the 2" FBBC vbar as the implement if we run that event. Record-wise, it doesn't make a difference but let's make sure we extend that courtesy across all equipment (2HP, Axle, etc: if the specs match, then it counts, regardless of manufacturer)

Edited November 22, 2010 by Mikael Siversson

[Mikael Siversson]

Problem is the specs very rarely match as the steel used is typically of the cheap, rather variable type. The 25mm LGC vbar is still the only implement for which the specifics of the steel used have been posted on the GB.

It's just a respect thing for me. John has sponsored a TON of grip contests, big or small, and say what you want but nobody was doing 2" vbar as part of contests until BBB and now it's the standard. Any contest I run will have the 2" FBBC vbar as the implement if we run that event. Record-wise, it doesn't make a difference but let's make sure we extend that courtesy across all equipment (2HP, Axle, etc: if the specs match, then it counts, regardless of manufacturer)

Edited November 22, 2010 by Mikael Siversson

[Jedd Johnson]

A major drawback with the FBBC 2'' vbar is of course that you can't use high quality calibrated 2'' weights.

Mikael, nice to know you have not been eaten by a shark. It has been a long time since you posted.

Quick question - Could you explain what you mean by this? Why can't you use highly calibrated 2" weights on these bars?

Thanks.

[Hubgeezer]

A major drawback with the FBBC 2'' vbar is of course that you can't use high quality calibrated 2'' weights.

Mikael, nice to know you have not been eaten by a shark. It has been a long time since you posted.

Quick question - Could you explain what you mean by this? Why can't you use highly calibrated 2" weights on these bars?

Thanks.

Two things:

1. I too am glad Mikael was not eaten by a shark.

2. Over the weekend I tried to put a York 35 pound plate on the FBBC 2 Inch Bar. It took me several minutes to pull it off, as it got stuck on the way down. My Brand X Plates had no trouble going down the bar, but I suspect Eleikos and Yorks will not.

[climber511]

A major drawback with the FBBC 2'' vbar is of course that you can't use high quality calibrated 2'' weights.

Mikael, nice to know you have not been eaten by a shark. It has been a long time since you posted.

Quick question - Could you explain what you mean by this? Why can't you use highly calibrated 2" weights on these bars?

Thanks.

Two things:

1. I too am glad Mikael was not eaten by a shark.

2. Over the weekend I tried to put a York 35 pound plate on the FBBC 2 Inch Bar. It took me several minutes to pull it off, as it got stuck on the way down. My Brand X Plates had no trouble going down the bar, but I suspect Eleikos and Yorks will not.

Most high quality plates have tight hole tolerances and will not fit an actual 2" bar size. My Eleiko - Werksan and York mill backs will not fit at all. The difference in a 50mm bar end and 2.00" is small but significant. Even different bars have different sized ends. My newer York plates will fit as I imagine they are Chinese.

Edited November 22, 2010 by climber511

[John Beatty]

The standard is the full 2". I use 2" solid CRS for the Vbar. The bulk of home gym lifters have standard cast plates that are 2 1/8", really as do most smaller to mid range gyms. I can certainly make a 1 15/16" Vbar, I have used that size CRS in the past for solid axles for guys that have nicer plates that won't go on 2".