Collars for olympic barbell [Archive] - Bodybuilding.com Forums

alagalah

08-23-2008, 02:29 PM

Hi there,

First post so please be gentle ;)

I just bought some freeweights for home, used to go to a gym but prefer home.

The "collars" for locking the weights on the bar are simple springs where you squeeze the handle and the spring releases so you can slide them off the bar.

Holds a bit but nowhere near as much as I would like.

Can anyone recommend the best locks they have used?

Thanks in advance.

jackson28

08-23-2008, 02:32 PM

The best collar I've used are the Mucle Clamp. Much faster to take offthan the spring collars.

http://www.muscleclamp.com/

alagalah

08-23-2008, 02:38 PM

Very cool, thanks man. The gym I used to go to uses these. Much appreciated.

judokamatt

08-23-2008, 02:48 PM

The best collar I've used are the Mucle Clamp. Much faster to take offthan the spring collars.

http://www.muscleclamp.com/

my gym has these and i love them i was used to the spring collars before going to this gym and now i am a believer in the muscle clamp system they rock

dac1

08-23-2008, 02:59 PM

I picked up two sets of Lockjaw collars off ebay about a month ago. I like them. They're quick to use, lock up tight and have been solid thus far.

http://www.lockjawcollar.com/dealers.html

chitown70

08-23-2008, 03:50 PM

The best collar I've used are the Mucle Clamp. Much faster to take offthan the spring collars.

http://www.muscleclamp.com/

I like these and was thinking of getting them. Hopefully they hold up after a lot of use.

C5VetteLS1

08-23-2008, 04:45 PM

I like these and was thinking of getting them. Hopefully they hold up after a lot of use.

Me too, I'm interested in getting them for my dumbbell bars. They're "suppose" to be able to hold 200lbs of weight plates vertically.

I picked up two sets of Lockjaw collars off ebay about a month ago. I like them. They're quick to use, lock up tight and have been solid thus far.

http://www.lockjawcollar.com/dealers.html

What do you think dac1, does 200 lbs sound possible to you? Even if they held half that weight securely, they would be great.

HardKore79

08-23-2008, 06:39 PM

I have Bulldog collars and so does DD! :D

HardKore79

08-23-2008, 07:03 PM

BAM
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/albowrx/RD.jpg

boxertim

08-23-2008, 07:47 PM

I picked up two sets of Lockjaw collars off ebay about a month ago. I like them. They're quick to use, lock up tight and have been solid thus far.

http://www.lockjawcollar.com/dealers.html

These are $50 at my local store....too much $$$$ for this boy.

Tim

Keetman

08-23-2008, 08:51 PM

What are you guys doing with your weights?

Hardkore, that's a rhetorical question, I know if its priced at >$5/lb your going to want it in your gym, so I'm excluding you. :)

But, damn, are you guys twirling 1000lbs like a baton? I've got 2 pair of MUSCLECLAMPS and I love them, but I got them for like nothing. I'm not even saying they're not worth $40 bucks a pop....I'm just saying.....

I've got the spring clamps all over my gym and they work great. I just don't get into a lot of situations where I could imagine they wouldn't do what I need them to.....keep the weight from walking out.

The only exception I have to that is a pair of Olympic DB handles I have. Those may be used in a manner that puts a sleever of weights right on top of my nose.......I want those collars to be the best :)

Anyway, no judgement here, just curious. I have both, plus another type of collar that I use on my curl bar. All work well, including the springs, and I have no complaints. I say get what you can afford or get springs that are reliable.

jfindon

08-23-2008, 09:02 PM

How to the Bulldog clamps compare price wise to the Muscle clamps? $33 isn't bad, but I would prefer the metal of the Bulldog clamps.

C5VetteLS1

08-23-2008, 09:25 PM

These are $50 at my local store....too much $$$$ for this boy.

Tim

FYI in case you're interested, you can get a set of 4 on eBay shipped for $45.00. http://cgi.ebay.com/Lock-Jaw-OLYMPIC-Barbell-Collars-2-PAIRS-Muscle-Clamp_W0QQitemZ300252501632QQcmdZViewItem?hash=ite m300252501632&_trkparms=72%3A552%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C2 40%3A1318&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14

I have Bulldog collars and so does DD! :D

Hey HardKore, I'd be using them for DB Hammer Curls, etc. Do you use them for the same, or do you think they would do well for this?

What are you guys doing with your weights?

Speaking for myself, I went the cheap route on dumbbells. I bought 24 used 10lb Oly Plates and a nice set of Oly DB Handles. I just want to be as sure as I can, that I won't be dropping plates on my head, toes, face, etc. when working with DB's in a vertical position.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/C5VetteLT1/WeightSystems/DumbbellBar02.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/C5VetteLT1/WeightSystems/Plates.jpg

jfindon

08-23-2008, 10:07 PM

I think I'll order some LockJaw clamps right now, found a single pair on Ebay for $26.

