Cost No Object Machines and Free Weights, the Best of the Best

[HealthNutMD]

how much?

about 6K

[TLYNCH777]

Two things that don't get mentioned that often when talking about smith machines.

1) Some models like the Precor and Atlantis dont allow the bar to travel to the ground like the Life Fitness ( and some other brands ) do. Not a deal breaker for any pressing or squat movements, but if you try to do barbell rows or and straight leg deads you cannot stretch the lats/hams because the bar will stop to high.

2) Some prefer the non angled models and some prefer the angled ( 5 or 7 degrees usually ).

Without a dought I believe the nebula smith is the best smith ever made. I prefer all nebulas older stuff made before Tom I revamped the look and made things more cost effective. The smith is one piece that I prefer the newer model with the laser cut parts. What I like about it is it built so over the top and absolutely massive. I can stand up and do a full push press and not hit the top. You can also adjust the angle for the option of 7 degrees or completely straight . I kept one of these new nebula smith machines for the future I can use it now along with a Tk star decline high row (atlantis got there design from him) because they are too tall to fit in te basement were I have my personal Eq . Nebula smith all the way !!!!
My second pick would be one of the last production Bodymasters made they made very good quality stuff. I am excited that they are now making stuff again and went back To their hardcore racks and benches. No more fancy round tubing. There racks are nebula quality and benches are just right. I get most of my parts from Melivin who worked for Bodymasters for 15 years and stayed with Night manufacturing who now owns and operates Bodymasters. Melvin is great best customer service possible if you ever need anything .

[TLYNCH777]

[The only other items I would like to get or upgrade are:

-Flex Kneeling leg curl
-Elite FTS or Nebula power rack to replace Apex rack
-Nebula 8005 smith machine to replace Apex smith
-Forza competition bench press to replace Apex bench (used one when I visited the original Metroflex last winter, love how sturdy it felt)
-Unique adjustable olympic incline bench to replace Apex bench
-Nebula adjustable olympic decline bench to replace Apex bench
-Flex flat bench to replace Apex
-Flex incline bench to replace Apex
-Flex tricep seat to replace Hammer Strength
-Flex decline bench to replace Apex
-Nebula Awesome utility bench to replace Apex
-Nebula or Cybex leg press to replace Apex
-Pendulum power squat
-Another York spide plate rack to replace Apex
-Nebula olympic bar storage or equivalent
-Troy Supra Barbell and attachements
-Eleiko olympic lifting bar
-Eleiko Bumper Plates
-Atlas Stones
-adapters to put car tires onto barbell for strongman deadlift event]


irongym[/QUOTE]

Nice set up I can help you out with a few of those nebula/ flex items in your wish list

[TLYNCH777]

Thanks for the input Greg. I agree the Atlantis and the Strive pec flye/rear delt are more than likely nicer machines but I've received a qupte for both and their both in the 4 k range. I realize that this is a cost no object thread but I just can rationalize paying that much for those pieces. Of course I said the same thing about paying 6 g's for the Avenger leg press a week ago and look what happened. BTW, how wide is the Avenger leg press, do you think it could fit down a normal stairwell to a basement? And what about getting it back up the stairs. I imagine would be a real bitch if I move. I think it weighs about 780 lbs. Does it break down easily? I guess I need to ask Ken about these concerns. And what if Dave G retires in the meantime? We'd all be screwed!

Dave and I were able to break the avenger down into 3 pieces and get it down stairs fairly easy using a hand
Truck.

[harrisg83]

Hey TJ, what about getting the leg press back up the stairs in case I move, do able?

Dave and I were able to break the avenger down into 3 pieces and get it down stairs fairly easy using a hand
Truck.

[HealthNutMD]

Hey TJ, what about getting the leg press back up the stairs in case I move, do able?

No difference... What goes down, must come up. Same disassembly process, not a big deal. have no worries, MedX is one of the best at dissassemble/reassemble.

[dumb.bell]

Why are most of the Nautilus Machines Decline Flies vs Incline Flies?

[TLYNCH777]

Hey TJ, what about getting the leg press back up the stairs in case I move, do able?

You will be able To get it up but you may lose a finger

[deadwoodgregg]

My Avenger Leg Press should go to the powdercoaters Monday and might be ready to ship this way in a couple of weeks or when Mr. Goalder makes his loop back into Florida.

