Cheap bars - how much have you personally loaded on them?

[claricSTi]

Hey guys, I was curious what kind of weight you guys have actually put on the bar's that come with 300lb sets? I grabbed a cheap cap set off craigslist when I started my home gym and sadly am still using the bar that came with it.

I know the weight limit is supposed to be around 300lbs. I was deading 365 last week for reps and am seriously worried about what will happen if things go wrong/break/bend. I don't want to physically hurt myself but I also don't want to slack on my training.

Just curious what others have put on these bars? I am trying to keep it around 350ish until I can grab a texas power bar next payday.

[xephonics]

I think the highest ive put on a crap bar was 535+/- doing deadlift.

[ProtienandIron]

My understanding is that you would have to be very unlucky or strong to have a catastrophic failure. Most likely is that ou'll have a nice 'banana bar'. I used my cheap bar right up until 170kg (deads only- lives on the ground) before getting a TPB, it was just starting to develop a little bend.

[BloodType3R]

I bent the crap out of one with around 200lbs on a hard bounced squat rep.

[Stasher1]

I have deadlifted in the 375 range with a cheap 37lb oly bar and squatted in the 350 range with a couple of the Cap OB85 bars that come with their cheap 300lb sets. Both were just as straight when I sold them as they were when I received them.

[GarageIron]

I bent one with 95lb. It was on purpose but I expected it to do better than this...

[Detrus]

Are cheap olys really only rated for 300? Thought it was 400+

[claricSTi]

Thanks guys, I was planning to buy a texas power bar this weekend but a used elitefts bench popped up for sale and I can't pass it up.

My max isn't too high but it's good to know this thing won't be snapping in my face if I put 405+ on. I can't wait to get a TPB and ditch this piece of crap.

Are cheap olys really only rated for 300? Thought it was 400+

Not sure to be honest. This thing bends pretty hard at 350+ so I figured it was getting close, it feels like it's wrapping around my back when squatting over 3 plates.

[GarageIron]

Thanks guys, I was planning to buy a texas power bar this weekend but a used elitefts bench popped up for sale and I can't pass it up.

My max isn't too high but it's good to know this thing won't be snapping in my face if I put 405+ on. I can't wait to get a TPB and ditch this piece of crap.



Not sure to be honest. This thing bends pretty hard at 350+ so I figured it was getting close, it feels like it's wrapping around my back when squatting over 3 plates.

The Texas bar will bend just as much, but it will always bend back.

[sherman]

This thing bends pretty hard at 350+ so I figured it was getting close, it feels like it's wrapping around my back when squatting over 3 plates.

Its not the amount of bending under load that determines how good a bar is. It's whether or not it comes back to straight after you take the load off.

Solid steel bars of the same diameter will bend the same amount under the same load, regardless how much you paid for them.

It takes bigger load to permanently bend a stronger bar than it does to bend a weaker bar. Stronger means higher tensile strength.

[Stasher1]

Are cheap olys really only rated for 300? Thought it was 400+

The Cap OB85 is rated for 500.

[LimitStrength]

Thanks guys, I was planning to buy a texas power bar this weekend but a used elitefts bench popped up for sale and I can't pass it up.

My max isn't too high but it's good to know this thing won't be snapping in my face if I put 405+ on. I can't wait to get a TPB and ditch this piece of crap.



Not sure to be honest. This thing bends pretty hard at 350+ so I figured it was getting close, it feels like it's wrapping around my back when squatting over 3 plates.

Recently used a 300 lbs test bar with about 460 lbs and the thing is beat to crap, but it will most likely survive.

The chances of you ever snapping a steel olympic barbell are very, very, very small. It will bend beyond use before it would snap through regular use. The only real possible surprise that can happen when you go way over a rating limit is the sleeves of the bar can break off. Either the hex bolt can slowly unscrew or it can break in general and stuff.

But usually something like this would occur upon dropping the bar on the floor or onto pins or something like that. I noticed one of the sleeves on my super cheap bar start to unscrew however, so I am sure not to leave my feet anywhere near the loading sleeves whenever I used it (super rarely).

I think you should be fine with 405 as long as you don't drop the bar with that kind of weight repeatedly onto pins or something.

[owasM]

i've loaded my cheap 28mm strengthshop uk bar with 180kg for deads, has a nice bend then goes back to normal, and i dont think cheapo bars usualy come in 28mm so the 32mm im guessing is stronger.


i'm only gonna get a tbp or okie when i reach a 250kg dead.

[ProtienandIron]

i've loaded my cheap 28mm strengthshop uk bar with 180kg for deads, has a nice bend then goes back to normal, and i dont think cheapo bars usualy come in 28mm so the 32mm im guessing is stronger.


i'm only gonna get a tbp or okie when i reach a 250kg dead.

Is that the black one they sell? How is it?

[owasM]

Is that the black one they sell? How is it?

yeah its the black oxide,
i like it quite alot but i've only got my bodypower to compare to,
the kurling is soft but the black oxide makes it grippy enough and being 28mm helps alot.

the coating on the sleeves didnt look good for very long, but i dont care much for that.

it doesnt have a hex bolt on the ends, i actualy dont have a clue how its put together lol

[ProtienandIron]

yeah its the black oxide,
i like it quite alot but i've only got my bodypower to compare to,
the kurling is soft but the black oxide makes it grippy enough and being 28mm helps alot.

the coating on the sleeves didnt look good for very long, but i dont care much for that.

it doesnt have a hex bolt on the ends, i actualy dont have a clue how its put together lol

Interesting, I'm after a cheapbutgood to replace my squat bar. This was on my shortlist but I rarely see it mentioned.

[owasM]

Interesting, I'm after a cheapbutgood to replace my squat bar. This was on my shortlist but I rarely see it mentioned.

i like it for squats, feels comfortable.
i'll get some pics up tomorow, its loaded on the floor for deads atm.

[tylerdevloo]

i dont know what kind of olympic bar i have, i just got it in the deal when i got my power rack used. im assuming its an inexpensive one, but ive had up to 405 lbs on it, and it barely bends, and hasnt stayed bent, its pretty straight.

[Accutron]

Ive loaded my TPB up to 135lbs for a heavy dead single (1rep max pr) it held up fine.

[runningback25]

45's and 25's

[owasM]

i like it for squats, feels comfortable.
i'll get some pics up tomorow, its loaded on the floor for deads atm.

6 plates a side load -

[ProtienandIron]

Ive loaded my TPB up to 135lbs for a heavy dead single (1rep max pr) it held up fine.

I think it might be time to upgrade to a stronger bar mate before you ruin it. Feel free to send it to me for disposal.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/ENxTzmsh.jpg[/ig]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/McQp9CZh.jpg[/im]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/htKm4uMh.jpg[/ig]

6 plates a side load -
[img]http://i.imgur.com/huSI9E4h.jpg[/im]

Thanks for posting up the pics mate, that may be just what I'm after for squats as i always leave it loaded in the rack, so even the best bars may be doomed to bend.


Sorry for the slight derail OP.

[claricSTi]

I think it might be time to upgrade to a stronger bar mate before you ruin it. Feel free to send it to me for disposal.



Thanks for posting up the pics mate, that may be just what I'm after for squats as i always leave it loaded in the rack, so even the best bars may be doomed to bend.


Sorry for the slight derail OP.

Oh no worries, I'm all for a good thread derail. My question was answered in the first few post anyway. I was doing triples w/ 425 a few days ago and it held up fine. I envy the fact that you can just leave your bar loaded for squats. I have to do everything inside rack which equates to a lot of plate loading/unloading.