"How to" DIY Deadlift Platform

[thebraj]

Hey guys, just made this deadlift platform and thought I would share my info with you guys.

Parts List:

(3) 7/16" 4'x8' OSB Boards -- these are basically half inch cheap plywood/particle boards. I guess you could use fancier plywood but it would just cost more

http://www.homedepot.com/p/7-16-in-x...6081/100091344

(1) 23/32" 4'x8' Cabinet Grade Plywood -- I wanted just a 3/4" 4'x4' sheet, but they didnt have any so I had to buy the whole 4x8 sheet. they did cut it down for me though. I also got nicer plywood because this is the top board and wanted it to look nice.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Arauco-32...5#.UU4ptheG3Tp

(1 pack) #1 deckmate 1-1/4" deck screws, 1lb box -- i couldnt find them online but these are close. they were phillips not flatheads tho

http://www.homedepot.com/p/8-x-1-1-4...6#.UU4qWReG3To

(1) ratchet tie down -- i just needed some strong webbing, so I cut up one of these. mine was only 9 bucks tho

http://www.homedepot.com/p/27-ft-x-2...1#.UU4rFBeG3To

(1) horse stall mat 3/4" 4'x6'

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/stor...t?cm_vc=-10005

In total, the cost was about $130, but with that large top plywood piece, it was overpriced. If you could find a 4x4 sheet instead, you would save probably 15-20 bucks. also if you dont use the tie down webbing itll be cheaper as well.

I chose to add webbing straps between the bottom layers of the plywood so we could lift it and move it out of the way easily. I have 2 roommates and we move fairly often (military) so its a nice thing to have. Not necessary for most people, but this thing is heavy and awkward as hell to grab without em.

tools needed:

-drill, corded would be best but a cordless might do the trick
-jigsaw or utility knife to cut the stall mat
-countersink bit for all the screws


step 1:



determine webbing length you want and cut 4 pieces. I burned the edges since im used to it, but i know it wont fray just sitting in between plywood panels.

step 2:


Tape down the webbing to prevent it from shifting when you put on the other layers. I measured mine out so I knew exactly where to put the screw holes on the top sheets.

step 3:


stack other 2 boards on top then screw them all together. I put the majority of the screws on the webbing but put a couple in the middle in places to secure it. These boards dont have much shear force on them so you dont need many screws if you omit the webbing.

step 4:



cut the stall mat into 2 pieces each 2.5' long. Some people use a 4'x4' wood center, however it gets a little close to the bar collars so I just went with a 3'x4' wood piece. Therefore I cut 2.5' mat pieces, but cut according to however large you want the center piece. Some people have said they used a utility knife but it sounds like a pain. I used a jigsaw and it cut through it pretty easily. When I screwed it down, I only used some screws around the outer edges (not where it meets the center wood piece) so that the bar wont ever slam down on the screws.

step 5:


add the center wood and screw it down. then add the last mat and finish it off.

I think it turned out pretty nice, now I just have to either stain or paint the center part. Hope this helps out you guys, comments and questions are welcome






Edit:

added my deadlift jack as well:



Scroll down for the jack info

[ICEcap2]

Well done!

[BloodType3R]

Great platform and I like your use of a 3ft width for the center.

I think you may also have stumbled onto a solution for a common problem with these platforms; how to add resistance bands. That strap idea could easily be altered to accomodate bands.

[ProtienandIron]

Awesome platform. The straps are a nice touch. Reps inbound.

[KBKB]

Nice job. I, too, think the webbing is a nice touch.

Reps on recharge.

[My2BoysDad]

Great job, very well executed.

[thebraj]

Here is the deadlift jack I made as well:





I got the plans from here:

http://shoua59lo.blogspot.com/2011/0...lift-jack.html

He laid out a nice picture with all the parts too:


Here it is with a plate in the air to show the height. There is about a half inch or so. unless you load up with I believe the guy said 800lbs, the bar wont bend enough to rub the ground.



I made a couple changes, like putting a T in place of the cross as he stated, and for the handle, I added a pipe end to cover the threads. Also, the long pipe is only optional. It helps with leverage and not needing to bend down, but to save on cost, you can easily omit or shorten it. The total for this was only around 50 dollars so not too expensive. Here is a parts list as well for you guys:

All pipe parts are galvanized, you can get the black iron if you want, but it will leave soot all over and will rust. Also they are all for 3/4" pipe fyi
(1) pipe elbow 3/4" -- http://www.lowes.com/pd_21970-29760-...bow&facetInfo=

(3) pipe tee 3/4" -- http://www.lowes.com/pd_22230-88808-...tee&facetInfo=

(4) pipe cap 3/4" -- you can only get 3 if you want, I put the 4th on the handle. http://www.lowes.com/pd_22460-88808-...cap&facetInfo=

(3) 3/4" x 2" pipe -- http://www.lowes.com/pd_24039-29760-...ipe&facetInfo=

(1) 3/4" x 3-1/2" pipe -- http://www.lowes.com/pd_24042-29760-...ipe&facetInfo=

(1) 3/4" x 6" pipe -- http://www.lowes.com/pd_24046-88808-...ipe&facetInfo=

(1) 3/4" x 12" pipe -- http://www.lowes.com/pd_24049-29760-...ipe&facetInfo=

(1) 3/4" x 36" pipe -- this is for the handle and easily omitted or adjusted for you. http://www.lowes.com/pd_24012-76064-...ipe&facetInfo=

of course, ymmv, your plates might be larger and will rub the ground, etc so to adjust, change the length of the 3.5 and 6 inch pipes. Also, I havent wrapped the small pipe that touches the bar yet. The original guy did to protect his bar and I will be doing so too.

Here is his video with 8 plates:

[JohnTS1]

Amazing work bro.

