Step for Calf Raises

[JesseHolmz]

anyone recommend a good step to get for doing calf raises? everything I see has a maximum weight of like 200lbs

[Wildtim]

Build one. 2x4's are cheap.

[JesseHolmz]

ok so you're saying just buy 2x4s exactly? those are the right dimensions?

[Rage Beast]

ok so you're saying just buy 2x4s exactly? those are the right dimensions?

He's talking about something like this:

Homemade Calf Block (http://www.home-gym-bodybuilding.com/homemade-calf-raise-block.html)

[Keetman]

I have a bodysolid calf/squat block now, but they're expensive and hard to justify the cost. (got mine for very cheap).

Before I got it, I made one from a 4x4 and two 2x4's.

The 4x4 was about 2 foot long or so and it was the cross piece where you put your feet for the exercise. Each 2x4 is attached to each end of the 4x4 in a perpindicular fashion. This creates a "H". You can stop here or, like I did, add another piece of 2x4 flat across the 4x4. This raises the platform, ties it all together, and increases your ROM.

[Keetman]

He's talking about something like this:

Homemade Calf Block (http://www.home-gym-bodybuilding.com/homemade-calf-raise-block.html)

I like the rubber tread on this one, although it will wear out. It will give you better footing.

I don't like the space between the crosspiece and the ground though. Its unnecessary and weakens the block.

Use some of the advice from these plans. But, take those 2x4's off the bottom, move them upright to the ends of the crosspiece and boom...its on the ground for optimum strength. I can't get a pic right now, but if you need one I can get one later. Again, I'd still put another piece on top to give the same height of the one in the DIY link.

[yankeemarko1]

I built the wood one. It works fine. I don't think it is weak at all and have no fear of it breaking. I suppose if you wanted to you could cut a board to fit between the feet and bolt it on so it touched the floor.

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr249/yankeemarko1/CIMG0551.jpg

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr249/yankeemarko1/CIMG0550.jpg

[Wildtim]

He's talking about something like this:

Homemade Calf Block (http://www.home-gym-bodybuilding.com/homemade-calf-raise-block.html)

Thats the site I was remembering. Thanks! I love his site I just lost the bookmark to it.

If you have rubber floor mats in your gym, you could just use a piece of that on top, I know you had to cut around something to get the mats in and I'm sure you saved the piece "just in case" :D

[RHINO240]

I built the wood one. It works fine. I don't think it is weak at all and have no fear of it breaking. I suppose if you wanted to you could cut a board to fit between the feet and bolt it on so it touched the floor.

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr249/yankeemarko1/CIMG0551.jpg

http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr249/yankeemarko1/CIMG0550.jpg
I made my own too. One as simple as that will never break.

[buffbrown21]

I made my own too. One as simple as that will never break.

Looks just like mine as well. I think it cost me maybe $10 for the wood.

[Keetman]

I didn't say it would break. I said it was weaker than mine and it is because mine had no space. Has to be weaker if the material is the same.

I'm sure the design you guys used is fine, I was just offering up the other idea.

More than breaking, I would think flexing would be more of an issue. There has to be more flex in the design with a space.

I saw a picture of the design I used on here and after I built it I really liked it. It was the second one I built and this one was better. My first had "issues"!

I'll get a pic up here tonight when I'm not on my phone.

[LIFT_HEAVY...]

I didn't say it would break. I said it was weaker than mine and it is because mine had no space. Has to be weaker if the material is the same.

I'm sure the design you guys used is fine, I was just offering up the other idea.

More than breaking, I would think flexing would be more of an issue. There has to be more flex in the design with a space.

I saw a picture of the design I used on here and after I built it I really liked it. It was the second one I built and this one was better. My first had "issues"!

I'll get a pic up here tonight when I'm not on my phone.

I would agree with Keetman. Even Though it is only a 1.5 inch gap, the fact that there is nothing to prevent the gap from bowing would make it a potential week point. Obviously this is going to depend on a number of factors most importantly, how much total weight is being applied on top of the wood over that gap.

[RHINO240]

I would agree with Keetman. Even Though it is only a 1.5 inch gap, the fact that there is nothing to prevent the gap from bowing would make it a potential week point. Obviously this is going to depend on a number of factors most importantly, how much total weight is being applied on top of the wood over that gap.
I would probably have made that block a little more narrow, but it will not bow or break with 2 2x4's stacked. The bones in the feet would break before that block would! Just my opinion.

[Wildtim]

Just as a point of note your house is constructed using 2x4's with a doubled top plate spanning a gap of 14.5" and It will not flex under any load a house could experience, including things like your weight room for instance, or a piano, or even a cast iron bathtub full of fat guy and water. Whatever the construction I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[wes_mantooth]

I made one similar to the one above about a year ago and it has held up fine so far!