Home Gym maintenance

[AndreiDecker]

Hello coach,

Do you think about doing a gym maintenance, tricks of the trade, series in the future? The videos about aplying oil to the bar and finding out if it is bent are very useful. I would love to see more general tips from a decade long gym owner like you.

Also, do you have some advice for home gym owners who live on places with very high humidity? I live in front of a beach, in a tropical climate city, and things are starting to get rusty. The iron plates coating paint is starting to fall off and they are getting rusty spots, I don't if I should aply oil to them because I'm worried about safety.

Thanks.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Barbell Basics | Mark Rippetoe

[AndrewLewis]

Hello coach,

Do you think about doing a gym maintenance, tricks of the trade, series in the future? The videos about aplying oil to the bar and finding out if it is bent are very useful. I would love to see more general tips from a decade long gym owner like you.

Also, do you have some advice for home gym owners who live on places with very high humidity? I live in front of a beach, in a tropical climate city, and things are starting to get rusty. The iron plates coating paint is starting to fall off and they are getting rusty spots, I don't if I should aply oil to them because I'm worried about safety.

Thanks.

Rust isn't a safety issue, it's a long term degradation and aesthetic issue. Read Rip's article on barbell basics and then buy a $10 wire brush and some spray paint. Paint is an excellent way to seal a surface against the air and, by extension, moisture.

[Corrie]

Rust isn't a safety issue, it's a long term degradation and aesthetic issue. Read Rip's article on barbell basics and then buy a $10 wire brush and some spray paint. Paint is an excellent way to seal a surface against the air and, by extension, moisture.

I interpreted this as him wondering if there would be any safety issues associated with applying oil to the plates. Other than the risk of dropping a plate on your toes I'm not sure it would present a safety issue.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Oil to the plates??? Why would anyone do this?

[Corrie]

Oil to the plates??? Why would anyone do this?

Sounded like he was considering applying oil to the plates to prevent rust. Maybe he can season them like a cast iron pan!

[Yngvi]

Oil to the plates??? Why would anyone do this?

It just happens sometimes. I often oil up my body to flex in the mirror before workouts. Sometimes a little oil gets on the plates. It is much better to then cover the whole plate in oil to get that nice, shiny cut appearance than to look like you have dirty plates.

[AndrewLewis]

I interpreted this as him wondering if there would be any safety issues associated with applying oil to the plates. Other than the risk of dropping a plate on your toes I'm not sure it would present a safety issue.

Please don't do this.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Why not, Andrew? This will be fun!!

[David Kirkham]

The iron plates coating paint is starting to fall off and they are getting rusty spots, I don't if I should aply oil to them because I'm worried about safety.

Thanks.

Next post:

“Hey Coach, what is the Starr Protocol for rehabbing a broken foot?”

Holy hell. I get mad at guys who are lazy and put big plates on top of little plates, hiding the little plates. Next thing you know someone doesn’t see the small plate, removes the big plate and BOOM!

Time to see the orthopedic surgeon. Talk about messing up your training. I recommend oiling the bar so you can work on your grip strength.