Wooden blocks?

[Mojooo]

I do weightlifting in my garden.

My problem is that the size of weight plates I use are too small in diameter - this means the bar is around 11cm lower on the ground than I want.

I have considered a couple of solutions and I want to go with the idea of building 2 large wooden blocks that I can place far enough apart so that I can rest the weights on them (probably with edges so the weights don't roll off).

I was planning on buyng some cheap wood and first gluing and then screwing together a load of layers. The final thing will have to take around 50kg of weight on each side.


Any suggestions? What is the cheapest, strongest but lightest weight to use? I want the blocks to be moveable so I can move them when not working out. Making them waterproof would be handy but not essential.

I am thinking chipboard or OSB, whichever is cheaper/better.

[Gingerbread Man]

Chipboards not strong or waterproof.

I'd be tempted by something Ply. Maybe a ply box. 2x2 or similar to make the shape. with some 2x1 on top edget to stop them rolling off?

[Mojooo]

Plywood is expensive. By the time I have enough wood I will have spent a small fortune - relativley speaking!

[sherman]

I would use marine ply, 2x4 red pine.
Glue and screw it together to make a box up to the height you need and cover it in marine ply. Make sure that you make the top changeable so that when you break it you only have to replace the top and not everything. Also as said some guide rails to stop it rolling off would be a good idea.

Make sure that you paint or varnish the boxes with outdoor spec paint.

[Simpo Two]

I'd use breezeblocks... cheap, light, don't rot. Chisel hollows to stop rolling.

[Gingerbread Man]

Simpo Two said:

I'd use breezeblocks... light.

Celcon blocks are light.

[trv8]

Cheap version....
Get some wooden pallets, cut them down to size and stack them to the height required.

[normalbloke]

Why not buy 2 discs of the correct diameter and adjust the weights accordingly. They aren't THAT expensive and surely safer and less hassle?

[Mojooo]

normalbloke said:

Why not buy 2 discs of the correct diameter and adjust the weights accordingly. They aren't THAT expensive and surely safer and less hassle?

I cannot find standard weight plates that go as big as I need.

I would need to buy an 'Olympic' bar and Olympic weights. To get the same amount of weights and a bar will be too expensive!

[Mr GrimNasty]

Concrete blocks will disintegrate very rapidly.

It’ll sounds a bit dangerous, but if you must:-

I'd get a new untreated railway/garden sleeper, preferable oak, cut it into suitably sized blocks, then use a circular saw and some chiselling to create a depression to stop rolling off.

[normalbloke]

Sounds like a cost cut too far, IMHO.

[Mojooo]

normalbloke said:

Sounds like a cost cut too far, IMHO.

Lend us £150 then.....

[normalbloke]

Mojooo said:

Lend us £150 then.....

No, I've heard you're a poo payer!


Seriously, if you can't afford it, you can't afford it, and I appreciate that.I just feel it's small price for peace of mind when dumping weights.

Good luck with whatever you decide..

[sparkythecat]

Rather than look for something to rest the weights on, just rest the bar on appropraitely spaced axle stands.
If you are worried that they might fall over, fix them to a piece of plywood or paving slab

[Gingerbread Man]

sparkythecat said:

Rather than look for something to rest the weights on, just rest the bar on appropraitely spaced axle stands.
If you are worried that they might fall over, fix them to a piece of plywood or paving slab

Good call.