so until or if I ever get a bamboo bar, i’m thinking why can’t i use a plain old oly bar, or exercise bar? With the plates hung from bands on each end wouldn’t you get almost the same effect?
Although I have no first hand experience I have read that PVC can be used as an alternative.
[quote]sumabeast wrote:
so until or if I ever get a bamboo bar, i’m thinking why can’t i use a plain old oly bar, or exercise bar? With the plates hung from bands on each end wouldn’t you get almost the same effect?
Sort of… the olympic bar weighs 45# and doesn’t nearly wiggle as much as the bamboo bar would at 5#. I got some fiberglass tube stock for about $12
http://www.mgs4u.com/fiberglass-tube-rod.htm
It’s 8" long and I’ve had a little over 200# bouncing around on this thing with zero issues. The sales guy told me that the 1/4 inch thick stock would hold well over 400# which is waaaay more than anyone would prolly ever use with this kind of bar. Sure it doesn’t have all the cool bar sleeves like the bamboo bar but it does the job well. I drew sharpie lines on it every 6 inches so that I would hang the bands evenly on each end of the bar. Comes in all kinds of diameters too. Can get one 1" to mimic a regular bar, can get a 2" for a fat bar effect.
[quote]BlueCollarTr8n wrote:
Although I have no first hand experience I have read that PVC can be used as an alternative.[/quote]
I do, PVC works but you will only be able to put a little bit of weight on the bar. It bends like hell with more than about 50#. Might be good to see if you like this kind of thing and then get the fiberglass I’ve wrote about or go all out and get the real bar.
update
Louie’s version above is actually called “Bandbell bar” inspired i guess by a bamboo pole?
it’s actually made of specially engineered fiber glass. And sells for whopping $289
Besides a DIY job there’s gotta be cheaper versions out there? Is anyone manufacturing the real thing from bamboo?
[quote]sumabeast wrote:
Besides a DIY job there’s gotta be cheaper versions out there? [/quote]
I haven’t found one yet
[quote]sumabeast wrote:
Is anyone manufacturing the real thing from bamboo?[/quote]
Not to my knowledge
How about just the crazy-bell version? ie a std BB with the weight (KB or plates) suspended by bands, guess it will be slightly more stable but much cheaper.
[quote]Boffin wrote:
How about just the crazy-bell version? ie a std BB with the weight (KB or plates) suspended by bands, guess it will be slightly more stable but much cheaper.
[/quote]
sure, you can. It won’t wobble as much but who cares.
I’ve also done “dumbbell” presses using a EFS short mini band simply wrapped around a 40-50# kettlebell handle. ( hold the band, KB handle is held by the band) That wobbles like crazy and add the unilateral training element into the mix. Try doing front raises and laterals this way. It’s brutal.
I’m telling y’all.If you want a “bandbell bar”, Get a 1-2" fiberglass rod from the site I put a link to. It’s $12ish. You’ll be able to put more weight than you’ll prolly need on it and it works very well. Doesn’t get much cheaper than that.
here’s a pic of the bar I use. I simply put some athletic tape on the rod where the bars knurling would be. Here’s the bar shown with some 35’s and some quarters. It feels heavier / harder than it looks. If I don’t push the same with each arm and the bar goes side to side as well as head to toe. It’s freaking crazy man and for me was great at the end of the bench or press day to get a WICKED PUMP.
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