Making a weightlifting barbell

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Hi all,

need some advice please as I’m new to using concrete.

I’m trying to make some home exercise equipment, and have managed to make some rough but working weight plates out of concrete using a home made mould.

I need to make a bar to put the weights on and bought a steel round bar. I’m concerned about the steel not being able to take the load of the weights (approx 100kg total. 50kg on each end).

the steel is 200cm long but with a 3 cm diameter and is hollow.

I thought about pouring concrete through the bar to reinforce it. Is this a good idea? If so what’s the best way to do that? Buy a large funnel to help with pour and turn bar vertical and block one end and put concrete in using gravity to assist? Do I need to make concrete more wet to do this?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks
 
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You forgot an important dimension, wall thickness...all filling the bar might achieve is adding weight
 
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Thanks for the quick reply.

This is super thin metal, just 1mm thick.

I did a load test last night. Put 20kg on each end of the bar and elevated the bar, supported just in the middle. Over a 12 hour period there was no obvious bend in the bar.

I thought it would have begun bending or snapped so was surprised it was still intact.
 
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Yeah I realise it’s not going to be strong enough which is why I’m posting. It’s just something I bought from b&q. Any recommendations on best way to reinforce with concrete or somewhere I can purchase a solid piece of steel or something thicker would be great.
 
Err a steel suppliers? Presumably it's all about trying to save few pounds? EBay probably too. Presumably you're expecting to use collars to stop your weights falling off but how will stop them falling inwards towards the centre?
 
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looking on Amazon 1" (25mm) solid bar seems to be what most companies use for weight bars.
You could try 25mm metal pipe and some kind of clamps to hold them on
to stop them sliding down the pole, don't drill a massive hole through - a couple of small holes holding a lump on would maybe safer.

By the time you buy this it might be cheaper to just pay for the bar and dIY the weights?

Look at some images or footage of army guys in Iraq /Afgan. they use makeshift weights and may give you ideas that won't trap you in the garden
 
I'd be saving your pennies and waiting until you can buy an affordable set from a retailer. Depending on the range of exercises you intend to do with these homemade weights, the last thing you need is a material failure when you have x kg's above your head, chest or wherever, especially if exercising unspotted.
 
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About now, loads of "new year resolution" fitness gear should be appearing on the second hand pages or Facebook?
 
Unfortunately they're like gold dust at the moment - all the reasonably priced sets in Argos have been bought up by scalpers trying to sell them at 2-3 times the price on Facebook. Or even greedier:
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Thanks for the quick reply.

This is super thin metal, just 1mm thick.

I did a load test last night. Put 20kg on each end of the bar and elevated the bar, supported just in the middle. Over a 12 hour period there was no obvious bend in the bar.

I thought it would have begun bending or snapped so was surprised it was still intact.

If its going to bend, the steel would bend straight away.

A better test would be to make up a test unit with double the finished weights, and then try to lift/support from the middle only. When they are being moved about during use etc the load on the bar will be greater than when sitting still so you need to test at a higher weight. Not sure if 2 times is enough, might need more.
 
£45 ouch -
And they do not know how pour good concrete
Or how to vibrate the molds to make a nice surface.
And in use I would be worried about tearing my hand on those overlong bolts.
 
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