[harrisg83]

Greg, are you getting the leg press with the new boom Ken and Chris are working on? Haven't decided what to do with mine. Any pics from the warehouse yet? How long has it been since you ordered yours? I was told the lead time would be 8 weeks.

My Avenger Leg Press should go to the powdercoaters Monday and might be ready to ship this way in a couple of weeks or when Mr. Goalder makes his loop back into Florida.

[deadwoodgregg]

Greg, are you getting the leg press with the new boom Ken and Chris are working on? Haven't decided what to do with mine. Any pics from the warehouse yet? How long has it been since you ordered yours? I was told the lead time would be 8 weeks.

Ken said that he was putting all of the lastest updates on my lp. If my memory is correct, I placed my order back in the middle of August. That would make it around a 12 week delivery. I am not complaining at all because I know what kind of quality machine that I will be recieving.

[HealthNutMD]

This was also the first real production batch and the first to incorporate major design changes. I think once they get this first batch done, they could be a little faster.

I think if you placed that back weight horn at 90 degrees (vertical), you could make it so the starting position of the boom is at -30 degrees instead of +10 degrees. You could still add some adjust-ability to the vertical stop position. The only reason you couldn't lower it to -30 degrees now is because the weights would slip off the back weight horn. Simply making the weight horn vertical would make a starting position of -30 degrees possible (with the correct adjustments to the vertical stop and the bar stop with the 2 landing pads)

[qaz123]

This was also the first real production batch and the first to incorporate major design changes. I think once they get this first batch done, they could be a little faster.

I think if you placed that back weight horn at 90 degrees (vertical), you could make it so the starting position of the boom is at -30 degrees instead of +10 degrees. You could still add some adjust-ability to the vertical stop position. The only reason you couldn't lower it to -30 degrees now is because the weights would slip off the back weight horn. Simply making the weight horn vertical would make a starting position of -30 degrees possible (with the correct adjustments to the vertical stop and the bar stop with the 2 landing pads)

They are basically making prototypes which takes a long time. From your Atlantis pics I saw some fixture jigs on wheels for their pieces which speeds production up multiple times. Until they have some jigs they won't be able to speed up a great deal.

[deadwoodgregg]

Older style Pendulum Hip Press on Ebay (Univ. of Michigan) $2500 OBO. Hope someone from this thread can pick it up.http://www.ebay.com/itm/PENDULUM-HIP...item416de7ca6b

[deyler1]

Ive been following you guys a long time. About 8 years ago, I had a sweet gym in my basement. icarian leg press, 4 pieces of hammer Strength and a few custom pieces bc Im tall. I had a smith machine custom and lat pulldown so my arms wouldnt lock-out at the top. I still have that piece. I sold all of it due to a shoulder surgery that i didnt think Id recover from. Two years went by and my pain was too much. After about 3 years and some rehab, I found that I could work around it by going lighter and other adjustments. Im back at building my gym again. I recently picked-up the hammer horizontal piece after seeing HealthNut gym.
Question guys:: What do you guys think about a vertical leg press?? I never used one but found that after using the smith as a vertical leg press,, it hits my quads pretty good.
Thanks, and Ill try to join more often.

[View 1]

Older style Pendulum Hip Press on Ebay (Univ. of Michigan) $2500 OBO. Hope someone from this thread can pick it up.http://www.ebay.com/itm/PENDULUM-HIP...item416de7ca6b

Couple other ones.

Nebula Leg press and Hack squat for $5000 or so.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nebula-Fitne...item257736088b

4 Pieces of plate loaded flex for $3200 ( Chest, row, pulldown, shoulder ).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-STAR-TRAC-...item46098bfc66

[HealthNutMD]

Ive been following you guys a long time. About 8 years ago, I had a sweet gym in my basement. icarian leg press, 4 pieces of hammer Strength and a few custom pieces bc Im tall. I had a smith machine custom and lat pulldown so my arms wouldnt lock-out at the top. I still have that piece. I sold all of it due to a shoulder surgery that i didnt think Id recover from. Two years went by and my pain was too much. After about 3 years and some rehab, I found that I could work around it by going lighter and other adjustments. Im back at building my gym again. I recently picked-up the hammer horizontal piece after seeing HealthNut gym.
Question guys:: What do you guys think about a vertical leg press?? I never used one but found that after using the smith as a vertical leg press,, it hits my quads pretty good.
Thanks, and Ill try to join more often.

