5-
I added another flat promaxima bench that we re-upholstered and am getting another bar, 370lbs of plates and a seated calf raise tomorrow. Within the next week or two I hope to add db’s from 90’s-120’s. Found a guy last week who was selling db’s from 3’s up to 120’s for $550 [!], but couldn’t talk him into just letting the 90’s+ go and couldn’t justify the expenditure without having the rest sold first. So what you see here is one bad ass power rack that’s 8 1/2 feet tall, one adjustable bench, 715lbs of plates, 2 bars and db’s from 10-85 [missing 30’s and 80’s]. By tomorrow the plates will total 1125lbs, add a bar and a seated calf machine. Right now I’m gonna have to get a little reppy with the db’s until the 100’s+ come in, but otherwise this is pretty sweet. Oh, and in case you couldn’t tell this is in a welders warehouse. My boy welded that rack and re-upholstered the bench Ya’ll don’t see. As I add I’ll probably come back and post pics.
I’d like to again thank everyone for chiming in and helping out. Ya’ll really helped, and if any of ya’ll are ever in Houston you got a free membership for life.
Oh, Edge, I just reread what you wrote. I wish I lived where you do man. The cheapest I found plates was about 85 cents a pound and the rack we built [well, he built] was $260 just for raw materials. We went to the metal yard my boy frequents and even got the commercial discount since he owns his own company. I have no idea how your source got and built a quality rack for a hundo. But, I’m glad [and jealous] you got yours for what you did.
Sweet setup Flash!!! Might have to make a trip to Houston just to check it out (and take advantage of the free membership haha)
Nice job man, this is just the beginning.
[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
Sweet setup Flash!!! Might have to make a trip to Houston just to check it out (and take advantage of the free membership haha)
Nice job man, this is just the beginning.[/quote]
What up T!?!? Thanks man. I’m pretty excited about it. I’m trying to sucker my clients at the country club away and into paying me at my joint. The goal is in 6 months I want at least 10 clients who commit to at least 2 sessions a week at $40 a session, and in 3 years I’d like to open my own small facility. Gotta start somewhere.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Oh, Edge, I just reread what you wrote. I wish I lived where you do man. The cheapest I found plates was about 85 cents a pound and the rack we built [well, he built] was $260 just for raw materials.[/quote]
You just need to be patient. I bought 50 45lb plates in Deer Park off Craigslist about 5 years ago for $150, dude closed down a gym and just wanted to be rid of them. I also got a Crepensik rack (the original EFS before Williams Strength) with the hydraulic monolift for $600 in Pasadena, craigslist also.
I probably had about 3-5 grand in my garage gym before we moved out into a warehouse. This took about 5 years to build. I started with a rack, bench, DB’s to 60 I think, 10 plates and various quarters, 10’s 5’s and shit.
Good luck … I am in this process too. Going to build my own rack from 6x6 posts. Going to get some weights soon.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Oh, Edge, I just reread what you wrote. I wish I lived where you do man. The cheapest I found plates was about 85 cents a pound and the rack we built [well, he built] was $260 just for raw materials. We went to the metal yard my boy frequents and even got the commercial discount since he owns his own company. I have no idea how your source got and built a quality rack for a hundo. But, I’m glad [and jealous] you got yours for what you did.[/quote]
Matt is exactly right, it takes patience. I’ve been putting my gym together for a long time. It sounds like you are looking to get it up and running. That being the case you will have to pay more for some things.
I bought my rack for a hundred, yes, but it cost the guy who built it much more than that. Maybe more than the 260 and it doesn’t have plate holders. That rack your friend made is one quality rack. I’d say you got a great deal for 260. What an awesome friend to have. He got that done fast too!
[quote]dirtbag wrote:
Good luck … I am in this process too. Going to build my own rack from 6x6 posts. Going to get some weights soon.[/quote]
Thanks man, to you as well. If you need any help with the construction of the rack I’ll do my best over the comp.
[quote] Matt wrote:
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Oh, Edge, I just reread what you wrote. I wish I lived where you do man. The cheapest I found plates was about 85 cents a pound and the rack we built [well, he built] was $260 just for raw materials.[/quote]
You just need to be patient. I bought 50 45lb plates in Deer Park off Craigslist about 5 years ago for $150, dude closed down a gym and just wanted to be rid of them. I also got a Crepensik rack (the original EFS before Williams Strength) with the hydraulic monolift for $600 in Pasadena, craigslist also.
I probably had about 3-5 grand in my garage gym before we moved out into a warehouse. This took about 5 years to build. I started with a rack, bench, DB’s to 60 I think, 10 plates and various quarters, 10’s 5’s and shit.
[/quote]
I figured as much. I’ve seen the pics of your facility and am all kinds of envious. Thanks for the help man.
[quote]on edge wrote:
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Oh, Edge, I just reread what you wrote. I wish I lived where you do man. The cheapest I found plates was about 85 cents a pound and the rack we built [well, he built] was $260 just for raw materials. We went to the metal yard my boy frequents and even got the commercial discount since he owns his own company. I have no idea how your source got and built a quality rack for a hundo. But, I’m glad [and jealous] you got yours for what you did.[/quote]
Matt is exactly right, it takes patience. I’ve been putting my gym together for a long time. It sounds like you are looking to get it up and running. That being the case you will have to pay more for some things.
