Got wood?

[Fifty-one]

I haven't seen any posts/forums about equipment but since this is the training forum, I'll ask it here.

I work out at home so my equipment is pretty basic. I have an idea to make a "power rack" out of wood. I'm thinking a frame made out of doubled up 2x4's.
A good power rack isn't cheap and the money I save can be spent on protein powder and supplements.

Am I nuts or could this work .

 

[P-funk]

i wouldn't do it.

actually, what i should say is....you better be pretty damn confident in your carpentry skills to pull of a sturdy enough power rack that is not going to crumble and kill you.

 

[vader]

if you use 6x6 fence post for the frame and drill some holes for steel bars to go through as your safe stops as well as your rack postition you might be ok.

 

[P-funk]

there was a kid here using saw horses as his rack. it seemed to work really well.

 

[Witchblade]

My dad and I made a power/squat rack thing and it works great. There are pretty cheap power racks available on ebay and craigslist though.

 

[Fifty-one]

The thing about using wood is that if it starts to go, it'll give some warning. The other thing is that wood is cheap. A "box" structure can be made pretty solid, they use 2x4's to frame houses after all.

Hey, if I give it a shot, I'll post a pic.

 

[Mista]

there was a kid here using saw horses as his rack. it seemed to work really well.

Message - Bodybuilding & Fitness Photo Gallery

 

[danzik17]

God I have such a filthy mind.

 

[Mista]

 

[P-funk]

that is actually pretty bad ass!!

 

[vader]

Hell yeah,that would work quite well ,the only change I would make is to replace the wood pegs with steel

 

[Arnold]

you can get something like this for only $299
Powerline Power Rack - Overview - Powerline Racks - Powerline - Exercise Products - Fitness Factory

 

[Fifty-one]

I think my design for a wood power rack would be very sturdy and cost about $50.

Although I'm just gettin' back into lifting, I want to be able to blast my quads with squats without having to need a spotter and occasionally bench to failure. I'm on a tight budget so the $$ I save can get me a couple more 45lb & 35lb weight plates .

After a month's time, my ligaments, tendons and joints are doing fine so it's time to really start increasing the weight. I just don't want to wait while I save up for that nice shiny steel power rack.

 

[Hoglander]

I've got a bad back. I've dumped weight on back squats. It's not hard it happens by itself for me. If you lean forwards I could guess it could be a problem. I'm more worried about bench. I use saw horses for that at home.

Bottom line is that if your worried you won't push yourself. IMHO... I don't trust wood anymore than a random guy I'd ask to spot me. Anything could happen with both. If you dump... that frame could fuck you up. That's what's in my head. I'd go with metal or hang a first aid kit close by to help fill the gap that hangs between metal and wood.

 

[Adamjs]

You are still missing some cross-bracing in both planes.

You will need this to ensure your bench doesn't move if you place the weights down on it with any sideways force.

Did you want me to do an engineering structural design check on the forces?