Official Home Gym Building Thread
- Thread starter Psycho Sonny
- Start date
Soldato
- Joined
- 3 Oct 2009
- Posts
- 19,893
- Location
- Wales
But you can't. So you pay someone else to do it, and do it well.
I'm sure if I could gather my own rare earth metals, refine them and solder like a champ I could make my own high end graphics card for less than 2K, but alas.
Why don't you do it then?
Don't forget to report back with the following:
- cost
- build time
- it's ability to withstand the punishment of dumping a heavy squat (let's say over 180kg) or rack pulls
Good luck.
Laminated wood is extremely strong (I have a degree in Furniture Design & Manufacture) but access to the materials, space and machinery to fabricate a picture frame let alone a power cage is not something most people have access to. By the time you have bought even the most poverty/minimal amount of tools required to construct such a wonder you will begin to cross in the price range of just buying a cage.
You are right a well constructed wooden power cage may be just as suited to the task as a metal equivalent but for now I will continue to enjoy safety in the fact that the squat rack I dump 180/190/200KG squats back on to has been design & rated, by professionals, specifically for that purpose.
You are right a well constructed wooden power cage may be just as suited to the task as a metal equivalent but for now I will continue to enjoy safety in the fact that the squat rack I dump 180/190/200KG squats back on to has been design & rated, by professionals, specifically for that purpose.
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 5 Jun 2003
- Posts
- 91,561
- Location
- Falling...
Even £1k for a rack is not expensive (but of course we can all afford different things in life), plus you get good quality kit which is guaranteed to be fit for purpose. Secondly it is ready very quickly with a few bolts there and then with minimal set up costs (i.e. time, no need for materials and tools) and not having to faff about with woodwork (you'd need all the wood working tools, and the time to do it).
To get all the high quality laminated wood, the machinery (Even hiring through HSS) and the time to get it right would take weeks (assuming you have a day job and limited time in the evenings) to make, and may not be fit for purpose. Also it'll cost an equivalent amount, not only in time but in materials.
Also, loading up a rack with several hundred kilos and it failing is not something you'd want on the back of your mind everytime you stepped in it.
I appreciate the dream/aspiration/point you're making - but in the grand scheme of things the cost:benefit is skewed towards prefabricated racks. Nothing to do with epeen - I'd rather spend a little money and have something tried and tested to a high quality.
To get all the high quality laminated wood, the machinery (Even hiring through HSS) and the time to get it right would take weeks (assuming you have a day job and limited time in the evenings) to make, and may not be fit for purpose. Also it'll cost an equivalent amount, not only in time but in materials.
Also, loading up a rack with several hundred kilos and it failing is not something you'd want on the back of your mind everytime you stepped in it.
I appreciate the dream/aspiration/point you're making - but in the grand scheme of things the cost:benefit is skewed towards prefabricated racks. Nothing to do with epeen - I'd rather spend a little money and have something tried and tested to a high quality.
OMGZ WAHT A SNOB!1
I think you are all assuming complexity in making it out of wood. It's like you see visions of a full on work shop with a shed load of specialist tools required. This is not the case. Explain to me why you think it would be so hard? It's some wood, some cutting and drilling and some joining.
I also detect a little hostile attitude to my posts. I expected this. I did not mean to come across as someone that wants to come in here and put down anyone that buys a metal power rack. Not at all. There is just a major underlying theme throughout this thread of not to spend too little and to always buy the best to not outgrow it etc etc.
I am usually the person advising my friends of this very thing, i.e. not to buy cheap. But...there are certain things in life that I really struggle to justify paying for. One of them is labour costs on cars. I would rather struggle through a job and try it myself with advise online, than to pay hundreds in labour costs. The other one is paying for products that are just down right overpriced for what they are. I would put a lot of gym equipment in that category.
A lot of people will keep replying "well go build it then". I wanted to post here to get advice and/or discuss it with like minded individuals since this is the "Official Home Gym Building Thread". If this is not welcome here I will kindly refrain from posting. I thought more people would have looked down this road but it appears not. I find this interesting in that a lot of forums have detailed posts on DIY house related things, even entire houses being built, but not much on DIY gym stuff. Maybe this says a lot... don't attempt it?
EDIT: What I'm trying to say is, just want to get along guys and discuss this with you. I want to get on board!
I also detect a little hostile attitude to my posts. I expected this. I did not mean to come across as someone that wants to come in here and put down anyone that buys a metal power rack. Not at all. There is just a major underlying theme throughout this thread of not to spend too little and to always buy the best to not outgrow it etc etc.
