Wieght limit on Standard Bars

[Inzah Dude]

Does anyone know the weight limit on a standard bar that weighs about 20 lbs. and is about 7 feet long?

[MiloMan]

It's going to depend on what grade of steel is used in the bar (depending on the quality, it can vary a lot). However, assuming that they use steel of a grade similar to the cheapie Olympic bars that are bundled with those 300 lb $120 sets, I'd bet they aren't rated for more than 350-400 lbs max.

[Inzah Dude]

K. This bar is about 7 feet long and 20 pounds remember. The circumference is a tad over 3 inches. Still think it could hold 350 - 400 lbs.? If you put it on a bench where the bench's to pole things (where the bar sits on) are 18 about inches apart, it starts to bend a bit at like 130-170 lbs. What would you guess the limit to be now?

[MiloMan]

Originally posted by Inzah Dude
K. This bar is about 7 feet long and 20 pounds remember. The circumference is a tad over 3 inches. Still think it could hold 350 - 400 lbs.? If you put it on a bench where the bench's to pole things (where the bar sits on) are 18 about inches apart, it starts to bend a bit at like 130-170 lbs. What would you guess the limit to be now?
That's still less of a distance between either extreme support point and the weight than you'd have when squatting. If you want to split hairs over stress and strain in a uniform cylindrical beam, we could do that (but won't - from my end anyway, since getting overly-professorial for the mere sake of the thing is not a habit of mine), but keep in mind that just as material grades vary in Oly bars and probably do in standard bars as well.

Also keep in mind that the thin portion of an Olympic bar is almost identical to a standard bar.

Also keep in mind that the wisdom of loading anywhere near 400 lb on a 7 foot bar setting on supports that are that close together is questionable, due to instability.

[Inzah Dude]

Ok that confused me. So what are you saying? That you still think it could hold 350-400 pounds? And you said that the thin portion of a olympic bar is almost exactly the same of a standard bar? Well the olympic bar at the gym is way thicker (even at the thinnest point) then my bar at home.

[MiloMan]

You probably ought to call or e-mail the manufacturer and ask them. I saw a couple of places list a 95kg limit (a little over 200 lbs), so I assume they use pretty low-grade steel in them, figuring that anyone that's going to be using heavier weight will just use Oly equipment (and Oly bars are rated from 400 lb all the way up to 1600 lb and beyond).

[Inzah Dude]

haha only one problem... i donno who made it.

[MiloMan]

Originally posted by Inzah Dude
haha only one problem... i donno who made it.
Good bars (Eleiko etc $$$) are prominently labeled so it might be a cheapie.

[Inzah Dude]

So if its a cheapie you don;t know what the limit would be? I'll just use it until it snaps someday haha.

[cheeto]

do u guys have any idea on how much a cap brand standard bar will hold cause ur startin to scare me with this "might only hold a little over 200" stuff lol.

[MiloMan]

Originally posted by cheeto
do u guys have any idea on how much a cap brand standard bar will hold cause ur startin to scare me with this "might only hold a little over 200" stuff lol.
CAP? E-mail them and ask them:

http://www.capbarbell.com/contact_us.html