Garage gyms

[iamsmuts]

I just started assembling my craigslist T3 rack (haven't even tightened everything up yet) and I have a question about plate storage logistics. I have a plate tree and 4 plate posts to attached to the rack. I thought about trying to keep half of each size plate on each side of the rack to make loading the bar easier. Does that work for most people or does keeping all of the same size plate in one location work better? If I split them up on each side, what works best for the rack posts? All post on the back side with the 5s and 10s up high and the 45s, 35s, and 25s down low or should I use both the front and back of the rack. The plate posts are the bolt on type, not the type that inserts like a j-hook, so experimenting will be a bit of hassle.

Because my son and I will often lift together and we are too far apart in height, I foresee us using a bar inside and a bar outside the rack most of the time.

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The plate storage gets in the way. I have some down low on the front for 45s. It's almost too close. Anything in the back will get in the way of bench and possibly squat. You can't use it. You could by the wall strips if you feel like you must use the storage pins. . . . .

[51M0n]

I finished making a cable attachment for my power rack. Used a pair of cheap ebay rock climbing pulleys which are nice and smooth, and also some rock climbing nylon loops to attach them to the rack

Set up one way it allows me to do lat pull downs, face pulls, triceps push-downs etc,

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By removing the second pulley and attaching it to a pin-pipe at the bottom, I can use it to do low rows and the like.

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I did have to add a chain extension to the rope to get it to reach the floor, but it still allows for enough rope to do rows.
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Very happy with the set up.

[The Flush]

The plate storage gets in the way. I have some down low on the front for 45s. It's almost too close. Anything in the back will get in the way of bench and possibly squat. You can't use it. You could by the wall strips if you feel like you must use the storage pins. . . . .

You are probably right. I might just use the storage pins up high in the back for the 5s and 10s and figure something else out for the bigger plates. I am too tall to press inside the rack, but my son is not and I don't think the small plates would be in his way. I have a few dumbbells that could use a storage rack and have seen some that have some olympic plate storage pins on the end. I could get one of those to use on one side and use the plate tree on the other side. Wall mounted storage is the most attractive option, but I need to be as efficient as possible with my spending.

[The Flush]

My existing adjustable bench is unsafe to use without some repairs. Do I even want an adjustable bench? I am a novice now, but will I want an adjustable bench in the future?

It looks like a lot of people like the Rep AB-3100 adjustable bench as the best budget bench at $225 shipped. Is it a lot better than the Titan adjustable bench for $119? The Titan is available on Amazon but the Rep is not. I get a 5% discount using my Amazon store card which makes the Titan even cheaper, but I am not sure of its quality and comfort.

If I go with a flat bench, I can get the Rep flat bench from Amazon for $159, but the Titan flat bench is out of stock although it is usually $114 I think. The Rogue flat utility bench 2.0 is $214 shipped.

What is the best value for me needs right now?

[Eric Davis]

Query:
Should I put something underneath?
Garage is asphalt. Should not have any water issues coming down the driveway this year , I'm tackling that and 90% of the garage is ok cinder block foundation and above the ground so shouldn't have basement water types of issues.


Thgouhts ?

Definitely put a waterproofbarrier beneath your platform. I didn't when I built my platform 8 years ago. I used 2 layers of OSB covered by plywood with stall mat sides. My concrete garage is completely dry, chalk lies on it for years and remains dry. However, the edges of my platform bowed up about 3/4" all the way around. Apparently, it was from the moisture in the concrete. Not enough to be unusable but it's there, I know it, and it bothers me. A waterproof barrier is cheap.

[idlehands]

Definitely put a waterproofbarrier beneath your platform. I didn't when I built my platform 8 years ago. I used 2 layers of OSB covered by plywood with stall mat sides. My concrete garage is completely dry, chalk lies on it for years and remains dry. However, the edges of my platform bowed up about 3/4" all the way around. Apparently, it was from the moisture in the concrete. Not enough to be unusable but it's there, I know it, and it bothers me. A waterproof barrier is cheap.

Gonna use drylock on first layer

[ithryn]

51mon that looks nice, does it sway or jerk around a lot? I'm thinking of doing something like this. Maybe attach it to my ceiling joists in the garage, if they can handle the weight.

I just started assembling my craigslist T3 rack (haven't even tightened everything up yet) and I have a question about plate storage logistics. I have a plate tree and 4 plate posts to attached to the rack.

Just use the plate tree probably. However, I don't have one. My four plate posts on my T-3 are as low as they can go but still have a 45 on them. I also bought two extra posts that are up high for small change plates. The extra posts that Titan sells are easily removable (drop in), but they haven't gotten in the way yet.

There's two potential issues with the low posts. My bench press will occasionally just barely ping one of the plates. It's actually a good feedback to avoid getting sloppy with the reps and letting the contact point travel up my sternum. But your mileage will vary there.

The other issue is if you put the hooks low on the front of the rack, for rows or whatever, you'll probably have to pull off the plates. But the bar and 45's don't hit the posts themselves, just the plates.

My existing adjustable bench...

I would put the adjustable bench to the side and email Titan asking when their flat bench is in stock. I like having a flat bench I can put a million pounds on. But keep the adjustable for incline dumbbell work or whatever later on.

If you really want an incline I'd google the site ("site:startingstrength.com" search term) for that Rep bench, there's probably already talk about it.

[51M0n]

The cable pull is very solid. There is a tiny bit of a pendulum effect where the weight goes up and down, but it's very small, and you can't feel it at all at the pull down end.no side to side movement at all. The rock climbing pulleys are very smooth, and I think using two of them helps make the system very smooth.

One of the reasons I made my own was I didn't like the single pulley system of the Spud Inc version as it has too much of a pendulum effect, and I could use plastic coated wire rope which won't frey like the Spud one does.

[The Flush]

I would put the adjustable bench to the side and email Titan asking when their flat bench is in stock. I like having a flat bench I can put a million pounds on. But keep the adjustable for incline dumbbell work or whatever later on.

If you really want an incline I'd google the site ("site:startingstrength.com" search term) for that Rep bench, there's probably already talk about it.

I am replacing my adjustable FID bench no matter what. It will not stay in position due to an issue with the pin that holds the back in place. I can't trust that when bench pressing. It was never very comfortable to begin with. I can probably turn that bench into an fixed upright bench that I can use between sets while my son lifts. I think I just want a flat bench. My choices are:

Titan flat bench $114 shipped.
Rep flat bench $159 shipped.
Vulcan flat bench $199 shipped.
Rogue flat utility bench 2.0 $214 shipped. If I had other reasons to be in Columbus I could save $19 on shipping for this one, but it is not worth making a trip just for this (other than just getting to look at a bunch of cool stuff).

Titan says its flat bench will be back around October 7th (3 weeks). It wins on price and is the only one with wheels (not that matters much). I will probably wait for it. I can focus on press in the mean time.

[GrizzlyAdam]

My choices are:

Titan flat bench $114 shipped.
Rep flat bench $159 shipped.
Vulcan flat bench $199 shipped.
Rogue flat utility bench 2.0 $214 shipped. If I had other reasons to be in Columbus I could save $19 on shipping for this one, but it is not worth making a trip just for this (other than just getting to look at a bunch of cool stuff).

Titan says its flat bench will be back around October 7th (3 weeks). It wins on price and is the only one with wheels (not that matters much). I will probably wait for it. I can focus on press in the mean time.

Yeah, if you're going flat get the Titan. Much cheaper, and by all accounts extremely sturdy.