So I just weighed my "45lb" Olympic Bar...

[Seven_Down]

Its 32lb... :|

I've been doing 13lb less on all exercises then I think I am doing. This is ridiculous! Maybe I am weighing it wrong or something? I was putting it on a regular scale, but it was an electronic weird one.

Argh! I'm so frustrated. I can't just buy new bars and everything, so what do I do?

[vikingsrule92]

Where's the bar from? If it's from a sporting goods store or something like that that sounds about right. I would say just count the bar as 30 or 35lbs from now on and work from there. Also, you don't have to buy everything new if you want a good weighted bar just buy a nicer bar if you have the money.

[Seven_Down]

Its from a 300lb set from Sports Authority. Where can I get a good bar? I also weighed a 35lb plate, and thats ~32lb, so I assume all the others are like that too. I am probably doing 20 or so less lb then I think! This is quite disconcerting!

Also, if I buy online, will I get bankrupt with shipping?

(Edit: I do have very long arms, so that might balance it all out)

[LiFtHaTiRoN]

Try weighing it by holding the bar after weighing yourself, it should come out to be more accurate. if you just place it on the scale it puts all of the pressure in one point and it wont register correctly.

[mtl]

Why can't you just slip a pair of 5lb plates on in addition and call it a day?!
Who cares if the bar was too light, just add more weight and you're back in business.

Make sure to weight it with you holding the bar and without or you may have gotten a false reading.

[Seven_Down]

Try weighing it by holding the bar after weighing yourself, it should come out to be more accurate. if you just place it on the scale it puts all of the pressure in one point and it wont register correctly.

Hehe, I forgot about that!

I'll try that :)

[Seven_Down]

Nope, its even less now! It registers as 31lb! :(

So where can I get a good bar? I only have 2 5lb plates, and I am usually using them.

[C Man]

You don't need a new bar. It doesn't matter that it weighs less than 45 lbs. You said you've been doing 13-14 lbs less on all exercises than you thought you were doing, but if you were just barely able to get the number of reps you were shooting for then you were working out with the proper amount of weight regardless of what number you had in your head.

If the bar weighs 31-32 lbs and you had 50 lbs on it then you were lifting 81-82 lbs. If the bar weighed 61-62 lbs then you'd only be able to put 20 lbs on it but you'd still be lifting 81-82 lbs so it's still the same total amount of weight.

It's unfortunate that everything doesn't weigh what you thought because it makes it harder to add up the poundages in your head as you're going through your workout, but just go to Sports Authority and buy some more small plates.

[Fuelish]

Its 32lb... :|

I've been doing 13lb less on all exercises then I think I am doing. This is ridiculous! Maybe I am weighing it wrong or something? I was putting it on a regular scale, but it was an electronic weird one.

Argh! I'm so frustrated. I can't just buy new bars and everything, so what do I do?
Another somewhat obvious possibility - could not your scale be wrong ?? (Or a combo of scale being off and bar being off???) Just a thought...

[Seven_Down]

Nope, the scale is fine. I weighed all my plates just to be safe (they came with the bar) and they are no more then .5lb away from the amount on the plate. Some are .5lb higher, some lower, some exact. So I guess it all evens out.

My gloves are 0.2lb and my collars are 1.0lb.

No matter how many times I weigh the bar, its 32lb exactly. With the gloves and the collars, its 33.2, but that is not 45lb. I looked on eBay for bars, but could not find bars alone, they only came with sets.

I also think this is a good excuse to buy COC grippers. Any sites that sell both?

Thanks!

[C Man]

Please explain why you think you need a different bar when several of have told you that you don't.

[QUALITYGUY1]

Did someone tell you, or do you have a spec sheet of product info. that tells you that the bar weighs 45 lb? If so, and it's that far off, I would take it back.
JMO

[C Man]

300 lb weight sets come with 255 lbs of weight, so the bar is assumed to be 45 lbs.

[vikingsrule92]

How exactly is this a good excuse to buy CoC grippers? Just wondering; anyway, ironmind.com sells bars and grippers (only place that sells those) but the bars are very high quality and thus, ridiculously expensive. I agree with C man in that you don't need a new bar, that is unless you are doing really heavy weights on your exercises that you feel that bar won't hold up against. IMHO until you are doing 600 lbs+ on exercises you don't need a new bar, just keep progressing with your regular bar and you'll be fine. As long as you're progressing who cares what the bar weighs?

[jgmack1]

Try weighing the scale, it might be off.

[about_time]

Try weighing the scale, it might be off.LOL
I agree with the others you dont need a new bar. Why would you? Just make up for it with buying small plates, its not a big deal and it will save you money.

[Shelley1980]

I got a 300lb Olimpic weight set and the bar was only 35 lbs also. I already had a 45 lb bar so I just us that one. The only real issue is IF you did not know it was 35 lbs and you compete in compititions., But since you know just take the weight of the bar + what you put on the bar = what your lifting.

[Seven_Down]

How do I get the 5lb plates on permanently? I don't wanna use up my regular 5lb plates.

But if I want to buy a new bar, where can I get one? I'm just one of those people that want their things to work right. I'm also one of those people that want high quality stuff.

[HitItHard]

dude, weight is weight, who cares if the poundage is off a little bit... i just treat mine like a 45 pounder even though its less than that, it makes it easier. who cares, you still get stronger. its not like it has a disease.

