CGCINC Project#4: Dumbbell weight rack

Well, my wife has griped enough that it's time to get my Dumbbells off the floor.
I found a few designs I like and here are some pics of them...

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...S20KPS-DB4.gif

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...MISC/gdr60.jpg



I just need a simple rack to get them off the floor and make my wife happy...If that's possible!! lol
I'm going to make it out of some 2" x 2" square tubing left over from my welding table (project#1). First thing is to guess at the angle I need for the riser tube. I want to keep the weight as close to the center line as possible and just a little towards the back incase it does tip, it will hit the wall. I bought some 1.5" x 1.5" angle iron for the side "rack" pieces. I bought 2" x 2" angle for the 48" long front and back "rack" pieces. I welded the sides of the rack onto the square tubing. The front and back pieces will be bolted on to make it easy to transport and move. The front and back pieces are getting spray painted with Rustoleum Bed Liner spray from Autozone. It has a nice texture and is durable so the weights won't tear it up too bad. The tubing is just getting painted with some left over paint I had, Metallic Gray. I ordered plastic end caps that go into the tubing just to dress it off. The side pieces of the rack have a felt padding on them to make sure there is no noise when it's all bolted together and just helps keep the paint and bed liner nice. On the back pieces on both levels, I ended up having to weld some flat stock to the angle. The smaller weights were barely resting on the angle so I made a minor adjustment.
I am taking it home tonight to put together so I will post more pics of it finished later on.


http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...nepics1186.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...nepics1185.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...nepics1181.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...nepics1199.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...nepics1197.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...nepics1214.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...nepics1183.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8.../MISC/flat.jpg

Here is what she is complaining about....

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...MISC/floor.jpg

It is done!! Works perfect and the wife approves!


http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...ust/MISC/6.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...t/MISC/3-3.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...t/MISC/2-3.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...t/MISC/4-2.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...t/MISC/5-1.jpg

now how do you find the time to make all these projects lately? that rack looks like a store bought one with the caps and rubbers

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jerky

now how do you find the time to make all these projects lately?

---

I don't sleep!! :)

Naaa, these are simple projects...Well, not the concrete fountain, that one was a 2 month process late this fall.
But the others didn't take long to make.

My next project is in the works.....

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...chine-Grey.jpg

I just wondered with all the projects when do you find time and energy to use use all the workout equipment? Your weight rack and your welding table look like they were well designed and built.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 67cudafb

I just wondered with all the projects when do you find time and energy to use use all the workout equipment?

---

lol, probably not as often as I should!

I've been thinking about building a squat rack. I think I'll give it a go if I can find 12ga unistrut locally for a reasonable price. I don't think I'd be down for drilling all the holes for adjustable safetys.

on that preacher bench, are you planning on making a plate loader like that one, or just a bench?


That's a pretty impressive Gym you've got there, though. Really makes me wish there were basements in Texas; of all the things I miss about Michigan, that rates pretty highly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ogorir

on that preacher bench, are you planning on making a plate loader like that one, or just a bench?

That's a pretty impressive Gym you've got there, though. Really makes me wish there were basements in Texas; of all the things I miss about Michigan, that rates pretty highly.

---

Oh no, it will be Exactly like the one in the pic.
I've been pricing all the metal and different parts I need for it and it's expensive. I found the machine for $329 on Amazon which is less than it will cost me to build but I really like building things and it will give me something to do.
I'm still working out the details but I'm ordering some Steel today to get started.

No basements??? Because of flooding? I couldn't live without a basement!!

High tech engineering!!
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...MISC/plans.jpg

I was curious whether you liked the plate load arm vs say an EZ curl bar. I like EZ curls a lot, but I guess you could build the EZ hand grip into that design. I guess the benefit of that kind of design is you can increase your weight side lever arm so you can do more with less plates.

I can't tell from your notes, are you going to use a bearing in the pivot?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ogorir

I was curious whether you liked the plate load arm vs say an EZ curl bar. I like EZ curls a lot, but I guess you could build the EZ hand grip into that design. I guess the benefit of that kind of design is you can increase your weight side lever arm so you can do more with less plates.

I can't tell from your notes, are you going to use a bearing in the pivot?

---

I don't have an EZ curl bar, I've used them in the gym and like them.

I Do like the plate load equipment because it's easy to add weight and comfortable to use. I can get a good workout in quickly and with the curl machine, I can do Bi's and Tri's in one. The back machine you see in the pics has 4 different places to grab the bars and it works most of my back.
Like you said, I will be tweaking the hand grip to make it fit me better. I have a hard time doing curls with a straight bar so I will be slightly angling it to fit me.
I just like the way the equipment looks, it works really well and it's easy for my wife to use which means she will work out which is good for her And me!!

No bearings... I originally thought about bearings but I downloaded the exploded view/manual of the Bicep machine and they use Brass bushings so that's the way I'm going. Stainless Steel through Brass.