HardKore79

08-24-2008, 07:44 AM

How to the Bulldog clamps compare price wise to the Muscle clamps? $33 isn't bad, but I would prefer the metal of the Bulldog clamps.
I had the option to go with either MuscleClamps or the Bulldogs and I went with them simply due to the all-metal design.

HardKore79

08-24-2008, 07:52 AM

Hey HardKore, I'd be using them for DB Hammer Curls, etc. Do you use them for the same, or do you think they would do well for this?

Wouldn't be able to tell, since I don't own any DB handles.

TurboRacerGT

08-24-2008, 09:13 AM

HardKore79

08-24-2008, 09:18 AM

Lockjaw collars

40Lb in each side, let them in that position for about 30 min without problems.

http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll322/TurboRacerGT/42.jpg

http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll322/TurboRacerGT/43.jpgYou can't really tell that way! The only way to tell, is by putting them through movements in different positions.

TurboRacerGT

08-24-2008, 09:21 AM

You can't really tell that way! The only way to tell, is by putting them through movements in different positions.

Also have tried "Deadlifting" Grabing from the inner plate for 5 reps without problems :)

Keeptryin

08-24-2008, 10:14 AM

Wow,didnt think collars would be such an integral item...thanks all,dumbell pullovers seem real safe to me now.

C5VetteLS1

08-24-2008, 10:16 AM

Also have tried "Deadlifting" Grabing from the inner plate for 5 reps without problems :)

Many thanks TR. Would you mind holding them vertically and trying to shake the plates off? Or just tapping the low end of the bar to the floor to see if the lower plates start to slide down?

Thanks again bud.

dac1

08-24-2008, 02:25 PM

Me too, I'm interested in getting them for my dumbbell bars. They're "suppose" to be able to hold 200lbs of weight plates vertically.

What do you think dac1, does 200 lbs sound possible to you? Even if they held half that weight securely, they would be great.

Well - I tried 105 lbs vertically with the Lock-Jaw collar. When I set the Olympic bar upright on end, there was an initial small amount of slippage, maybe a 1/4 inch, but then it held with no more slippage. I left the bar on end for about a minute. Next, with the bar still on end, I picked the bar up a few inches and tapped the end on the floor. Each time I tapped the bar on the floor, the 105 pounds of plates slowly slid down the bar, until, after the fourth tap, the collar reached the end of the sleeve. After each tap, the plates slid but then held in place until the next tap. The Lock-Jaw collar never popped open. Make of it what you will as this was one trial with an older Olympic bar. Given the results, I feel safe using the Lock-Jaw collars for their intended purpose. If anyone tries to replicate this with any collars, make sure you do it safely.

C5VetteLS1

08-24-2008, 02:37 PM

Well - I tried 105 lbs vertically with the Lock-Jaw collar. When I set the Olympic bar upright on end, there was an initial small amount of slippage, maybe a 1/4 inch, but then it held with no more slippage. I left the bar on end for about a minute. Next, with the bar still on end, I picked the bar up a few inches and tapped the end on the floor. Each time I tapped the bar on the floor, the 105 pounds of plates slowly slid down the bar, until, after the fourth tap, the collar reached the end of the sleeve. After each tap, the plates slid but then held in place until the next tap. The Lock-Jaw collar never popped open. Make of it what you will as this was one trial with an older Olympic bar. Given the results, I feel safe using the Lock-Jaw collars for their intended purpose. If anyone tries to replicate this with any collars, make sure you do it safely.

Way cool dac1, these should work great for my DB handles. I really appreciate you testing these for me. Thank you very much, that was a big help.

IvankoBarbellCo

08-24-2008, 10:56 PM

BAM
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/albowrx/RD.jpg

I have a pair of those. It's an interesting idea. I've been meaning to test them. Everyone here that uses them likes them?

jfindon

08-27-2008, 10:34 AM

Got my LockJaws today, great shipping speed coming from cross country.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/jfindon/th_IMG_2528.jpg (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/jfindon/IMG_2528.jpg)
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/jfindon/th_IMG_2529.jpg (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/jfindon/IMG_2529.jpg)

animalfan

08-27-2008, 11:25 AM

jfindon

08-27-2008, 11:28 AM

nice. i was thinking of getting them or muscle clamps. did you get them on ebay?

Yeah, $29 with USPS priority, they shipped Monday and got here today all the way from California.

C5VetteLS1

08-27-2008, 06:11 PM

Yeah, $29 with USPS priority, they shipped Monday and got here today all the way from California.