The reason I like the Atlantis PIVOT PRESS so much is because it gives you that glute ham stretch that the vertical gives you, but it gives you a much better strength curve and also not an extreme position. While I would like the Nebula vertical leg press, I think the Atlantis PIVOT PRESS is superior in an overall sense. In fact, in an overall sense, it is superior to many leg presses. After going full circle on all the best leg presses, I really love the Atlantis Pivot Press. Its not like I need another one, but it is so good... even with what I already have here, I feel it is a must have.

If I were to buy another leg press after the Atlantis Pivot press, it would be the Nebula Vertical leg press. But if you had to chose between the two, I feel the Pivot press is superior.

Trying not to <<POP>> watching this Steelers Giants game.

[deadwoodgregg]

What brand of rack/benches do you guys think these might be? New style of PowerLift maybe?

[HealthNutMD]

What brand of rack/benches do you guys think these might be? New style of PowerLift maybe?

Hmmm, looks a lot like the new Elite FTS stuff and even the Rogers Pendulum power racks. I was trying to tell by looking at the benches.

[TLYNCH777]

Older style Pendulum Hip Press on Ebay (Univ. of Michigan) $2500 OBO. Hope someone from this thread can pick it up.http://www.ebay.com/itm/PENDULUM-HIP...item416de7ca6b

Who ever buys it will absolutely love it that was One from the last run that Tyler personally built I would take that over a new Rogers built any day.

[deadwoodgregg]

Hmmm, looks a lot like the new Elite FTS stuff and even the Rogers Pendulum power racks. I was trying to tell by looking at the benches.

The bigger universities usually go for the PowerLift. These pictures are from an InfinityMax ad. PowerLift outfits their installs with InfinityMax flooring and Iron Grip. The bench pads look a little like Rogers. Those gussets on the corners of the racks are something that I have never seen before. My guess is PowerLift. It is purt near impossible to get pictures of this weight room. They just started using it in October. The Rogers blog showed a bunch of Pendulum necks going here.

[TLYNCH777]

Ive been following you guys a long time. About 8 years ago, I had a sweet gym in my basement. icarian leg press, 4 pieces of hammer Strength and a few custom pieces bc Im tall. I had a smith machine custom and lat pulldown so my arms wouldnt lock-out at the top. I still have that piece. I sold all of it due to a shoulder surgery that i didnt think Id recover from. Two years went by and my pain was too much. After about 3 years and some rehab, I found that I could work around it by going lighter and other adjustments. Im back at building my gym again. I recently picked-up the hammer horizontal piece after seeing HealthNut gym.
Question guys:: What do you guys think about a vertical leg press?? I never used one but found that after using the smith as a vertical leg press,, it hits my quads pretty good.
Thanks, and Ill try to join more often.

I highly recommend a vertical leg press especially for us taller guys
Tk star , nebula and king made great ones

[TLYNCH777]

Couple other ones.

Nebula Leg press and Hack squat for $5000 or so.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nebula-Fitne...item257736088b

4 Pieces of plate loaded flex for $3200 ( Chest, row, pulldown, shoulder ).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-STAR-TRAC-...item46098bfc66

I own those nebula they need a good home pm me if interested

[TLYNCH777]

What brand of rack/benches do you guys think these might be? New style of PowerLift maybe?

I think those are the new hammer strength I was at university of Stony brook last week they look the same

[deadwoodgregg]

I think those are the new hammer strength I was at university of Stony brook last week they look the same

You are right TJ. My detective ID skills failed me this time.

[OutKlast]

What brand of rack/benches do you guys think these might be? New style of PowerLift maybe?

I think those are the new hammer strength I was at university of Stony brook last week they look the same

Hammer has a "build your own rack" application on their website that now includes tons of different pull-up options and options for combinations of double full rack, full/half, etc. Unfortunately, still 4" spacing.

Power Lift does have a new rack with 2" spacing called the "RS2 Rack system". Looks to be similar to the Sorinex stuff but all 7 guage.

RS2 RACK SYSTEM

RS2 Bar Catches with Replacable UHMW Wear Strip.
2" Adjustment Positions
Locking Spot Bars (Isometrics)
Dual Chin Attachment
Options include: Band Attachments, Folding Spotters Platform, Side Mounted Chin Bars, Single Leg Rollers, etc.

