I want to by the thicker, cheaper bumper plates to train with. I do both olympic and powerlifting lifts. Need to know how many 3.75" bumper plates I can get on one side of a Texas Power Bar. I don’t plan right now on going much over 550 lbs on a dead lift.
You don’t need bumpers for dead lift unless you have no rubber on the floor. FYI- a 4 x 6 rubber mat is $35 and a bumper plate is $2/lb or more. Unless of course you can clean 405plus… In that case you need a shitload of bumpers.
I would get a 4-6 45 bumpers and the rest steel. You should be able to fit plenty on the bar for the DL.
I can’t answer your question about the Texas bar, but i can measure a standard sleeve if no one else can help.
Thanks. May just do that.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/rubber-horse-stall-mat-4-ft-x-6-ft
Rubber Horse Stall Mat, 4 ft. x 6 ft.
Original Texas Power Bar on EliteFTS
“This bar is made for one reason “BIG SQUATS”. This bar is 8 feet long with 57” inside the sleeves. The bar diameter is 1 1/4".One piece sleeve construction with no bolts to come loose. "
There’s also DIY videos on youtube on how you can make an actual olympic lifting platform for around $150 which would still be cheaper than buying plates. People say they use metal plates on them too. Haven’t made one yet but its fairly straightforward to make.
[quote]VegDr wrote:
Need to know how many 3.75" bumper plates I can get on one side of a Texas Power Bar. [/quote]
Both my TPB and my Ivanco OBX have 15" sleeve in which one can load plates / collars. You do the math.
What about dropping metal plates from the snatch or clean and jerk on rubber? Is that a big deal? I was gonna use plywood and rubber mats anyway. Can I just get the iron plates and forget the bumpers entirely?
[quote]VegDr wrote:
What about dropping metal plates from the snatch or clean and jerk on rubber? Is that a big deal? I was gonna use plywood and rubber mats anyway. Can I just get the iron plates and forget the bumpers entirely?[/quote]
You’ll want to build a lifting platform regardless of using bumpers or not. My works “fitness center” floor is beat to fuck from bumper plates, only 225# and less. Weight is weight and concrete floors can only take so much abuse.
You could but I’d imagine that your floor would take a beating and ultimately crack unless you went 2-3 stall mats thick. I’d also estimate that your bar would go straight to shit as the iron plates transfer energy to the bar, vs absorbing them like the bumpers are designed to do. Not only that the plates are CAST steel, and I’ve seen them crack in pieces from being dropped.
I would recommend you get the gear for the game you are gonna play. If you want to drop weights, get weights designed to be dropped. It’s the buy nice or buy twice rule. If you “cheap out” you’ll likely fuck your shit up, have to buy all new and proper stuff to replace your stuff & do it correctly. That’s my take. good luck.
Bumpers it is. If I need to go heavier on deadlift I’ll get me some iron for it. I’m gonna build a platform regardless. Thanks.