Balanced my Barbell

[baironhorse]

After reading a Keetman post ..I decided to weigh my 7' Cap bar... It weighed 38.8lb - pound and half shy of 40..Since I wanted an accurate measure when stacking plates and total weight... came up with this idea to compensate 1.5pounds. I used 5/16 galvanized chain - 18 links weighed 1.5 pounds..tied 9 links on top part of swivel collar and fastened with zip ties on each end...works great and does not interfer with plates... Check out these pics..let me know what you think!

[crupiea]

Good idea.

I have a bar that weighs the standard 45 lbs. I keep little 2.5's on each side so It weighs and even 50. Now i dont have to figure out the 45 thing all the time. Its so much easier this way!!

[baironhorse]

Weigh the bar to see if its 45lb...My CAP bar was rated at 45lb and weighed 38.8lb (cheap bar)..but I guess if you have a quality bar it should be right on..Thanks


Good idea.

I have a bar that weighs the standard 45 lbs. I keep little 2.5's on each side so It weighs and even 50. Now i dont have to figure out the 45 thing all the time. Its so much easier this way!!

[crupiea]

Thanks. Mines a pendlay bar so its pretty accurate.

[Wildtim]

I have 2 CAP bars and both actually weigh in at 44#'s even.

[Bluerain]

Nice job but now it weighs 40.3 lbs :)


After reading a Keetman post ..I decided to weigh my 7' Cap bar... It weighed 38.8lb - pound and half shy of 40..Since I wanted an accurate measure when stacking plates and total weight... came up with this idea to compensate 1.5pounds. I used 5/16 galvanized chain - 18 links weighed 1.5 pounds..tied 9 links on top part of swivel collar and fastened with zip ties on each end...works great and does not interfer with plates... Check out these pics..let me know what you think!

[baironhorse]

To clarify 1.5 pounds I mean 1 pound 8 oz. Adding the extra 8 oz brought me to 39lbs + 16 more oz to get to 40. I weighed bar on an accurate digital scale and its bang on 40lb...I guess thats what you get on cheap bars...CAP bars weight even though they say its 45lbs varies b/w 5-6 lb- my buddies weighed 41 another one at 39...check out Keetman's post and see other variances. Saving enough $$$ to get me a nice quality bar.. Thanks

[baironhorse]

I had to do this cause I did not want to always wonder if I was off on a lift...I want to make sure I was lifting say for example 250lb and not 248.5...May sound crazy to some but for me I now know!

[animalfan]

well, i don't have a problem with you doing it, but i don't worry about it that much. i just count my bar as 45, then just make sure i'm adding weight to the bar when i'm supposed to. as long as you are consistant with the weights, it doesn't really matter.

i know some people are more detailed than me, though, so i understand why it matters. just giving you a hard time:)

[baironhorse]

No worries animal...Cool!...I had left over chain from making micro's and did it...yes I agree keep on adding weight is important!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for your input!