Official Home Gym Building Thread

Powerhouse Fitness were great when I had issues with my cf415 squat rack as it got delivered looking like the courier had played footie with the box. Had some scratches and a bit of rust in places as a result. Got 1/3 £ back from them, cleaned it up, touched up the paint and it has been fine. I had the choice of a swap out or part refund and they sorted it within a few hours of me reporting the issue.
 
Any advice on a door mount pull up bar. I get that the best ones have different/ wide grips and hang away from the door/ wall.

Anyone bought a really good one they would recommend?

Can't go wrong with a power bar mate, no danger of it just falling like a telescopic one and pushes against the frame rather than hanging on it so doesn't damage your frames.
 
Any advice on a door mount pull up bar. I get that the best ones have different/ wide grips and hang away from the door/ wall.

Anyone bought a really good one they would recommend?

An alternatve is to find a cheap wokrout tower on the Bay and stuck that in the garden - don't care if mine rusts over the winters and it's lasted two so far for <£30
 
I tend to do my workout around 10pm or 11pm. It's getting a bit chilly at night in the garage now :(

Any advice on a door mount pull up bar. I get that the best ones have different/ wide grips and hang away from the door/ wall.

Anyone bought a really good one they would recommend?

I'm happy with my Powerbar 2.
 
One the pulley wheels on my bodymax cf 475 power rack broke. I've been trying to get powerhouse on the phone to order the part but no answers the phone in that department. I've never seen such terrible customer service.
I found a few pulley wheels on ebay but they are either 80mm or 90mm and the 475 one is 86mm. I measured the hole in the metal where the wheel goes it's 100mm so it will be a tight fit with the cable.
Should I buy the 80mm wheel?
I'm not going to buy from powerhouse fitness again after this experience
 
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Hi Guys,

I am considering building a home gym in my garden. The gym size will be 14 by 14 feet. Not entirely sure what i will have i am considering a massive shed or a mini house made out of grey blocks. I have a budget of around a 1000 and was thinking about getting the following -

Multi Gym - http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2144177.htm
Treadmill - http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1287987.htm#pdpFullProductInformation
Benchpress Weights bar -http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/body-power-170kg-tri-grip-olympic-weight-set.html
Curl bar http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/body-power-olympic-ez-curl-bar.html
Tricep bar - http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/body-power-olympic-tricep-bar.html
Dumbells - http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/body-power-65kg-olympic-dumbbell-set.html
Squats - http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2271143.htm
Mat 3x - http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/body-power-heavy-rubber-gym-mat-182-x-121-x-1-7cm.html

i Have read through the forum and i have seen the Horse rubnber mats which is a good idea which i haven't included in the link. Is there anything you guys would change on my list considering i am a newbie and only been working out for a year.
 
What do you need the multi-gym for? With the few weights on your list it will likely be superfluous. Also - do you really need a tread mill? Is this something you use in the gym at the moment? I don't tend to do much cardio as a warm up on weights days, I try and preserve my energy for the weights so just so a few lighter reps as a warm up, and do long runs on other days.
 
What do you need the multi-gym for? With the few weights on your list it will likely be superfluous. Also - do you really need a tread mill? Is this something you use in the gym at the moment? I don't tend to do much cardio as a warm up on weights days, I try and preserve my energy for the weights so just so a few lighter reps as a warm up, and do long runs on other days.

Thanks for your reply Edward, I would like a multi gym just purely down to warming up before my main workout with free weights. I don't really use a treadmill that much i mean i use it for around 10 minutes or so but my friend would use it quite often who would be working out with me but probably not on the weights day. I also have one of those York Benches given to me http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Dvt-zhsBL._SL1000_.jpg

It would be great to try and get everything within £500.
 
Thanks for your reply Edward, I would like a multi gym just purely down to warming up before my main workout with free weights.

I'm no expert but i've learned over the last few years is that to warm up ready for free weights, just do the exact same free weight exercises with lighter weights.
 
I'm no expert but i've learned over the last few years is that to warm up ready for free weights, just do the exact same free weight exercises with lighter weights.

Yeah probably end up getting a lot more out of the workout as well. Are there any good cheap places to get proper iron weights from and equipment as i have had a look around on gumtree etc some don't deliver and also not what i'm after.
 
I think that budget would be better spent on a squat rack with a pulley system and weight stack. What are your goals?

i'm quite skinny so my goals are to work out in the long term and get a lot bigger. I don't really need to do any cardio just on the side so ideally it's all about the weights and getting bigger. What squat racks would you recommend for my purpose?
 
Body max CF415 works for me, although it's bigger brother cf375(?) has a few more bells and whistles. I think the cf415 and some weights would keep you going for a while if you're just starting off. The bay of e sometimes has cheap weights on - just need to keep your eyes peeled and be prepared to collect
 
Hi Guys,

I am considering building a home gym in my garden. The gym size will be 14 by 14 feet. Not entirely sure what i will have i am considering a massive shed or a mini house made out of grey blocks. I have a budget of around a 1000 and was thinking about getting the following -

Multi Gym - http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2144177.htm
Treadmill - http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1287987.htm#pdpFullProductInformation
Benchpress Weights bar -http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/body-power-170kg-tri-grip-olympic-weight-set.html
Curl bar http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/body-power-olympic-ez-curl-bar.html
Tricep bar - http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/body-power-olympic-tricep-bar.html
Dumbells - http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/body-power-65kg-olympic-dumbbell-set.html
Squats - http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2271143.htm
Mat 3x - http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/body-power-heavy-rubber-gym-mat-182-x-121-x-1-7cm.html

i Have read through the forum and i have seen the Horse rubnber mats which is a good idea which i haven't included in the link. Is there anything you guys would change on my list considering i am a newbie and only been working out for a year.

