Poor Man's Equipment Thread

Training Powerlifting
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[quote]APE. wrote:
…thanks for the detailed blueprints though.
Just enough for someone w/ enough welding experiance to
“Try To” make one. I’ll see if I can an post once it is done. I’ll attempt to sometime this summer. Think I know what I’ll be doing w/ my vacation time.

[/quote]

Welding is not rocket science, basically it’s just melting two pieces of metal together. You can find a nice used wire feed welder on craigslist for $200, pick up a abrasive chop saw at Lowe’s or Home Depot for $90, add a cheap 4 inch angle grinder for $20 from Harbor Freight or Northern Tool and your ready to make some equipment.

You’ll need some grinding wheels, wire brushes, sanding wheels and of course welding wire so add another $50 and for less than $400 you can make all the equipment you want. Pick up some old metal bed frames, the angle iron style) (usually can find them for free on craigslist or on the curb) and practice welding, then practice some more and then try to pull or beat the pieces apart. An intructional video wouldn’t hurt either. They won’t be pretty welds at first but theyy’ll get better.

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[quote]tcsimon wrote:
APE. wrote:
…thanks for the detailed blueprints though.
Just enough for someone w/ enough welding experiance to
“Try To” make one. I’ll see if I can an post once it is done. I’ll attempt to sometime this summer. Think I know what I’ll be doing w/ my vacation time.

Welding is not rocket science, basically it’s just melting two pieces of metal together. You can find a nice used wire feed welder on craigslist for $200, pick up a abrasive chop saw at Lowe’s or Home Depot for $90, add a cheap 4 inch angle grinder for $20 from Harbor Freight or Northern Tool and your ready to make some equipment.

You’ll need some grinding wheels, wire brushes, sanding wheels and of course welding wire so add another $50 and for less than $400 you can make all the equipment you want. Pick up some old metal bed frames, the angle iron style) (usually can find them for free on craigslist or on the curb) and practice welding, then practice some more and then try to pull or beat the pieces apart. An intructional video wouldn’t hurt either. They won’t be pretty welds at first but theyy’ll get better.[/quote]

I’m going to have to consider this…

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My prowler idea is done:

I’m not sure the link will show. If not, search for aptdwler on youtube and then my ghrowler video.

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[quote]tcsimon wrote:

Welding is not rocket science, basically it’s just melting two pieces of metal together.[/quote]

True it isn’t rocket science, but w/ my respitory problems an lung condition I can’t be around the black smoke anymore. I’m gonna cut all I need w/a torch an I am gonna have a friend put it together. I’ll cut out two, one for him n one for me n he’ll do the welding.

Also aptdwler, you the one from the geocites fighttraining sight? I think I have made almost everything you have listed on that sight.
All great ideas that have saved me a ton of money.

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just had to bump this up. I recently found this and consider this one of the greatest threads on here.

Anymore new ideas?

My only suggestion is changing the name to “smart” man’s equipment thread…who deosn’t want to save some cash and build some cool shit

226

I’ve since bought a real lat machine, but for YEARS my lat machine was an eye-bolt in the rafter with a rope through it and a big bucket on one end full of weight. Other end was a thick s-hook from a bungee cord attached to a lat bar. I eventually upgraded to a pulley, and then to a lat machine.

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This is a great thread. I can’t beleive I have never come across it before and that is been around for a few years. Thumbs up to all those who have posted some great pieces. Here are a few pieces I currently use.

Chins and Pull ups

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Dips

I also take these to the park at times to do a variety of exercises mingled with running intervals

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I did not glue the bottom joint so they can store easy.

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rounded calf raise block

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box for decline step up and decline BB hack squat

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A shot of my overall rig in my garage. I refuse to pay for gym memberships. I am really cheap.

I am currently making a combo piece that will be a reverse hyper, back extension, glute ham raise that fits onto my half rack. I will post some pics when I get it done.

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Lawakua, you’re a cool dude.

How do you use that box for Decline Step Ups? Do you step up with your toe pointed down?

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[quote]tcsimon wrote:
APE. wrote:
…thanks for the detailed blueprints though.
Just enough for someone w/ enough welding experiance to

“Try To” make one. I’ll see if I can an post once it is done. I’ll attempt to sometime this summer. Think I know what I’ll be doing w/ my vacation time.

