I’m starting to build a home gym, and with money being an issue I was wondering how much it cost those of ya’ll to do it? I’m fortunate in that I already have db’s from 5-85lbs, so I’ll only have to add up to 120’s [for now], and I have a decent power rack that will get replaced with a better one somewhere down the line. Basically, I’d like to get some rubber matting, 500lbs+ of plates, the aforementioned db’s, a good bar and a good quality adjustable bench for around a grand, if possible. I’ll slowly add cool shit like a prowler, trap bar, vertec, etc… But for now I just want the basics. I’ve checked craigslist and various online spots for deals and pricing. If anyone can help me out that’d be fantastic. Thanks.
Badow! http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=120&pid=576
Ok that’s a bit pricey but something to think about down the road.
I was just at Dicks and they have 300lb Oly set for $150ish. Get the floor cover aka horse stall flooring from tractor supply for about $40-75 each.
Lastly craigslist.org keep an eye out, people will sell weights for pennies on the dollar just gotta check it pretty regular.
Elitefts.com has sales all the time and their econo stuff is pretty well priced.
You can see pics of my weight room in my hub. As far as plates are concerned, Texas Strength was the cheapest I found online. Shipping was very reasonable considering the amount of weight…
Thanks fellas. JP, I remember your thread. Your home set-up is better than any gym I’ve ever been to, and is my ultimate goal. D, I got the rack off of craigslist, and just found a guy who’s selling plates for $0.60 a lb! I’m gonna go check him out in an hour or so. I’d like to have everything [including the heavier db’s] within the next month. The big money’s gonna be on a good quality adjustable bench, but I’m good with that. I’d like to find one here in the city so I don’t have to pay for/wait on shipping, but we’ll see.
You’ve got to be a ninja on craigslist. When I was looking for stuff to buy I’d check it every hour or so (I work on a computer all day, anyway) but I got the following for $350, all said and done:
Squat rack
800 pounds of plates
barbell
curl bar
dumbbells from 5-25
adjustable dumbbell handles
Adjustable bench
I had to buy some things in package deals and then sell half of it away a few times. For instance, I bought a few bench press + 200 pounds of plates for ~ $100, then sold the extra benches away for ~ $50. Also check out the t-cell thread about it, I think there is some good info there.
^ All olympic weight, btw.
I was looking on craigslist for weights, and saw a listing posted for a closed gym auction. I scored some really high quality stuff for almost nothing, so maybe search google in your area for something similar. I had to drive 50 miles, but I got commercial quality plates for 40 cents a pound.
I second the rubber horse stall mats from tractor supply. I paid $35 each for 5 mats. They are 4’x6’ so I laid out 3 side by side in one direction, and then put the other 2 going perpendicular at one end for a total of 12’x12’ mat space.
I put them in my basement, and they smelled the house up like rubber for a good 2 months, but eventually that went away entirely. I’ve had them for a year and in spite of doing all kinds of deadlifts, they look brand new.
Something to think about is spread out the (monetary) pain over months. Start with the most important stuff and build the dream gym from there. My first purchase was just an oly bar, power rack and as many 45’s as I could afford.
As you get money keep adding more and more. You would be surprised at what a nice setup you can have over 1/2 a year if you are in a position to keep it high on the priority to-be-paid every month list. It’s just like anything else in life. Set small goals toward the big prize. I ended up spending about $3,500 over two years, but am now set for life.
[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
I had to buy some things in package deals and then sell half of it away a few times. For instance, I bought a few bench press + 200 pounds of plates for ~ $100, then sold the extra benches away for ~ $50. [/quote]
I’ve had great success doing this very thing. What’s also nice about it is you end up with plenty of extra bars which is great. You have a bar all set up for bench, one loaded up and ready to go for DL and another in the rack for squatting.
I had a local machine shop weld some pipes on one of my extra bars to make a makeshift yolk bar. I’m really happy with it for squatting with no shoulder pain. You’d be surprised how easy it is to sale those crappy weider & Nautilus racks and benches.
Whiteflash, you mention wanting to get a good bar. Unless you lift really big, 500lbs +, I recommend just sticking with the 40 pound home gym type. You can get them for 10 to 20 bucks off Craig’s and the hold up really well.
I’ve put 450 on one of mine and as far as I can tell the bar handles it with no problem. It wouldn’t surprise me if the bar could take 600. You can literally get 15 bars off Craig’s list for the price of one “good” bar.
