Need some help finding a quality but cheap (in price) leg raise machine and power rack. Squats are becoming pretty dangerous without one.
Anyone know where I could find these two peices of equipment?
Also I already have olympic weights but if I were to order more what sizes (1/2, 5, 10, 25, etc) would be best to get?
I bought the mid-range bodysolid rack. It’s got a place to attatch a lat pulldown and stuff.
It was around $450 or so, I got mine from Ted Arcidi ('member him??), he’s a dealer, but fitnessfactory sells them, and usually it’s free shipping.
Dave Tate’s got them as well. I don’t know about any leg press stuff, I just squat.
I bought a 300# oly set, added 2 45’s and a handful of 5’s. I’ve almost outgrown that, and will be adding a couple of more 45’s soon.
What bugs me is dumbells!
I wish I could afford to justify the 90# powerblocks!
I think I bought the same bodysolid rack. I think it was about 300. I got a 300 pound set for 159, and picked up two extra 45s. Then I got 2 used 45s from the highschool, 2 extra 35s and 2 extra 25s as well as two slightly bent bars. I bought two pairs of adjustible dumbells that went to 50 pounds extra each, got 4 25 pound plates and some extras. I have had them up to a pair of 135s but thats about the safety limit. I jammed my rack under the steel beam in my basement and got a set of iron woody’s bands plus 6 extra pairs of #1s. Also have a duffle-bag with 90 pounds of sand, and I use two steel posts in my basement with bands for some stuff like occasional crossovers. I set a pair of long 2x4s across the power rack for dips. And a couple of old tires for swinging around. Total= $500-$600.
BTW I was told that jamming my rack under the beam might jack up my house-oh well.
Try Jesupgym They’ve got Bodysolid and Powerline fitness equipment. I purchased my Powerline rack, weights, and other equipment there. The pricing is very reasonable, even with shipping.
If you can afford it, Dave Tate’s EliteFTS power racks appear to be the best. I can’t afford one so I can’t provide any additional comments.
I own a Body-Solid Monster Rack and the gym at work has the basic Body-Solid power rack. Here’s a link to my previous post about my Monster Rack & Body-Solid/Fitness Factory:
http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do;?id=494141
Get a second barbell and more weights so that you can superset barbell excercises (ie. bench press with bent over row).
[quote]mertdawg wrote:
I think I bought the same bodysolid rack. I think it was about 300. I got a 300 pound set for 159, and picked up two extra 45s. Then I got 2 used 45s from the highschool, 2 extra 35s and 2 extra 25s as well as two slightly bent bars. I bought two pairs of adjustible dumbells that went to 50 pounds extra each, got 8 25 pound plates and some extras. I have had them up to a pair of 135s but thats about the safety limit. I jammed my rack under the steel beam in my basement and got a set of iron woody’s bands plus 6 extra pairs of #1s. Also have a duffle-bag with 90 pounds of sand, and I use two steel posts in my basement with bands for some stuff like occasional crossovers. I set a pair of long 2x4s across the power rack for dips. And a couple of old tires for swinging around. Total about $700.
BTW I was told that jamming my rack under the beam might jack up my house-oh well.
I have had up to 725 on the rack for partial squats, but bent a bar that way (and it did nothing for me)
[/quote]
mertdawg: how far apart do you have the 2 bys when you dip, and if you don’t have them the full extension of the rack…I think it’s around 40 inches how do you keep them there?
When I bought my rack Arcidi was selling it for the same price as the internet, this was last summer. There’s a lower one that’s around 300. Mostly I wanted to be able to tell people I was buying stuff from one of the strongest guys ever.
If you check around you can find used stuff. Arcidi has a pretty good business selling used stuff–when I was buying the rack I wanted to get the cable attachment, he sold me a Buckeye lat machine for $100 less than the Bodysolid unit.
Are those db’s you got the powerblock?
[quote]Joe Weider wrote:
mertdawg: how far apart do you have the 2 bys when you dip, and if you don’t have them the full extension of the rack…I think it’s around 40 inches how do you keep them there?
When I bought my rack Arcidi was selling it for the same price as the internet, this was last summer. There’s a lower one that’s around 300. Mostly I wanted to be able to tell people I was buying stuff from one of the strongest guys ever.