Welding is not rocket science, basically it’s just melting two pieces of metal together. You can find a nice used wire feed welder on craigslist for $200, pick up a abrasive chop saw at Lowe’s or Home Depot for $90, add a cheap 4 inch angle grinder for $20 from Harbor Freight or Northern Tool and your ready to make some equipment.

You’ll need some grinding wheels, wire brushes, sanding wheels and of course welding wire so add another $50 and for less than $400 you can make all the equipment you want.

Pick up some old metal bed frames, the angle iron style) (usually can find them for free on craigslist or on the curb) and practice welding, then practice some more and then try to pull or beat the pieces apart. An intructional video wouldn’t hurt either. They won’t be pretty welds at first but theyy’ll get better.[/quote]

I know most you guys know it, but don’t anyone forget a mask.

235

Some recent ones :

Old tire and rim filled with 150lbs of sand. just drilled a big hole in the tire, filled with sand, and plugged the hole. Been carring it and dragging it.

Slosh pipe - 10ft of 6" PVC filled 2/3 full of water and capped. Carry it around zercher style. Great for core as the water sloshes around as you carry it. Forgot to put antifreez in there so have to redo it. May do a 4" one for overhead walks or squats.

Play balls of various sizes filled with water. I tape them up while filled with air so they hold thier shape when I fill with water. Basket balls and soccer balls work well, but I wanted some bigger ones. I rigged a air nozzel for filling balls onto a garden hose. Makes filling them really easy.

236

[quote]on edge wrote:
Lawakua, you’re a cool dude.

How do you use that box for Decline Step Ups? Do you step up with your toe pointed down?[/quote]

Thanks Edge. Yes, toes pointed down. It’s a unique feeling and does a good job on the quads, especially on BB Hack Squats were you can go pretty heavy.

237

This seems to work best for street dragging:

Old Lardass’s Guide to Building Your Own Cheap-Ass Dragging Sled

First, go to the tire store. They have to pay to get rid of their old tires, so they will give you one for free. Try to get a tire from a pickup truck.

You need a 3/8 in drillbit and a drill. you take 2 scrap pcs of 2x4 (about 6 in long)and drill a 3/8 in hole in them. Then, you lay the tire on its side, and drill a 3/8 in hole about 1 or 2 in down from the top of the treadline.

Get a 3/8 in eye bolt (less than a dollar at home depot) and push the threaded end into the tire. Reach inside the tire and impale the scrap pcs of 2x4 on the threads of the eye bolt. put washer and nut at the end.

Use loctite on the threads so you don’t have to constantly tighten the nut. So, what you have just done is used 2 pcs of 2x4 as a big washer, so that the the eye bolt wont punch through the tire.

Take a scrap pc of plywood and cut it so it will fit inside the tire. This is so you can load the tire with all manner of heavy shit without it falling out the middle.

The rest of the stuff you need is available at walmart inexpensively. You will need 2 each of 1/4 in replacement chain links (a 2-pak is about 3 bucks). a 10’ chain (the 880 lb chain at walmart is 11 bucks) a 6 inch snap link (4 bucks). a 20 ft tow strap (15 bucks - you could also use an old fire hose).

Now, take one of the replacement links, and use it to connect one end of the chain to the eyebolt. use the other link at the other end of the chain to connect the 6 in snaplink. connect the ends of the towstrap together to make a long loop.

Run the loop through the snap link so that you now have 2 loops, one on each side of the snap link. put these over your shoulders like pack straps, or crossed over your chest. Load the tire with rocks, children, old sears cement weights. Drag lots.

I leave mine in the back of my Outback so that I can drag at the park or anywhere else.

Now, if you dont mind dragging in your nieghborhood (or you have a gym or someplace where you can permanently abandon your sled), here is a great way to pimp your sled. Get 2 very large yard bags, and put 1 inside the other. put it inside the tire.

get an 80 lb bag of cement, and dumpt it inside the bags. Add water and stir. You now have a 80 lb sled once the cement cures. You want a permanent place for the sled, cuz lifting it in and out of your car can be a pain.

Remember, you get additional friction by using rubber on the street instead of steel. Harder work pulling less weight.

Greetings!
Old Lardass

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My sled. Wheelbarrow + concrete + fencepost.

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420×560 45.5 KB

My new farmer’s handles. About 95# apiece.

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One more of the farmer’s handle.