I bought my rack for a hundred, yes, but it cost the guy who built it much more than that. Maybe more than the 260 and it doesn’t have plate holders. That rack your friend made is one quality rack. I’d say you got a great deal for 260. What an awesome friend to have. He got that done fast too![/quote]
That’s exactly what it is. I’m trying to get going so I’m buying things without too much bargain hunting. I check craigslist a couple of times a day and have found some absolutely ridiculous deals, but most of it is on shit I’ve already bought haha. I need to pick up some heavier db’s [for myself more than anything], but I’m gonna save up some dough for a bit and jump on deals when I find them. Thanks for the rack compliments. He’s pretty proud of it. When it was all said and done it took him about 12hrs spread over 3 days. And, aside from the weight supporters he did it entirely by himself. Gonna lift on it today [bench] for the first time, so I’m pretty stoked. He’s gonna add some monkey grips to the chin bar, and I’m gonna sucker him into adding band pegs above and below. He’s also pretty pumped about making a prowler, as am I obviously. When he finishes that joker I’ll definitely post pics. Ya’ll be good.
If you find some ridiculous deals on craigslist buy them and sell them for more money, extra cash to buy the shit you still need.
[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
If you find some ridiculous deals on craigslist buy them and sell them for more money, extra cash to buy the shit you still need. [/quote]
My problem with that is space is an issue. My buddy’s being overly generous with his warehouse as is, I can’t just start housing shit there waiting on my wheeling and dealings to go down. Otherwise I’d be two steps ahead of you Lanky my man.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
Sweet setup Flash!!! Might have to make a trip to Houston just to check it out (and take advantage of the free membership haha)
Nice job man, this is just the beginning.[/quote]
What up T!?!? Thanks man. I’m pretty excited about it. I’m trying to sucker my clients at the country club away and into paying me at my joint. The goal is in 6 months I want at least 10 clients who commit to at least 2 sessions a week at $40 a session, and in 3 years I’d like to open my own small facility. Gotta start somewhere.[/quote]
Hey Flash, it’s all good my man, how you livin?
That’s legit bro, I like your game plan (more importantly, I like the fact you have a gameplan with a solid foundation of numbers as a starting point). At that clip, that’ll be $40K/yr, that’s a nice start.
Pretty soon, you may have the Houston version of DeFranco’s gym.
Big things my man, keep doin it!!!
[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
Sweet setup Flash!!! Might have to make a trip to Houston just to check it out (and take advantage of the free membership haha)
Nice job man, this is just the beginning.[/quote]
What up T!?!? Thanks man. I’m pretty excited about it. I’m trying to sucker my clients at the country club away and into paying me at my joint. The goal is in 6 months I want at least 10 clients who commit to at least 2 sessions a week at $40 a session, and in 3 years I’d like to open my own small facility. Gotta start somewhere.[/quote]
Hey Flash, it’s all good my man, how you livin?
That’s legit bro, I like your game plan (more importantly, I like the fact you have a gameplan with a solid foundation of numbers as a starting point). At that clip, that’ll be $40K/yr, that’s a nice start.
Pretty soon, you may have the Houston version of DeFranco’s gym.
Big things my man, keep doin it!!![/quote]
Doin’ alright man, thanks for stopping by. My ultimate goal is to own and operate a successful hardcore gym just like DeFrancos, and I would love to work with athletes, mostly highschool kids looking to gain an edge. That’s my 3 year goal. I appreciate the kind words brother. Be easy.
Hey anyone ever think about “building” their own pro-style dumbbells? When I was supplying my home gym, I was always so annoyed at how everyone seems to have those damn “standard” 1" hole weights. It occurred to me that I could make some big dumbbells if I find a bunch of cheap 10lb weights, I can make a nice set of heavy dbells. I would need roughly 110, to build a pairs of 90, 100, 110, 120, and 130s, plus 5 handles and endcaps, should come out to about $800 total, for about 1,100 lbs of dumbbells. That 72 cents/lb. I imagine if I wait forever I could find them cheaper used… but I might not want to wait.
[quote]Cgunz wrote:
Hey anyone ever think about “building” their own pro-style dumbbells? When I was supplying my home gym, I was always so annoyed at how everyone seems to have those damn “standard” 1" hole weights. It occurred to me that I could make some big dumbbells if I find a bunch of cheap 10lb weights, I can make a nice set of heavy dbells. I would need roughly 110, to build a pairs of 90, 100, 110, 120, and 130s, plus 5 handles and endcaps, should come out to about $800 total, for about 1,100 lbs of dumbbells. That 72 cents/lb. I imagine if I wait forever I could find them cheaper used… but I might not want to wait.[/quote]
You’ll also need to factor in the misc parts. You might be able to use a site like this too for the spare parts you’ll need (handles, alen bolts, washers, end caps maybe, and decals):
Following are a few cool links that can help out with a home gym, some really cool do it yourself gym and some various other sites with cool equipment manufacturers thrown in as well, and sorry if any duplicates. You’ll certainly find some of this stuff in my gym in the near future:
clutchfitness.com/forums/view.php?pg=homegym
rosstraining.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9
A lot of the links didn’t show up for some reason, moderated or something else. Strange because several of them were youtube. Maybe it was a size thing. I’ll try again later.
Craigslist is definitely the best. Also if you have a Play it Again Sports they are great. From those two, I bought a smith machine, dip/pull up bar, leg press, and about 500 lbs of weight for around $500. Also, be creative. I built my own squat rack with saw horses. Looks ridiculous but works.