Some excellent finds off Craig’s are a Reverse Hyper for $30, a Trap-Bar for $75, a Glute Ham Raise for $50 and a Chest Supported T-Bar Row for $30. There’s plans on the net for making a good platform. I used it. You can usually find plates for 25 cents a pound. Sometimes they will be a little rusty.
I think you will have some trouble with the heavy dumbbells. Sets of 5-50 are easy to find. Sets of 55-120 are not uncommon, but to go 90, 100, 110, 120, that’s hard. I’ve got everything through 115 but it took me a long time. I actually passed on a great deal for 120’s (30 or 40 bucks) because I didn’t think I’d ever get healthy enough for them. Now I am and wish I had them.
You’ll have to do the shopping by yourself. But it’s 2010, you can do it at home 
I did my own search for everything for the same purpose (building a small home gym). It took a lot of time, but it’s pleasurable. I’ll be placing the orders this week.
It rounds up to ~3000 without the bench (I’m still looking for it). For that cost, I’ll be able to do all the basic movement in a rack, weighted chinups + dips, Unilateral movements with DB and landmine, and GPP with farmer walks and prowler pushes. Hope it’s last 25 years, but it’ll pay itself in about 5-10 years of not going to a commercial gym.
What I choose is :
-
EliteFTS
2 Fat Bar Dumbbell Handle 299,98
TKO Synthetic Dip Belt 21
Farmer’s Walk Handle 190
Econo Prowler 269
Shipping 83,59
Total 863,57 -
I’ll order the bar from westside-barbell.com
They sell the Texas power bar 60$ less, which I can’t understand since it’s the same
Little less than 350$ -
Fitness factory (Canada supplier) they’re having a big sale
Landmine 199
Power Rack 399
Chin-dip station 269
Sales Tax 43,35
Shipping 115,86
Total 1 026,21 -
Bodybuilding.com
Power Hooks 39,95
I still have to look for plates and bench. The only plate supplier near me has only octogonal plates, which suck.
For the bench, I’m looking for a price from Atlantis. Otherwise I’m interested in the Hoist ajustable home bench (500$ without taxes) or the commercial version which cost a crazy 800$ :\ The home version is very comfortable for flat bench, but the lower part of the pad is crazy large which makes it somewhat of an adjustment for any kind of incline work.
Hoist has a unique kind of hinge that you don’t have to sit directly on, and it’s MUCH more comfortable for flat work. It’s also wide enough for muscular v-tapered back 
Commercial : http://www.hoistfitness.com/commercial-equipment/cf-3160.aspx
Home : http://www.hoistfitness.com/consumer-equipment/hf-4165.aspx
They also sell is shittier version which CAN’T go fully flat, when it’s a the lowest position, it’s still like 165-170° : http://www.hoistfitness.com/consumer-equipment/hf-4145.aspx
Some killer advice guys, thank you. I checked that dude out yesterday and picked up 2 plates, 2 35’s and 2 quarters. At $.60 a lb it was exactly $120. He had like 7 bars he was selling for $50 a pop, but my car wouldn’t fit 'em. I might go back today in my boys truck to snag 1 or 2. I’ve found a few other deals but most of the people are trying to sell everything as a set, and I don’t have the money and/or space to pick up more than I need. Gonna hit a local fitness store today if I can’t find more shit online and pick up 4 more plates, some dimes, nickels, and 2 1/2’s. I’m actually doing this 'cause I’m a personal trainer [at a country club with no squat rack] and am opening my own “studio” in my buddies warehouse to train clients. It works well 'cause he’s a welder and a lot of the shit I want to add he can just make. I might just end up buying the materials and giving him some dough and having him build me a nice power rack instead of buying one of the higher end ones online. I’m also going by the advice of adding pieces here and there, and hopefully by this time next year I’ve got a pretty badass little setup. Again, thanks ya’ll.
[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
You’ve got to be a ninja on craigslist. When I was looking for stuff to buy I’d check it every hour or so (I work on a computer all day, anyway) but I got the following for $350, all said and done:
Squat rack
800 pounds of plates
barbell
curl bar
dumbbells from 5-25
adjustable dumbbell handles
Adjustable bench
I had to buy some things in package deals and then sell half of it away a few times. For instance, I bought a few bench press + 200 pounds of plates for ~ $100, then sold the extra benches away for ~ $50. Also check out the t-cell thread about it, I think there is some good info there.[/quote]
Where do I learn the wayz of the ninja? lol awesome.
