Equipment Question

**Keylan** · 04-12-2009, 07:35 AM

how many pounds does the smith machine take from the plates?
how much do olympic bars, EZ curl bars, etc weigh?

**Gazhole** · 04-12-2009, 10:11 AM

OLY bars usually weigh about 20KG, which is about 45lbs.

Though bars, and even plates, vary in their exact weight. I've weighed two different 45lb plates made by different companies and there was over 5lbs difference between them.

Don't worry about it too much. So long as you can track progress its not really important exactly what the weight is.

Not sure i understand the question about the smith machine though.

**T_man** · 04-12-2009, 10:25 AM

i dont think the smith machine takes any weight off unless it's not greased very well. If it does it's very minor, about 2-3kg. the smith machine is just for support if you wanna go to failure without using a spotter.

**danzik17** · 04-12-2009, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by Gazhole

OLY bars usually weigh about 20KG, which is about 45lbs.

Though bars, and even plates, vary in their exact weight. I've weighed two different 45lb plates made by different companies and there was over 5lbs difference between them.

Don't worry about it too much. So long as you can track progress its not really important exactly what the weight is.

Not sure i understand the question about the smith machine though.

QFT. I'm anal retentive about matching weights when I lift for that exact reason. It was bad one time when I was squatting (before I did this) and my right side felt WAY heavier than my left.

**Gazhole** · 04-12-2009, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by danzik17

QFT. I'm anal retentive about matching weights when I lift for that exact reason. It was bad one time when I was squatting (before I did this) and my right side felt WAY heavier than my left.

No, same here. I always match the plates exactly each side, and always use the same brand of plate if the gym has a few different ones.

I personally own two 45lbs metal plates, and there is absolutely no way they weigh the same as the 45's in the gym. They're so damned heavy its ridiculous :P.

**T_man** · 04-12-2009, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by Gazhole

No, same here. I always match the plates exactly each side, and always use the same brand of plate if the gym has a few different ones.

I personally own two 45lbs metal plates, and there is absolutely no way they weigh the same as the 45's in the gym. They're so damned heavy its ridiculous :P.

what?? are they like.... 45lbs???!!

**Keylan** · 04-12-2009, 07:06 PM

so how can you lift without a spotter on a smith machine if the weight you stack isn't lessoned by the pull of the apparatus. i.e. the pullup/dip machine.

**Ngordyn** · 04-12-2009, 07:13 PM

when ur about to fail just rotate the bar so it latches , and set the safety levels just in case u dont have time

**Perdido** · 04-12-2009, 08:19 PM

A smith machine bar is 45 lbs. as well

**Built** · 04-12-2009, 08:40 PM

Why all the interest in Smith - do you not have access to a powercage, Keylan?

**Gazhole** · 04-13-2009, 03:09 AM

Originally Posted by T_man

what?? are they like.... 45lbs???!!

They feel more like over 50.

A mate of mine measured two different 45lb plates in his gym. One of them was 40, the other was 50! Metal and rubber plates seem to have the most disparity.

Both were labeled as 45lb plates, though.

**Perdido** · 04-13-2009, 03:47 AM

Originally Posted by Gazhole

Metal and rubber plates seem to have the most disparity.
Both were labeled as 45lb plates, though.

I've noticed that too.

**Keylan** · 04-13-2009, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by Built

Why all the interest in Smith - do you not have access to a powercage, Keylan?

yes, but since i travel a lot it's easier to find a smith that a spotter. Logging and analyzing progress can also be arduous when frequenting different gyms with different equipment types and brands; e.g. smiths that move perpendicularly as opposed to on an acute angle.

Is there a standard measurement of friction common to all smiths (or whatever the force is)?

Is lifting 90lbs on the smith the same as lifting 90lbs free?

Is lifting two 45lbs plates on an olympic bar 90lbs or is it actually 135lbs?

**T_man** · 04-13-2009, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by Keylan

yes, but since i travel a lot it's easier to find a smith that a spotter. Logging and analyzing progress can also be arduous when frequenting different gyms with different equipment types and brands; e.g. smiths that move perpendicularly as opposed to on an acute angle.

Is there a standard measurement of friction common to all smiths (or whatever the force is)?

Is lifting 90lbs on the smith the same as lifting 90lbs free?

Is lifting two 45lbs plates on an olympic bar 90lbs or is it actually 135lbs?

No, I think they're nothing alike. Sort of like pull ups and lat pull downs are so different yet same movement.

With a smith machine, I find weights feel heavier, and I think it's something to do with the restricted movement of the bar. However it is also easier to do these heavier weights on the smith machine because your stabiliser muscles dont come into play. Using a smith might end up with you having one tricep & pec bigger than the other when doing bench as one tends to compensate for a weakness in the other as the bar is always parallel.

Also don't do squats on a smith machine because the restricted movement can really hurt you. I found a smith machine that was angled had the perfect ROM for me but I stick to free weights now.

Thread: Equipment Question

Thread Tools

Display