If you check around you can find used stuff. Arcidi has a pretty good business selling used stuff–when I was buying the rack I wanted to get the cable attachment, he sold me a Buckeye lat machine for $100 less than the Bodysolid unit.
Are those db’s you got the powerblock? [/quote]
I run them the LONG way in the rack (ie from left to right), and you can slide them anywhere closer, but I put a carpet padding on the ends to prevent slipping. I think all the way out, there about 30 inches apart. Also, I get less wrist stress with 2x4s.
One pair of DBs were the screw on type. Another had pressure collars which weren’t supposed to slip, but they do with 135 on them.
I think I’m going to try again to make my own pair of dumbells from heavy duty tube steel, and drill holes in them and just stick a carabiner, or some kind of pin in the hole. I would drill 3-4 holes/side about one plate thickness apart. Dumbell bench presses were great, but I need more than 100 pounds at this point.
check the newspaper for used equipment, sometimes you luck out.
Why do you want a leg raise?
they are almost useless…
[quote]Atreides wrote:
Why do you want a leg raise?
they are almost useless…[/quote]
Are you guys talking about hanging leg raises for the hip flexors and abs? I don’t think those are useless if you rotate your pelvis up. Louie Simmons wrote a lot about doing hanging leg raises for the abs. Leg extensions do more harm than good though IMO.
Just lift a few brochures and pictures off of the net or retailer, then take them to a local steel fabrication shop.
Or if you have or know someone who has a welder, you can build your own. Just make sure to use good heavy guage steel and make sure the welds are good. It won’t get much cheaper than that.
I bought a pair of adjustable Oly DB’s in wal mart about 6 years ago and have loaded them up to 220 each and never had a problem.
Ironmind sells adjustable ones that are more expensive, but from those I know who have them, they are bombproof.
I bought this one and added the plate loaded High low pulley machine and have NO regrets. It is a solid peice of equipment.
Main thing is just dont by a peice of junk. Gte something solid so it will last you FOREVER!!! By all means if you have the money and want one from elite go for it.
I just couldd not see paying that extra Cash and feel this rack is just as solid and will more than last.
hope that helps.
Phill
I bought my rack from New York Barbell. It came with pull-up and dip attachments, and it can support a lat pull-down tower as well…but I didn’t get that. One thing at a time. I did, however, buy the powerblock dumbells. They’re nice but in retrospect, I wouldv’e rather purchased the Olympic dumbells handles from Ironmind. More versatile and you can load more for about 1/4 the cost.
Phill, which one is “this one”?
Damn sorry was in a hurry and forgot the link. LOL
Here you go.
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/8510.html
Most likely the same Nybarbell one mentioned above except I got the high low attachment. It also comes with the dip bars and pull up handles.
Sorry about that,
Phill
[quote]I run them the LONG way in the rack (ie from left to right), and you can slide them anywhere closer, but I put a carpet padding on the ends to prevent slipping. I think all the way out, there about 30 inches apart. Also, I get less wrist stress with 2x4s.
[/quote]
I was pretty sure you meant the long way in the rack 
I just started trying to add dips to my day–I could never do them before, and I use a couple of 5 foot barbells for handles. Couldn’t keep them from slipping. I’ll have to try the 2 bys.
Or maybe just order the $30 dip handles that go on my rack, huh??
[quote]sMorri wrote:
I bought a pair of adjustable Oly DB’s in wal mart about 6 years ago and have loaded them up to 220 each and never had a problem.
/quote]
that’s good to know…the generic advice is stay away from the wal mart stuff. 220, huh? What was that for, tricep kick backs?
[quote]Joe Weider wrote:
I run them the LONG way in the rack (ie from left to right), and you can slide them anywhere closer, but I put a carpet padding on the ends to prevent slipping. I think all the way out, there about 30 inches apart. Also, I get less wrist stress with 2x4s.
I was pretty sure you meant the long way in the rack
I just started trying to add dips to my day–I could never do them before, and I use a couple of 5 foot barbells for handles. Couldn’t keep them from slipping. I’ll have to try the 2 bys.
Or maybe just order the $30 dip handles that go on my rack, huh??
[/quote]
See, I wouldn’t use the dip handles if I got them for free because these actually work better in my opinion. Actually I would probably figure out some way to use the dip handles that has nothing to do with doing dips!