[HealthNutMD]

Power Lift does have a new rack with 2" spacing called the "RS2 Rack system". Looks to be similar to the Sorinex stuff but all 7 guage.

I'm laughing at someone who previously made silly comments about how spacing wasn't important, and how Power-Lift 'knows what coaches want" After losing some big contracts, I guess Power Lift finally figured out they better offer something better than 4 inch spacing to the large segment of the population who desires 1.5" - 2" spacing...

[OutKlast]

I'm laughing at someone who previously made silly comments about how spacing wasn't important, and how Power-Lift 'knows what coaches want" After losing some big contracts, I guess Power Lift finally figured out they better offer something better than 4 inch spacing to the large segment of the population who desires 1.5" - 2" spacing...

I think manufacturers are starting to come around and apply some common sense to rack construction. I'm surprised the Hammer Strength does not offer uprights with 2" spacing instead of the 4" slotted spacing. Hammer has the best instance thus far with the "Build Your Own" rack configurator. You can choose from tons of different different pull up/chin up options and you can add up to four different (or the same) styles on all four sides of the rack if you want. You can also choose base style, storage style, and combos. Hammer Strength reworked their racks into a fully bolted design that allows this to work which is why I'm surprised they don't offer 2" spacing on the uprights as the uprights are merely bolted to the base/tops. They're not fully welded frame so its pretty simple to swap back and forth between uprights based on the customers choice. This new RS2 at least offers you two pullup option on the front and rear. You can choose from a standard pullup in 1.25 / 1.5 / 2 / 2.5 and a rotating chin up handles set similar to what you got on your rack from Nebula/Rae Crowther.

[irongym]

Quick question: has anyone ever found a good adjustable Olympic incline press like they have at Yate's Temple Gym? How about an adjustable Olympic decline? I've always found that fixed benches are never the right angle for me. I've sent an email to Hans at Rae Crowther. Id like to see these benches with the adjustments of a Nebula Awesome utility bench. I was also thinking that they would be cool with uprights like on the Free Motion Epic Olympic benches. Thoughts?

[TLYNCH777]

Quick question: has anyone ever found a good adjustable Olympic incline press like they have at Yate's Temple Gym? How about an adjustable Olympic decline? I've always found that fixed benches are never the right angle for me. I've sent an email to Hans at Rae Crowther. Id like to see these benches with the adjustments of a Nebula Awesome utility bench. I was also thinking that they would be cool with uprights like on the Free Motion Epic Olympic benches. Thoughts?

That would be a great feature but may take serveral runs to get It just right. To have the quality and that adjuatbility would probably be one very expensive bench to make. Nebula made what was called a phase bench an rack that was industructable we have one of the originals at fitness incentive. You can do every angle for presses except decline the adjustability was fantastic and you could remoe te bench and use it as a power rack. At one time we had 4 and I truly regret selling them but I had to make room for some of the new nebula at that time we were in the process of making it the east coast showroom.
Nebulas adjustable decline i belive believe is the best Olympic decline bench made. The adjustability was great unfurtunatly there were only a very few made just right. The problem was that majority that were made the bar setting was made to high. Unless ur arms were bery long you could barely rerack the bar. Tom lowered it another inch but it was still to high for most women or people with shorter arms. (if u can get ahold of one used you could get thicker foam and boards that may help) I also felt the decline was two steep so I had him make the last few runs with the decline angel not so aggressive. Same with the new Olympic incline bench they looked awesome but you can barely reach to rerack. What was nice about the last run was the angle was dropped about another 10 degrees and took a lot of the front delt out of the movement but still needed some revamping. If Tom had more time and did not run into financial problems he was just about to get the olympic benches perfect . He was also just about to make the dumbell benches just like those atlantis proto types that chris posted pic of but nebulas would been about about 10x heavier. I really hope that the original founder and owner of Nebula Tom Eilerman comes back to designing equipment in the future he was one of the very best designers. Here is photos of an older model phase bench and rack as well as one of the last Olympic decline and inclines made by Tom Eilerman before he sold the companys name and designs to Hans. What people need to understand Is that Tom made many adjustments to the nebula designs as he would make them without him personaly making it I would not call it Nebula.