Homemade Axle (Fat Bar) and DB Handles
I have been making a lot of homemade equipment lately. Hopefully your not getting bored with all the DYI posts. Don’t worry I will be posting more on training soon. In fact on Monday I will be driving up to Cleveland to train strongman events with Bob. So I will definitely keep you informed on how that goes!
Today is a fairly easy way to make a fat bar or axle as they are called in strongman training. Basically there are 3 easy steps and your ready to go!
What to do:
- Go to Home Depot, buy a 10 foot long 1 1/2 inch galvanized pipe (they measure this by the hole, so is almost 2″ on outside of pipe) and 6 pipe clamps that fit up to 2″ pipe
- Have the store cut the pipe to 7 foot (thats your bar), then have them cut the small piece left over in half (these are your dumbbell handles
- Put the pipe clamps on the bar as weight plate stops. Ok your ready to lift!
Once you follow these steps, all you have to do is put what weight you want to use on the bar and then put what ever weight collars you like use on the end and your ready to go!
It works great! Have used the bar several times with fairly heavy weight and no difficulties.
Give it a try and let me know what you think.
Yours In Strength,
-Tim-
P.S. the bar measures just under 2″ around, so some weight collars wont work with it if they don’t tighten below 2″
This is a great idea…was looking at buying one of these and they are very pricy. Just starting out with strongman, did one last year and loved being able to use what I do in the gym. After I read this post I talked to the lady who runs my “$1-a-day gym” and she was wondering about how much these bar hold, saftey concerns…you said fairly heavy, can you give a number so I can ease her worries? Thanks for this great idea
Not sure how much weight total this thing will hold, but have personally had around 400 on it so far and had no issues. I have heard of others using a lot more weight on one, but I can’t personally attest to that.
Unfortunately, since it is a homemade thing, it’s use at your own risk.
buy a piece of 2″ cold rolled steel. costs less than $100. ( I have a 76″ bar and it cost me $75 and weighs 67lbs) you will never put enough weight on this bar to bend it.
Thanks for the great info John!