All look OK except the multi gym and squat stands.

I'd put the £300 towards a decent rack and bench.

http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/deluxe-strength-package.php
£580

But you'll save money on buying a separate bar. 100kg should do if you're a beginner like you say you are.

You'll retain a lot of the money if you want to upgrade in the future too.
 
Thanks Andrew, i found the power rack from the package but it doesn't have a pull up bar but im guessing the pull up bars are fairly cheap and might be able to attach it on there? http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk...yLk8fknrCUiFLshfTHVmRgrQKmu78OydmAaAklE8P8HAQ

I have been given a york bench already with a bicep curl which should hopefully be decent for what i am doing. Or do you think i should change it?

All in all i think it works out cheaper to get the weights separately with a power rack which is listed above and keep the bench. Please let me know if it's worth changing the bench and get the package instead.
 
I second a rack and pulley. That york bench you listed looks very flimsy, doubt it has more than 120kg max capacity(including user). Plus it won't in a power rack. Also, when buying 20kg weight, make sure it is the correct 45cm diameter. Otherwise doing deadlifts becomes harder and more dangerous.
As general rule, never buy any weightlifting equipment from argos. It's bottom of the line junk designed for people with a 30kg max bench press.
You can also just start off with less weight. A pair of 20s, 10s, 5s, 2.5 and 1.25s is all you need to start with. Once can lift more, add pairs of 20s
 
Soec me a bench

Eyup

I've being a home gym-er for the past five years with my only equipment being my running shoes, an iron gym and a barbell/dumbell set my old man used to lift 30 years ago.

I'm was looking into getting a bench with stands and all that jazz but I don't think I can justify the room that it would take up, is there a bench on the market that folds down easy and can also be used as an incline bench? I've being wanting to work my core a little harder aswell.

No worries if not, I'm happy to stick to my floor benching for the foreseeable future

Sam :cool:
 
I'm just starting out and have some questions.

1: Someone has kindly said they would donate me some weights. They are NOT Olympic though. He reckons the bar bell is 7 foot though. I've read and I know Olympic are massively pushed and to get them from the start....but I'm still not really sure why if I definitely won't need more than standard weights for a fair while. These would be free and save me money so I can spend more on a rack and bench.
Thoughts?

2: I'm about to buy a rack and it will probably be something like a CF375 from powerhouse fitness since they seem to be good value and recommended, plus there is a dealer near me.

a) My ceiling height is about 225cm. The rack's height is 210cm. Can I assemble the rack in a way that would allow me to use the chinup bar, i.e. position the top front cross bar lower down by say a foot? Or is my ceiling height too low and I should not bother with one with a chinup bar?

b) I get how the spot bars work to save you if you fail a rep on a squat. Do they work exactly the same for spotting on bench press? I can't picture how that would work as would they not interfere with bringing the bar right down to ones chest? If not, how do you spot on bench press?

c) Is a pulley system worth it and is there anything in particular to look for when getting a rack with one?



I'm trying to decide which rack to get. I can probably only bench about 40kg at a guess and squat maybe 60kg. I'm just trying to remember what I did when I worked out years ago. Yes, I'm skinny and weak.

:)
 
I'm just starting out and have some questions.

1: Someone has kindly said they would donate me some weights. They are NOT Olympic though. He reckons the bar bell is 7 foot though. I've read and I know Olympic are massively pushed and to get them from the start....but I'm still not really sure why if I definitely won't need more than standard weights for a fair while. These would be free and save me money so I can spend more on a rack and bench.
Thoughts?

If you're after saving some cash they'll do for now, what plates do you have with them?

2: I'm about to buy a rack and it will probably be something like a CF375 from powerhouse fitness since they seem to be good value and recommended, plus there is a dealer near me.

a) My ceiling height is about 225cm. The rack's height is 210cm. Can I assemble the rack in a way that would allow me to use the chinup bar, i.e. position the top front cross bar lower down by say a foot? Or is my ceiling height too low and I should not bother with one with a chinup bar?

I've read that you can put the section with the chin up bar on upside down, might be worth waiting for someone with the rack to confirm

b) I get how the spot bars work to save you if you fail a rep on a squat. Do they work exactly the same for spotting on bench press? I can't picture how that would work as would they not interfere with bringing the bar right down to ones chest? If not, how do you spot on bench press?

Yep same way, you stick your chest up a bit when you bench so I find on mine when I'm relaxed they will catch the bar but when I'm ready to press they don't get in the way

c) Is a pulley system worth it and is there anything in particular to look for when getting a rack with one?

I've got the bodycraft rack which has the pulleys on, I do use it as I have it however I don't think I'd miss it too much if I didn't. If you're looking to save money I wouldn't bother, you could always add it later.



I'm trying to decide which rack to get. I can probably only bench about 40kg at a guess and squat maybe 60kg. I'm just trying to remember what I did when I worked out years ago. Yes, I'm skinny and weak.

:)

Have you considered a half rack? If the money is tight the bodymax CF470 looks decent.
 
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