I just found a pretty decent bench, squat rack, and lat pulldown all in one for $100.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Some killer advice guys, thank you. I checked that dude out yesterday and picked up 2 plates, 2 35’s and 2 quarters. At $.60 a lb it was exactly $120. He had like 7 bars he was selling for $50 a pop, but my car wouldn’t fit 'em. I might go back today in my boys truck to snag 1 or 2. I’ve found a few other deals but most of the people are trying to sell everything as a set, and I don’t have the money and/or space to pick up more than I need. Gonna hit a local fitness store today if I can’t find more shit online and pick up 4 more plates, some dimes, nickels, and 2 1/2’s. I’m actually doing this 'cause I’m a personal trainer [at a country club with no squat rack] and am opening my own “studio” in my buddies warehouse to train clients. It works well 'cause he’s a welder and a lot of the shit I want to add he can just make. I might just end up buying the materials and giving him some dough and having him build me a nice power rack instead of buying one of the higher end ones online. I’m also going by the advice of adding pieces here and there, and hopefully by this time next year I’ve got a pretty badass little setup. Again, thanks ya’ll.[/quote]
WF, I think you’re paying too much. Sixty cents a pound is practically retail and I’ve seen cheap olympic bars at Walmart for $40. Regarding your friend making your squat rack, I bought my SR for $100 from a guy who said he fabricated it himself. He said when it was all said and done it cost him about as much to make as would have to just buy one. I’d be a ninja on Craig’s list until you find a really good deal on a rack.
Another good idea is to ask for accessories for Christmas & birthdays. That’s how I got my Ab Sling and Blast Straps.
[quote]on edge wrote:
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Some killer advice guys, thank you. I checked that dude out yesterday and picked up 2 plates, 2 35’s and 2 quarters. At $.60 a lb it was exactly $120. He had like 7 bars he was selling for $50 a pop, but my car wouldn’t fit 'em. I might go back today in my boys truck to snag 1 or 2. I’ve found a few other deals but most of the people are trying to sell everything as a set, and I don’t have the money and/or space to pick up more than I need. Gonna hit a local fitness store today if I can’t find more shit online and pick up 4 more plates, some dimes, nickels, and 2 1/2’s. I’m actually doing this 'cause I’m a personal trainer [at a country club with no squat rack] and am opening my own “studio” in my buddies warehouse to train clients. It works well 'cause he’s a welder and a lot of the shit I want to add he can just make. I might just end up buying the materials and giving him some dough and having him build me a nice power rack instead of buying one of the higher end ones online. I’m also going by the advice of adding pieces here and there, and hopefully by this time next year I’ve got a pretty badass little setup. Again, thanks ya’ll.[/quote]
WF, I think you’re paying too much. Sixty cents a pound is practically retail and I’ve seen cheap olympic bars at Walmart for $40. Regarding your friend making your squat rack, I bought my SR for $100 from a guy who said he fabricated it himself. He said when it was all said and done it cost him about as much to make as would have to just buy one. I’d be a ninja on Craig’s list until you find a really good deal on a rack.
Another good idea is to ask for accessories for Christmas & birthdays. That’s how I got my Ab Sling and Blast Straps.[/quote]
You may be right. I picked up a couple of plates from academy [kinda like Dicks I’m guessing] for just a bit more than I got from the craigslist guy. I can’t find plates here in Houston for less than $38 a 45lb. The bright side is my boy is welding me a power rack. We went and picked up the materials today, and it came out to $260. He’s doing it for free, but I’m gonna cut him some dough 'cause that’s really fucking cool of him. Here’s a link to the rack we’re copying-
http://www.ironcompany.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3265
It should be done in a day or two, I’ll post pics when it is. Actually, I’ll post pics of my whole home gym starter kit when it’s done. As of now I’ve got 2 bars, 455lbs of plates, db’s from 5-85lbs, a db rack, and a power rack on the way. I’m going to pick up an adjustable bench manana, and try to add something every paycheck [heavier sets of db’s, more plates, fat gripz, bands, benches, whatever]. Oh, he’s also gonna build me a prowler, which is fucking gangster. Again, thank you everyone for ya’lls help.
Well, I lost the converter cord to upload pics, but my boy thinks his will work on my camera. If not, I’ll bite the bullet and buy a new one. Either way I’ll have pics up of the gym tomorrow. I’m actually pretty proud of it, and the power rack is a straight BEAST. I’ll explain everything as I get the pics up.
