Deadlift Platform

Lifting platforms are cool. But they take up a lot of space, they can't really be moved or stored, they weigh hundreds of lbs., can potentially cost over a hundred dollars, and they require a truck or trailer to get the rather large materials home. I came up with a smaller, lighter, cheaper, and portable solution. Though it is designed specifically with deadlifts in mind, that is all I need it for. And it only cost me $15.



Cost: $15 - $20
Project Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: You have to cut plywood and use glue and screws.

Tools Needed:

• Saw - Either a hand saw or a circular saw or other type of saw to cut plywood.
• Caulk Gun - if you choose to use Liquid Nails to glue the rubber down

Materials Needed:

• Plywood - I went with a single piece of 3/4" thick oriented strand board. It was 2' x 4'
• Liquid Nails - (optional) If you want to glue the rubber down.
• Wood Glue - (optional) not strictly necessary if you use screws but I like to use it. If you're using Liquid Nails for the rubber you can just use that to glue your plywood together.
• Screws - make sure they are long enough to go through all layer of the plywood but no so long that they poke out of the bottom layer.  In my case, I used 1 inch long screws to secure two layers of 3/4 inch plywood.

I have been wanting a lifting platform for a while, but I just don't have the space for it.  I don't even really have the space for a half platform to use for deadlifts. But it's getting to the point where my deadlift is heavy enough to want some floor protection underneath.

A full size platform (8' x 8') weighs somewhere around 300 lbs. Hardly easy to move and obviously takes up a lot of space. I don't even really have room for a half size platform (8' x 4').  Since I want it for deadlifts only, and I don't pull sumo I really didn't need anything as big as a half platform. Instead I made a 3 piece design. It's light, you can move it when not in use, and it cost me only $15.

The whole thing weighs 28 lbs. and as you see in the video you can carry it all in one arm and easily store it away when not in use.

- Carl

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Lifting Belt Storage Rack

Another project that I made from scrap materials. It's a glorified shelf / coat rack but I made it to store my weight lifting belts and other small gear. I previously had these lying on the floor so this storage solution is an improvement.

Even if you were to buy materials for this project you would only need a 1 x 6 board about 60 inches long, depending on how big you want to make it. A few small nails and screws, a square dowel, and some bolts with nuts and washers. It should be under $10.

This is part of the "show off" series, as I didn't record the actual construction process. I made this up on the fly and the exact materials I used is not the perfect way to go about it because I was just cleaning up scrap I had. The project is pretty simple and I explain the construction in the video, but if you would like me to do a full write-up with diagrams and such please leave a comment. If the demand is there I'll do it. But it's basically just a simple shelf with bolts through it for "hooks" and a lip around the edge so my lacrosse ball doesn't roll off.

The reason I suggest screwing this thing into studs is because it's going to have a decent amount of weight on it, especially if you hang chain belts from it. To find the studs in your wall either use a stud finder tool or you can knock on the wall. You'll be able to hear and feel when you're over a stud because it will sound hard, for lack of a better way to describe it. Where there's no stud it will be distinctly hollow.

- Carl

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DIY Sandbags

I have wanted to do some sandbag training for a while now. My goal was to use things around the house in order to make these completely free. Lest I get some complaints, I know it's not best sandbag option out there. I'm not saying it's good for any purpose you might want to use a sandbag. I'm just showing you what I did to make some basic heavy bags for free. These weigh 50 lbs. each. I've had them for a month now and they have been working well for my purposes so far.

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DIY Stone Roller for Stone Lifting Training

In a month I'll be competing in 'The Gathering' -  a 2 day grip competition where folks with strong hands from many areas of the World will congregate and test their strength.

One of the events is the 'Bear Hug Deadlift' where the athlete hugs a stone roller and lifts the bar to knee height for a successful lift. The event is a superb lift for practicing the atlas stones and a great strengthener for the forearms and back muscles.

To train for The Gathering I have made my own Stone Roller

Materials required:

Old dustbin (must have little or no taper in the main barrel)
1" or 2" bar
Sand, gravel, cement
Buckets for mixing
PVA glue



 

 How to make your own Stone Roller
 
1. Cut a hole the same size as your bar in the center of the dustbin

2. Level an area of ground and place the bin on the levelled area. Set a spirit level across the bin to ensure when set the bar is as concentric as possible.

3. Insert the bar through the bin and into the ground to the correct depth so that once complete the bar protrudes from the barrel equally on both sides (some simple maths here)

4. Use some kind of mould release to assist removal of the concrete from the bin once dried. I used some vegetable oil spray for this. Spray all around the area that will be in contact with the concrete.

5. Mix the concrete using a ratio of 5/6 to 1 (sand to cement) using sharp sand and gravel, make sure the mix is quite wet so that it fills the mould entirely.

6. Use a stick to work the concrete and remove any air pockets.

7. leave for 1-2 weeks (the longer the better), to allow the concrete to set and fully harden

8. Remove from the mould (if your bar is quite long like mine, it may be a 2 man job to turn the mould upside down unless you're feeling strong!)

9.  Hey presto!! A 114.5kg Stone Roller almost ready for putting to action for stone lifting training.






10. Next step is to paint the stone with PVA glue, this will prevent the surface of the stone from rubbing away and dusting. Allow to dry for at least a day or until the surface is not tacky.

11. Lift and enjoy!

In 'The Gathering' no tacky shall be allowed, only chalk which in turn makes the lift more challenging.

This stone ended up 15" long by 16" diameter at a weight of 114.5kg 252 lbs and loadable to well over 300kg

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