Building A Thick Handled Db

[anson]

i have the cheep DB handle with the threaded screw on collars and i've fitted a 2.5" PVC pipe over the handle. but the handle inside the pvc pipe tends to roll around, is this how it should be? should i build up a base on the handle under the pvc with tape so it will be more secure?

[Guest kmshinn]

I made a 3" this way. I would suggest either taking the collars to the hardware store or taking the pipe to Wal-Mart or sports store and find collars that fit the pipe. I found that these cheap collars were not made with strict tolerances in mind. Two of mine fit in the pipe tight and two did not. Duct tape on the inside of the pipe might work as well.

[SqeezeMasterFlash]

I took three different thicknesses of pipe, one that barely fit over the bar, one that was the thickness I wanted (about 2.75) and one in the middle. With plenty of duct tape between the layers I've got something pretty sturdy that doesn't roll much.

[climber511]

I took 20" of 1" round CRS bar stock - one piece of 2.5" round tube - two 2.5" washers with 1"+ holes in them - welded the washers to the round tubing, then welded the washers to the 1" bar stock, This gives an absolutely bombproof

2 1/2" handled plate loading dumbbell for 1" holed standard plates. You can also use 2" water pipe for the handle which gives a 2 3/8" handle just like an "Inch" but you'll have to grind the washers a little to make it pretty.

To build one with an almost two inch handle for Olympic plates is even easier - take a piece of water pipe with a 1 7/8" OD - take two washers with 2" inner holes (usually 4 1/2" outside) - weld the washers on for inside collars and it's ready to go. You can buy 2.5" tube in a thickness that will slide over the 1 7/8" pipe but the place I went didn't carry that - that's why I made the 1" bar dumbbell for myself.