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Dumbbells
May 22, 2018 9:17:12 GMT
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Post by stormshadow on May 22, 2018 9:17:12 GMT
Bruce what kind of leather did you wrap handles. Thanks That's non-padded tennis racket wrap. I first wrapped the handles with double stick foam tape to give it a bit of a cushion, and then I wrapped the tennis racket wrap over that. If I were to use leather, I would use chap leather. Thank you. Brilliant
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Post by gruntbrain on May 22, 2018 13:37:30 GMT
Customized dumbbells made with 2'-3' steel pipes allow you to perform heavy squats and deadlifts safely . Standard dumbbells where the weights are close together are less safe.
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Post by mr potatohead on May 22, 2018 15:10:14 GMT
Customized dumbbells made with 2'-3' steel pipes allow you to perform heavy squats and deadlifts safely . Standard dumbbells where the weights are close together are less safe. I don't understand this. How does the length of the DBs affect safety? Why does the DB bar need to be longer? When I use DBs for a squat or DL, I hold them to my sides, like a trap bar. How is that unsafe?
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Post by gruntbrain on May 22, 2018 15:54:36 GMT
Mikey, a longer dumbbell enables you to space the weight plates so that they're less likely to crush your feet when the dumbbells are lowered to the floor . Sidebends with conventional DBs also present the problem of the plates hitting your hips.
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Post by mr potatohead on May 22, 2018 16:23:40 GMT
OK, thanks.
Sounds like none of this is relevant to me anyway. I have never even touched my feet with DBs and I don't do sidebends w/ weight heavier than a couple pounds at most .... oh, and when I do sidebends, my hands are usually overhead.
When I lift or squat w/ DBs or KBs, I hold them like suitcases. No danger that I can tell or feel.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2018 17:07:42 GMT
I use to do 50 lb suitcase squats when I 1st started using the fitness center since they only have DB's. But now will I hoist a DB onto my shoulder and do 15-20 squats to parallel, then immediately 15-20 heel raises then switch sides and repeat. Then I do the same with Atlas squats, DB on shoulder, lift heels and squat till heels touch butt, immediately do heel raises again then do same other side. Repeat the first parallel squats plus heel raises each side. Then I can play with other leg exercises.
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Post by Bruce Tackett on May 22, 2018 17:48:15 GMT
Here's another dumbbell idea. For a handle, force a 5"-6" length of 1" utility hose to the center of a 1" x 14" wood dowel. I made a couple of these and the only way I could move the utility hose over the dowel was to coat the dowel with vaseline. I got the hose going this way, and then I had to set the dowel on end, place a 1" steel fender washer over the end of the hose, place a short length of ABS pipe on that, and then hammer the utility hose down the rest of the way. And then you use 1 1/2" lengths of utility hose and hose clamps for the collars. Those go on relatively easily. One thing about this, though, is that the handle can really make your forearm ache. It's great for building muscle in your forearms.
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Dumbbells
May 22, 2018 18:53:35 GMT
via mobile
Post by Deleted on May 22, 2018 18:53:35 GMT
How much weight can they hold before snapping?
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Post by Bruce Tackett on May 22, 2018 19:27:21 GMT
They can hold all the weight you can put on them. These are hardwood dowels. They're not going to snap, and the handles are reinforcement agents. The dumbbells I have pictured on the first page are loaded with 50 lbs. each.
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Post by mr potatohead on May 22, 2018 21:07:27 GMT
I use to do 50 lb suitcase squats when I 1st started using the fitness center since they only have DB's. But now will I hoist a DB onto my shoulder and do 15-20 squats to parallel, then immediately 15-20 heel raises then switch sides and repeat. Then I do the same with Atlas squats, DB on shoulder, lift heels and squat till heels touch butt, immediately do heel raises again then do same other side. Repeat the first parallel squats plus heel raises each side. Then I can play with other leg exercises. Thanks, Henry, shouldered DBs w/ squat - good one!
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Post by Bruce Tackett on May 22, 2018 21:22:25 GMT
They (wood dowels) can hold all the weight you can put on them. These are hardwood dowels. They're not going to snap, and the handles are reinforcement agents. The dumbbells I have pictured on the first page are loaded with 50 lbs. each. You could also use 3/4" steel pipes, but they won't go through a 1" PVC, and you might or might not be able to get 1" utility hose over them. You could just use the 3/4" steel pipe (1" O.D.) as a handle. You could screw couplings onto the ends of a 3/4" x 6" steel pipe for a handle and then screw 4", or whatever, pipes into the ends of the couplings for plates. I don't think utility hose would work very well on this for collars, what with the threads and the thickness. You'd probably have to use commercial collars. The cost of one 6" and two 4" steel pipes, plus the steel couplings would cost almost or about what you'd pay for some commercial dumbbells. I've been using my wood DIY dumbbells for years and they work just fine.
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Post by gruntbrain on May 22, 2018 22:22:13 GMT
The cost of steel pipes and fittings is a reason to search for used dumbbells , barbells, and of course weight plates
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Post by gruntbrain on May 23, 2018 22:28:14 GMT
For more cheap dumbbell thrills perform a variety of lifts with an adjustable strap securely hitched to the dumbbell . I use a pipe passed thru the Sierra Strap loops to perform the lifts.
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Post by Deuce Gunner on May 24, 2018 16:30:42 GMT
Since there has been so much talk about homemade dumbbells in this thread, I would also suggest anybody with the urge to make their own dumbbells to also try a swingbell which is nothing but a handle with the weight plates in center rather than on the ends. I just got a copy of Harry Paschall's book Muscle Moulding this week and he mentioned some conventional exercises using the swingbell. I broke out a factory made swingbell and tried some pullovers, and bicep/tricep curls with it and got a pretty good pump with it. Of course that's usually the way it goes with a different piece of equipment. Putting the weight inside the hands rather than on the outside is a different feel and may be worth trying for variety's sake if nothing else. There were also whole swingbell courses published that used big dynamic movements somewhat similar to many kettlebell exercises. If you can make your own dumbbells a swingbell is even easier.
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Post by Bruce Tackett on May 24, 2018 16:53:18 GMT
If you can make your own dumbbells a swingbell is even easier. Made by mikey: Made by Brian Long: The pipe holding the plates is 3/4" which slips through the 1" tees connected to the 1" pipes.
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