I am usually the person advising my friends of this very thing, i.e. not to buy cheap. But...there are certain things in life that I really struggle to justify paying for. One of them is labour costs on cars. I would rather struggle through a job and try it myself with advise online, than to pay hundreds in labour costs. The other one is paying for products that are just down right overpriced for what they are. I would put a lot of gym equipment in that category.
A lot of people will keep replying "well go build it then". I wanted to post here to get advice and/or discuss it with like minded individuals since this is the "Official Home Gym Building Thread". If this is not welcome here I will kindly refrain from posting. I thought more people would have looked down this road but it appears not. I find this interesting in that a lot of forums have detailed posts on DIY house related things, even entire houses being built, but not much on DIY gym stuff. Maybe this says a lot... don't attempt it?
EDIT: What I'm trying to say is, just want to get along guys and discuss this with you. I want to get on board!
Last edited:
If people are being hostile, then you are also being defensive - it cuts both ways.
If you were talking about lifting platforms, then this issue is quite different: basic ones start at around £400 and go up to four figures, quite easily. For what is essentially a set of wood panels. Making one at home costs around £100, and takes about three hours to knock together. I have looked at a few worklogs for wooden power racks, and I decided it wasn't worth it.
However, a basic power rack THAT WILL BE FINE FOR 90% OF LIFTERS costs around £300 new (google suggests even less), so for me it is a no-brainer.
It is a bit like overclocking for me, back in the day: I'd spend hours tweaking my Athlon, then Core 2 Duo, etc. to get those extra FPS and PiFast gains, and not quite so much playing on the machine itself. Now, I'd much rather just turn my computer on, not have to coax it into stability with voltage tweaks, and just play.
So, do it if you want to: everybody on here will be impressed and congratulate you for it. However, for most, their time is better spent doing something else. For me, it's my
If people are being hostile, then you are also being defensive - it cuts both ways.
If you were talking about lifting platforms, then this issue is quite different: basic ones start at around £400 and go up to four figures, quite easily. For what is essentially a set of wood panels. Making one at home costs around £100, and takes about three hours to knock together. I have looked at a few worklogs for wooden power racks, and I decided it wasn't worth it.
However, a basic power rack THAT WILL BE FINE FOR 90% OF LIFTERS costs around £300 new (google suggests even less), so for me it is a no-brainer.
It is a bit like overclocking for me, back in the day: I'd spend hours tweaking my Athlon, then Core 2 Duo, etc. to get those extra FPS and PiFast gains, and not quite so much playing on the machine itself. Now, I'd much rather just turn my computer on, not have to coax it into stability with voltage tweaks, and just play.
So, do it if you want to: everybody on here will be impressed and congratulate you for it. However, for most, their time is better spent doing something else. For me, it's mykidsbiceps.
Oh no I totally agree. For me, if it takes more than a weekend, it is not worth my time, as time is precious and costs. I could have worked an extra two days and made enough extra to probably buy a cheap power rack. £300 you say? Why are so many spec'd in here for so much more then? If a £300 one does the job...what will a £1000 do better? Let me just put into perspective... I would be lifting very light weights. I am not a big guy. Well...tall but skinny and weak.
A lot of the talk on here is well-meaning, in the following respects:
- if you're keeping the gear for a while, you might as well get something that will last for a while... and more expensive generally means more robust.
- if you anticipate great gainz, then starting out with a rack that can handle 'only' 180kg might seem limiting. However, most people that think that forget the minor fact that 180kg is actually quite heavy.
That is generally why most people completely overspec their equipment. Others who have built their home gyms here (one particular individual that I can think of) actually lifts stuff that would crumple cheaper gear, and so yes: he needs to shell out to get hardware that will suit his training requirements.
I, on the other hand, can't squat for toffee, can't bench, and have access to a fully kitted-out work gym, so I don't need anything particularly clever... so:
- squat stands (maximum load 180kg): £66;
- weightlifting bar (180kpsi... whatever that means): £170.
- Lifting platform stuff (2*11mm OSB, 3*25mm Polystyrene, 2 rubber mats): £70
I have no need of anything hard core because I can't lift it, anyway.
jaybee said:
You call rack owners epeen snobs and wonder why hostility is returned? Really?
On topic, one of the pulley wheels on my CF475 lat-pull-down died - the bearings were knackered. Sent a mail to powerhouse asking about the availability of new wheels, and they're sending me two, free of charge, no questions asked! Great customer service once again, can't recommend those guys enough
Associate
- Joined
- 27 Mar 2013
- Posts
- 1,971
- Location
- Lincolnshire
This looks like a decent setup for the cash
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/p...sweight-platesrubber-flooring-mint/1044207012
Would be tempted myself if I had a big enough house to utilise it.
