Where'd You Get Those Racks?

[Gary Gibson]

Hi Coach,

I've seen those black, old-school, welded York (?) power racks (as shown in SS) a couple of times on Craig's List, but I've never been quick enough to buy one. I am unable to find them new online. Where'd you get yours?

I used to have a squat rack from Body Solid in my kitchen and it was my pride and joy. Got it for $200 including delivery! Sold it when I moved to Baltimore, but I ended up with a place big enough to allow me to train at home. I was going to get another Body Solid rack (rated up to 1000 lbs, but I wouldn't trust it with more than 5 or 6 hundred) which the same guy now sells for $275 delivered, but I wanted to try to get a welded rack this time instead of one I bolt together myself.

Thanks for reading.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I made mine, had them welded here for about $500. Copy them out of the book. They are made from 4" C-channel and 1.25" cold rolled. The holes are on 3" centers, the floor is 3/4" plywood.

[OITW]

[QUOTE=Mark Rippetoe;31012]They are made from 4" C-channel and 1.25" cold rolled.QUOTE]

Does anyone know how to translate that into European standards, specificallly Italian? Iron mongers are cheap here.

Rip, if your holes are on 3" centers, what diameter are they and what diameter are your pins?

[Gary Gibson]

Today I rented a U-Haul and took a long drive straight north to York, PA. A guy living in a farmhouse was selling some gym equipment. He had one of the old-time York power racks that I so wanted. The rack and bench are now in a corner of my bedroom. I have 10 45lb plates in my closet. Next is a bar and a rubber mat.

York is a lovely little city. I'm glad I had reason to get up there.

[Mark Rippetoe]

[QUOTE=OITW;31110]

They are made from 4" C-channel and 1.25" cold rolled.QUOTE]

Does anyone know how to translate that into European standards, specificallly Italian? Iron mongers are cheap here.

Rip, if your holes are on 3" centers, what diameter are they and what diameter are your pins?

They are 1.25", made of the cold-rolled steel.

[OITW]

1.25" pin diam, so the holes have to be larger. You have them larger to accommodate running the pins up or down one hole from front to back, how big a hole diam do you need for that?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Looks like these holes are about 1 3/8", maybe a hair more.

[Konstantinos Kavos]

Does anyone know how to translate that into European standards, specificallly Italian? Iron mongers are cheap here.

No one needs to know how to do anything anymore, that's what the internet is for ;-)

Have a look at this site:

http://www.onlineconversion.com/

You can convert pretty much everything you need (unless you guys in Italy are using a different system to the metric that the rest of us Euros are. Last time I was over there this didn't seem to be the case. Great country, even better food):

[tremorviolet]

They are made from 4" C-channel and 1.25" cold rolled.

Does anyone know how to translate that into European standards, specificallly Italian? Iron mongers are cheap here.

Here's a table of Standard European Channels but, really, you should just sketch out the approximate size of what you want and take it to the steel guys and they can find an equivalent shape. Almost any size steel channel should work great, the loads a human can lift are trivial; you're sizing more for convenience (i.e. room for the holes for the pins) Make sure it's steel and not wrought iron and that they've got a good reputation for welds.

[OITW]

KnK and TremorViolet, thank you much. Labor is very cheap here, materials less so, but an actual retail rack is highway robbery. I hope to send a photo of the finished product soon.