Anyone have experience with Watson Olympic dumbbell handles?

Anyone have experience with Watson Olympic dumbbell handles? I can't tell much from the photo... it looks computer generated. They're available in 12" to 24" sizes in 2" increments. They're $200 shipped in the USA which isn't cheap. Locally, I can only find Cap Olympic dumbbell handles which are a somewhat unwieldy 20". Also the quality of the Cap dumbbells is not particularly high. I have 16" standard spinlock handles and I like the size so I'm looking into the 16" Watson handles.

[img]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5189863&stc=1&d=1355791017[/img]

[url]http://www.gymequipment.uk.com/store/item/34090/Special_Bars/Olympic_Heavy_Duty_Dumbbell_Handles.html[/url]

Here's a video of the Watson handles but with a thick grip.

[youtube]TatxuiggCfY[/youtube]

I saw that some of the thick grip Watson handles are called the Charles Poliquin Dumbbell Handles and that the ad copy states: "The Twin Bearings ensure these are the smoothest revolving Dumbbells available - Anywhere!"

I wonder if the regular grip dumbbells have the same bearings as the thick handle dumbbells. I sent an email to the US distributer and hope to hear back from them.

The rotation on their fixed dumbbells also looked really impressive.

[youtube]GVau1R6SRdM[/youtube]

Photo doesn't look computer generated to me and I do some computer graphics.

This is the US site [url]http://www.savagestrengthusa.com/watson-olympic-dumbell-handles.html[/url] and yea $200 is overpriced. But the company's equipment is well regarded. No one else makes olympic handles shorter than 20" that I know of. This is a rare product, probably explains the price. Most people just keep their standard plates for dumbbells.

That's one of the two US distributers that I've found. I think part of the price is mark up because they're imported from the UK. In the UK, they cost 85 GBP or about 138 USD. I do like the custom length but my main interest is the bearing system... and would be a new toy to add to the gym. I do have standard spinlock dumbbells. I suppose that I could make some fixed dumbbells with regular plates that have some slop for cleans like these:

[youtube]JH2xIWDDvbM[/youtube]

Watson gym equipment is some of the best equipment we have over in the UK, but at the imported prices you are being charged, there is a chance you'll be dissapointed in some of thier products especially the handles you have pictured. If I lived in the US I would be contacting Rogue/similar to build a set just like them. For thier bars (like the handles you pictured) they use 2inch OD pipe which works for olympic plates, but is just a little loose. This doesnt bother me as most of my fat bars are homemade out of 2inch OD scaffold tube, but then I didn't pay premium prices. Another thing I don't like about many of thier bars is that they put the welds on the side of the collars where the plates rest. They did this on my trap bar, and you can see it on the dumbbell handles too. This combined with the extra movement from the loose fit can cause damage to some plates. I have an olympic loading pin from them also and this has the same design flaw, which sucks because it means there is a high vertical load resting on the weld, and not spread over the flange. I modified it using a piece of rubber, but as a consumer you shoulldn't really have to do this.

Repped! I'm glad I asked. I can get 2" scaffold tube for cheap and the welds would bother me on handles, especially at that price. Thank you.

[QUOTE=ProtienandIron;996010893]Watson gym equipment is some of the best equipment we have over in the UK, but at the imported prices you are being charged, there is a chance you'll be dissapointed in some of thier products especially the handles you have pictured. If I lived in the US I would be contacting Rogue/similar to build a set just like them. For thier bars (like the handles you pictured) they use 2inch OD pipe which works for olympic plates, but is just a little loose. This doesnt bother me as most of my fat bars are homemade out of 2inch OD scaffold tube, but then I didn't pay premium prices. Another thing I don't like about many of thier bars is that they put the welds on the side of the collars where the plates rest. They did this on my trap bar, and you can see it on the dumbbell handles too. This combined with the extra movement from the loose fit can cause damage to some plates. I have an olympic loading pin from them also and this has the same design flaw, which sucks because it means there is a high vertical load resting on the weld, and not spread over the flange. I modified it using a piece of rubber, but as a consumer you shoulldn't really have to do this.[/QUOTE]

No worries mate. Get yourself some shaft collars, and some plastic end caps and you can make yourself some nice fat bars for pennies. Thats how I make mine.

[IMG]http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/ProtienandIron/IMAG0147.jpg[/IMG]

BTW, the bench in this pic is a Watson.

Looks good. Is there a common name for the part that you used for the inside collars? Thanks again.

[QUOTE=morebarbell;996103453]Looks good. Is there a common name for the part that you used for the inside collars? Thanks again.[/QUOTE]

I used key klamps, but if you can find them try and get shaft collars.

Cool. Found both. :)

I'm going to pass on the Watson handles but I received a photo from someone selling a used pair of Watson thick grip handles and thought I'd add the photo here in case anyone else wanted another look at the handles. Unfortunately you can's see the welds in the photo.

[img]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5195243&stc=1&d=1355918738[/img]

Those look nice, but I have never understood why manufacturers put knurling on fat bars. The point of fat grip training is that you have to squeeze the bar, not rely on added grip from the knurl.

MB, I should have mentioned that there is a possibility that not all thier bars have the welds on the outside. I remembered last night that my EZ curl bar (2inch all the way through) doesnt have that problem, and niether does my tricep bar, so there is a chance they may have changed things (perhaps after complaints).

I could ask for more photos but his price is around 200 and I've lost enthusiasm.

I found the parts for the handle and then I started started thinking about whether it would be possible to have a makeshift olympic handle welded together like the photo below. I know nothing about welding (I'd need to pay a welder) so comments and criticism are welcome.

The bar is 1045 steel and if I recall correctly Ivanko recommended the steel for handles. I don't know what sort of steel is used for the washers and hadn't decided on the sleeves. I suppose pipe with 1" internal diameter might be too tight for 1" round bar.

[img]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5197023&stc=1&d=1355959779[/img]

P.S. If it's a stupid idea, it's ok to say so. ;)

I did this. Worked great. My father in law welds so it went easy. Pancake plates are hard to come by in my area and run like .70 a lb. Oly plates I found for .25! made 100's and 85's. Super easy, and good idea personally. =) good luck!

Thank you for your comments, Derekdiruz. I might give it a go. If you get a chance, please share some photos of your homemade dumbbells.