Making a rack for dumbbells and barbell

If you can weld up your own, go for it. You will save money and get a stronger rack.

An empty barbell stands up just fine in the corner as long as you put it there relatively carefully. No need for a holder, IMHO. Places like Sports Authority have some pretty inexpensive racks for dumbbells. At the very least I'd look at them and see if it's worth your effort to duplicate the details.

-S-

Thanks. I am aware that I would not save much money, since I would be investing my time, argon, steel stock at retail prices (metal dealers), etc. But I hope to end up with something that would suit my needs and would be strong.

I think that I will use 1 1/4" diameter, 1/8" thickness square steel tubing for frame, and some lighter materials for hooks and whatnot.

It will have to hold a barbell that is 170+ lbs right now, plus some dumbells. I would say up to 500 lbs in total number of weights.

How to finish one (paint etc) is also a big question for me.

i

Except mine is not empty, it has a cornucopia of weights hanging on it.

OK, good idea, I will check them and play it again sports...

i

A good welding project. You're always a better weldor after a project than before, if you pay attention. (Will still be true years from now)

I'd use pipe or square steel tubing for a project like that. It'll look nicer after it's done, cleaned up and painted.

TIG will work fine, but it'll be slower than stick or MIG and you'll probably have more distortion problems. I'd use MIG on a project like this.

Some further thoughts, if I was to make my own (I will check stores first).

1. It will be shaped like two parallel inverted V's, with horizontal bars running between them.

1. It would stand on a solid plywood/board platform, for preservation of carpet (we put in new commercial style carpet)

2. The barbell holder will be at the lowest point that could accommodate large 50 lbs disks plus an inch or so of space.

1. It would be made mostly of 1 1/4" square tubing for frame, and pipe for "hooks" (like for disks) that would stick out.

i

The highest quality paint that you can get in an aerosol can is

More expensive than what the hardware store carries, but actually cheaper if you look at the amount of material in each can.

Agreed.

Yes. See my post where I have a four point plan for it (made minutes ago).

Well, I do not have a wire feed unit yet that would work with my power supply, so I am stuck with TIG or stick. I know that TIG makes better looking welds for me. Heeding your warning about distortion, I will try to mitigate those issues by welding a little bit here, then a little there, tacking everything together first etc.

I will try to draw up a little plan and then will call one Chicago steel supplier from whom I bought steel in the past. I have one more thing to do, with is to redo my outdoor fireplace, so it would be good to buy enough steel for both projects at once.

i

Thanks, I saved their url, will check out when I am done...

i

For us mere mortals this is true enough. But you should see Chuck at C & C machine of Hutchinson, MN weld. In a pro's hands, TIG wins on all aspects. My son worked there 1 year and learned maybe 10% of what Chuck knows about welding. That makes "The Kid" better than about 99% of the welders out there. His big project there was welding together chest spreaders for open heart sugery.

Karl

TIG is always slower than MIG or stick. Distortion isn't a problem with some weldments. TIG would definitely be the preferred choice for stainless, which chest spreaders undoubtedly are made of.

Ya ride the horse ya got. Hell, I've O/A welded stuff like Ig describes!

I have one of these, for plates and barbells:

It's a space saving arrangement. I have the inverted trees as well, but they take up too much floor space. My dumbbells are on the floor for now, when I move the weights out of what is now my daughter's room I will fabricate something out of angle iron to fit one of my walls. Otherwise, space allowing, I would buy one of those really nice Cybex type racks with the curved DB rests when it is available on Ebay or Craigslist at the right price. If you have room for a commercial power cage you can also store your plates on the cage itself. We recently got some all purpose power cages for the gym at work from Legend Fitness:

(power cage 3133) With the three way bench, it's extremely versatile.

ATP*, good example, thanks, I want to make something just as string, and versatile. I definitely will look for a cage of sorts, probably could use it to store plates also.

i

For finishing it, you might look into powder coating. I have been using a local powder coat shop for some furniture I have welded up recently and it looks really good, it's durable and readonably priced. The shop I have been going to has a $50 minimum and I have brought several items there and not made it over the minimum. They sandblast and do some surface prep then coat.

Good Luck, Bob

Yes, I will most definitely call powdercoating shops. I will try to get the materials on Friday.