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/p...sweight-platesrubber-flooring-mint/1044207012
Would be tempted myself if I had a big enough house to utilise it.
No I didn't lol. You are selectively quoting me. I did not call all owners of a rack snobs. I discussed various reasons around the subject as to why a home built wooden power rack would be disregarded by some. But yes, I'm sure there are loads of home equipment owners that massively over spec'd and spent on it and probably are snobs and brand h0res. Just like I am probably with certain things I buy and care about. Nothing wrong with it. Just saying.
Wouldn't be that difficult. People do selfbuild.
liar... you don't have biceps!
I also dont think building a wooden rack would be that difficult but i wouldn't do it myself, even though I am a competent DIYer.
Do it and post pics.
Last edited:
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 5 Jun 2003
- Posts
- 91,561
- Location
- Falling...
Thank you for clearing up your post Jaybee - but it is still more of an effort than most would be willing to do, and you do still need all the tools (though I guess you could get away with a hand saw) to ensure a quality finish.
Even at less than £1k, the metal cage will be easier to take down if you have to move, easier to sell on if you need to, and can be much more modular in design/flexibility in the long term.
However, I would be genuinely interested in a build log should you make one out of wood and an honest recounting of how easy/difficult it was.
Mrthingy - 180 heavy?! Get lifting man! 
Even at less than £1k, the metal cage will be easier to take down if you have to move, easier to sell on if you need to, and can be much more modular in design/flexibility in the long term.
However, I would be genuinely interested in a build log should you make one out of wood and an honest recounting of how easy/difficult it was.
Mrthingy - 180 heavy?! Get lifting man!
Oh... that cuts deep.
Mrthingy - 180 heavy?! Get lifting man!
Look, ManMountain: you need DYELers like me to make you look good.
- Joined
- 21 Jun 2006
- Posts
- 38,367
OP here and yes I posted that link somewhere in here.
I have always said that decent home gym equipment ain't cheap many times and will say it again.
But compare it to some gym memberships £60 a month for say 10 years, it can work out to be a hell of a lot cheaper plus you don't need to wait to use equipment, etc.
But then you will never have access to thousands upon thousands of different equipment any time you get with a commercial gym both have their benefits.
IMO you should always join a commercial gym for at least 1 year before buying a home gym to see if you will stick to it, no point buying a gym then never using it.
I would never build my own however, i'm crap at DIY, I would however commission a builder to build me like an outhouse to store a home gym, that would be worth looking into, but again that is going to cost £20K+ easily to make it to my spec, I would want a built in sauna, shower, heating, fully insulated, rubber mats all over the floor and posters of arnie and mirrors on the walls, etc.
Paying £1-2K for a full home setup is nothing imo, that's less than 2 years gym membership and less than what some people spend on a TV.
A games console costs £500+ for example when you add in games and additional things like subs and controllers.
£1-2K to better your health is a small price to pay imo, I can always remember overhearing some lard ass whilst having a meal in a restaurant, he was boasting to his GF's dad about his hi-fi or home cinema which cost thousands and sounded amazing, I just thought to myself it would have been better spent on a gym, he was obese and looked terrible, but each to their own.
I have always said that decent home gym equipment ain't cheap many times and will say it again.
But compare it to some gym memberships £60 a month for say 10 years, it can work out to be a hell of a lot cheaper plus you don't need to wait to use equipment, etc.
But then you will never have access to thousands upon thousands of different equipment any time you get with a commercial gym both have their benefits.
IMO you should always join a commercial gym for at least 1 year before buying a home gym to see if you will stick to it, no point buying a gym then never using it.
I would never build my own however, i'm crap at DIY, I would however commission a builder to build me like an outhouse to store a home gym, that would be worth looking into, but again that is going to cost £20K+ easily to make it to my spec, I would want a built in sauna, shower, heating, fully insulated, rubber mats all over the floor and posters of arnie and mirrors on the walls, etc.
Paying £1-2K for a full home setup is nothing imo, that's less than 2 years gym membership and less than what some people spend on a TV.
A games console costs £500+ for example when you add in games and additional things like subs and controllers.
£1-2K to better your health is a small price to pay imo, I can always remember overhearing some lard ass whilst having a meal in a restaurant, he was boasting to his GF's dad about his hi-fi or home cinema which cost thousands and sounded amazing, I just thought to myself it would have been better spent on a gym, he was obese and looked terrible, but each to their own.