[vikingsrule92]

Here http://jesupgym.com/products.htm?cid=12 even though I still say it is really unnecessary to buy a new bar look at the two power bars on jesup gym. Both are very good bars and are exactly on weight, 22kg, and both can hold up to big weights. I have the 1000 lb. test bar and it is very nice and well worth the $$.

[C Man]

How do I get the 5lb plates on permanently? I don't wanna use up my regular 5lb plates.Permanently? No, just slide on a couple of 5's and leave them on all the time if it matters so much to you.


But if I want to buy a new bar, where can I get one? I'm just one of those people that want their things to work right. I'm also one of those people that want high quality stuff.I refuse to answer this question because there's nothing wrong with your current bar. THERE'S NOTHING MAGICAL ABOUT A BAR WEIGHING 45 LBS. Just use your bar the way it is, it won't affect your workouts or hinder progress in any way whatsoever. There are bars out there that weigh more than 45 lbs as well, but you don't see the owners of those bar trying to shave weight off of them. A bar's a bar, whether it weighs 20 lbs or 80 lbs.

[cavediver1969]

If you really want a good bar go to http://www.ironcompany.com/ they have free shipping and you will be hard pressed to find a better price. If you want a great all around bar look at the texas power bars.

[about_time]

I refuse to answer this question because there's nothing wrong with your current bar. THERE'S NOTHING MAGICAL ABOUT A BAR WEIGHING 45 LBS. Just use your bar the way it is, it won't affect your workouts or hinder progress in any way whatsoever. There are bars out there that weigh more than 45 lbs as well, but you don't see the owners of those bar trying to shave weight off of them. A bar's a bar, whether it weighs 20 lbs or 80 lbs.Well said.
I'm starting to get the feeling the thread starter is trolling. If not I'm speechless.

[Seven_Down]

I'm not trolling :\

I just am annoyed that I've been doing less weight than I thought, and want to correct that.

[WillPullForFood]

Just for kicks I was searching "texas power bar" after reading this thread. Check out the shipping weight on this one: http://www.pfc-fitness.com/index.cfm/act/Catalog.cfm/catalogid/1838/Subcategory/Intl%20Bars%20and%20Collars/category/Commercial%20Equipment/browse/null/MenuGroup/Commercial%20Fitness/desc/AOB-2000B%20Texas%20Power%20Bar.htm

I laughed. I guess the point is that it really only matters in competition.

[C Man]

I'm not trolling, I just am annoyed that I've been doing less weight than I thought, and want to correct that.I can understand being annoyed that you're lifting less weight than you thought, but there's nothing to correct.

If you thought you were benching 135 lbs by putting a 45 on each side of what you thought was a 45 lb bar and just managed to get in 10 reps on both sets, then that was the correct amount of weight you should have been using even though it was only about 122 lbs. If you had a bar that really weighed 45 lbs and put a 45 on each side you'd have a real 135 lbs but it would be too heavy.

As has already been said numerous times, all that matters is the total combined weight of the bar and plates together. It doesn't matter if the bar weighs 2 lbs and you put 120 lbs of plates on it or if the bar weighs 122 lbs and you put no plates on it, it's still 122 lbs.

If you want a bar closer to 45 lbs then take your scale to Sports Authority and weigh some other bars that come with the 300 lb sets and see if you can find one that's heavier and exchange yours.

[Creatine28]

I'm not trolling :\

I just am annoyed that I've been doing less weight than I thought, and want to correct that.

How long is your bar? 5 feet or 7 feet?

45 lbs. = Weight of 7'
35 lbs. = Weight of 5'
25 lbs. = Weight of 52" E-Z Curl Bar.

[C Man]

45 lbs. = Weight of 7'
35 lbs. = Weight of 5'
25 lbs. = Weight of 52" E-Z Curl Bar.Those are generalizations, not standards.

[Chipman]

http://www.fractalfairy.com/lice/nit.jpg
Picker

[Dave T]

So how much do you want for your crappy underweight bar and all those randomly weighted plates?

I don't blame you for selling it, sounds like crap. Probably not worth much if you ask me.

(For everybody else, I call dibs)

[HeavyShadow]

This is why I don't count the bar's weight. I see the bar as if it were 0, and I only count the weight I add.

[Seven_Down]

It's 7', obviously :P


I'm just one of those people anal about stats, so Bodyspace is like heaven for me, with its flash graphs and whatnot. I just want to be exact.


And, once again, the plates are all no more then .5lb off, which IMO is very good.

[themilky_way]

Its 32lb... :|

I've been doing 13lb less on all exercises then I think I am doing. This is ridiculous! Maybe I am weighing it wrong or something? I was putting it on a regular scale, but it was an electronic weird one.

Argh! I'm so frustrated. I can't just buy new bars and everything, so what do I do?

Who cares if it's not 45 pounds? It's not like you can't use it anymore.

[C Man]

I'm just one of those people anal about stats, so Bodyspace is like heaven for me, with its flash graphs and whatnot. I just want to be exact.You ARE being exact. All that matters is the total weight lifted. No one breaks down how much they lift and says the bar weighs X and the plates weigh Y. They say they lifted X number of pounds.

Good luck, you obviously need it.

[ewitte]

Just use 35lbs for the calculation from now on. Getting a 45lb bar or adding 2 5's isn't going to make you lift any more weight.

[greyhair]

Try weighing it by holding the bar after weighing yourself, it should come out to be more accurate. if you just place it on the scale it puts all of the pressure in one point and it wont register correctly.

Bingo!
Good advice