Be sure to tell us how you like them, thanks.

Keetman

08-27-2008, 06:22 PM

jfindon

08-27-2008, 07:50 PM

I just love the fire. Everytime I see it......you should post misc pics of that part of your gym once a month.

Haha :)

I used the collars tonight for shoulder presses and they are simple to put on and there is no wobble with the plates anymore. I know when I would warm up with 135lb deads as soon as I put the bar on the floor the plates would flop to one side with the spring collars. With these it doesn't even move, and they take seconds to put on, whereas with spring collars they always took working back and forth for me to get them on.

HardKore79

08-27-2008, 08:06 PM

Haha :)

I used the collars tonight for shoulder presses and they are simple to put on and there is no wobble with the plates anymore. I know when I would warm up with 135lb deads as soon as I put the bar on the floor the plates would flop to one side with the spring collars. With these it doesn't even move, and they take seconds to put on, whereas with spring collars they always took working back and forth for me to get them on.
That's the reason I was looking around in the first place due to the spring collars not maintaining contact with the plate throughout the whole diameter with the plates.

jfindon

08-27-2008, 08:23 PM

Spring collars are the suck. Plus the guy I bought these from apparently gives a lifetime warranty.

Keetman

08-27-2008, 08:45 PM

Man, I am just not having the difficulty some of you guys are having with my spring collars. I just went over to my trap bar and my springs are tight right now. I put one of my muscle clamps on and they are much nicer, no doubt, but just not THAT much.

One piece of Keetman Gym trivia: For some reason my trap bar sleeves are just big enough to make some collars difficult to get on. I have a pair of black plastic quick collars (one handed inner/outer black plastic with ball bearings inside to hold to the bar) that I tried tonight when working out on the trap bar....they barely got on and I had to damn near force them off....I thought it might even be stuck for a second as it was so tight I couldn't pull the two pieces of the collar apart....which is how it operates to release.

Plates don't seem all that much tighter on it so it must just be ever so slightly bigger.

shevchenko

12-20-2008, 05:40 AM

C5VetteLS1

12-20-2008, 11:06 AM

i ve a problem. lock jaw doesn't keep the weight from moving if theres any decent weight, or real movement from the bar.it moves a bit and then stops there. after 10 reps. they it s still in the same place.is it normal ?

i've a long dumbell bar.the plates didnt fell yet.although i m afraid of doing dumbell pullovers

thanks

It doesn't sound like you actually read the posts of this thread, you should do so. There are a lot of different and effective collars named. I ended up going with the type pictured below for my DBs. They hold great with no slipping. I don't recall where I got them though. So you'll need to search the net, or read this thread and go with one of the many others metioned.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/C5VetteLT1/WeightSystems/DB115B.jpg

johnderriLLL

12-20-2008, 11:25 AM

i like ironmind bulldog collars.i do swings with em. always check your colars before you use them.

i hope u guys have good dental plans.

for barbells i use the old spinlock collars that weigh 5 lbs each.

HardKore79

12-20-2008, 12:55 PM

I have a pair of each: Bulldog (not Ironmind), Muscle Clamps, Quicklees, normal springs, and a pair like the ones that C5 has. Out of all of them I have started to like the Muscle Clamps due to how fast you can put it on and off. It also holds very well. Next in line would be the Bulldogs. These are heavy duty.
I like Ironmind but their products are overpriced. I would like to get a few things here and there, but not their collars. They chew up the bars.

IvankoBarbellCo

12-21-2008, 11:10 PM

You can't really tell that way! The only way to tell, is by putting them through movements in different positions.

What might be kind of fun -- and I've never tried it before, is to take everyone's collars, put it on a bar with plates and throw it off our roof so that the plates hit first. See which collars hold. Then try throwing it so the end of the bar hits first. I'd film the results.

I've seen some serious "abuse" in gyms, but this might top it.

I've got a collection of bars that I've been wanting to put to the test. (A practical test -- there have been some lab tests done of the various bars out there). But I'm not sure how I want to go about doing it yet.

animalfan

12-22-2008, 12:45 AM

What might be kind of fun -- and I've never tried it before, is to take everyone's collars, put it on a bar with plates and throw it off our roof so that the plates hit first. See which collars hold. Then try throwing it so the end of the bar hits first. I'd film the results.

I've seen some serious "abuse" in gyms, but this might top it.

I've got a collection of bars that I've been wanting to put to the test. (A practical test -- there have been some lab tests done of the various bars out there). But I'm not sure how I want to go about doing it yet.

you could send one to me- i'll use it 4 times a week (sometimes 5), and let you know if i ever have any problems with it.