[Sharkanana]

Followed your guide, loving the results. The strap handles work like a charm.

Pic:

[WannaBeSwolee]

I know this a necro, but I followed this guide and got a decent diy deadlift platform. thanks OP!

I didn't use the webbing since, it's in my own garage, and I won;t be moving in the foreseeable future.

[THErunCMD]

I know this a necro, but I followed this guide and got a decent diy deadlift platform. thanks OP!

I didn't use the webbing since, it's in my own garage, and I won;t be moving in the foreseeable future.

nice! i hope to be building one soon myself!

edit: really ill probably be building something 8x8 for the rack to sit on so i can level it and a 3x8 or a 4x8 butted against the front to deadlift on. tons of work but im not sure i have another option for my gym :/

[vsral]

A few pics of my platform I made 2 years ago.
Nothing is glued, you can just loosen the screws and you got your raw materials back.
You can even saw the bottom wooden plate in 2 (if you need to move it) so the largest part is +/- 1m x 1,2m.
Rubber tiles are 2,5cm, 2 on top of each other so 5cm of rubber (=1,98 inch)

[vsral]

band attachments and a vid of testing it. It holds the tension of green bands (but who will ever deadlift against greens lol).


youtube.com/watch?v=HySKn2djmrg&list=TLNEgzISfZ_dBuPa4C0UAxl29 8HfJsX86A

[THErunCMD]

band attachments and a vid of testing it. It holds the tension of green bands (but who will ever deadlift against greens lol).

Looks good, thanks for posting

[twelveosix]

A few pics of my platform I made 2 years ago.
Nothing is glued, you can just loosen the screws and you got your raw materials back.
You can even saw the bottom wooden plate in 2 (if you need to move it) so the largest part is +/- 1m x 1,2m.
Rubber tiles are 2,5cm, 2 on top of each other so 5cm of rubber (=1,98 inch)

That looks good and absorbs sound it seems, do you have a plan? It looks great.

[vsral]

Pic 1-4 will show you what the design is like, but I don't think you can use my metric values.

1) Middle wood part is 1m x 1,2m. 5cm is not a standard thickness so I have a plate with blocks underneath. Only place I used glue
Rubber sides are 1m x ,5m (you also have rubber tiles in different sizes though).
Adds up to exactly 2m20

2) You look for a wooden 'frame' around it. Make sure the wood is sturdy enough.

3) You take a wooden 'base plate' with the size of the platform (2,20 x 1m) + the thickness of the wood (let's say 5cm ---> 2,30m x 1,10m).
This can also be in 2 parts (1,15 x 1,10), easier for transport maybe

4) You screw the wooden frame to the baseplate (Don't like glue for this). Now you can also make band attachments. You stand on the middle part that keeps the baseplate on the floor. Baseplate keeps the wooden frame on the floor.

Screws only and no glue: you can dismantle the platform easily for transport or whatever ( not needed probably)

[twelveosix]

Pic 1-4 will show you what the design is like, but I don't think you can use my metric values.

1) Middle wood part is 1m x 1,2m. 5cm is not a standard thickness so I have a plate with blocks underneath. Only place I used glue
Rubber sides are 1m x ,5m (you also have rubber tiles in different sizes though).
Adds up to exactly 2m20

2) You look for a wooden 'frame' around it. Make sure the wood is sturdy enough.

3) You take a wooden 'base plate' with the size of the platform (2,20 x 1m) + the thickness of the wood (let's say 5cm ---> 2,30m x 1,10m).
This can also be in 2 parts (1,15 x 1,10), easier for transport maybe

4) You screw the wooden frame to the baseplate (Don't like glue for this). Now you can also make band attachments. You stand on the middle part that keeps the baseplate on the floor. Baseplate keeps the wooden frame on the floor.

Screws only and no glue: you can dismantle the platform easily for transport or whatever ( not needed probably)

Thanks, does it reduce sound almost completely?

[Wildtim]

No nothing is going to reduce sound completely. Learn to set your deadlifts down and quit dropping the bar just like you were told in your other threads.

[THErunCMD]

No nothing is going to reduce sound completely. Learn to set your deadlifts down and quit dropping the bar just like you were told in your other threads.

This. I regularly deadlift over 400lbs during my sons naptime(his room is above my garage) using iron plates on just a stall mat.

[twelveosix]

This. I regularly deadlift over 400lbs during my sons naptime(his room is above my garage) using iron plates on just a stall mat.

Jeez, idk why noise resonantes so much in my house. Its annoying as hell

[Domicron]

Jeez, idk why noise resonantes so much in my house. Its annoying as hell

i'm betting it's because you're dropping your weight and not controlling it on the way down.

get some straps, learn to set down your lifts.

[Synthetickiller]

Jeez, idk why noise resonantes so much in my house. Its annoying as hell

You need noise dampeners.
Carpeting, foam or any type of material that absorbs sound. If you have just concrete, wallboard & paint, it's going to echo & amplify.

Put nothing more than a couch down there & the noise characteristics will change.

[THErunCMD]

I built a 4x8 and an 8x8 version of these today. My primary motivation was leveling out my deadlift and rack area. Tired of my deadlift bar rolling and loaded bars on my safeties rolling. Decided to not go for the straps. As you can see, I will not be moving this around. Leveling was difficult. I shimmed the end of the smaller platform and had to use the waste plywood from cutting center boards and some lumber I had lying around to support the middle and ends of the bigger platform. There is only one "soft" spot now and it's not in a bad place or that bad.

I used 6 sheets of 4x8 OSB, 2 sheets of 4x8 birch plywood($55each - yikes!) cut to 3x8 and 3x4, and 3 smooth 4x6 3/4" stall mats. No glue, just screws(and a few nails)

Building the 4x8:




Leveling it out and shimming the ends:




OSB base built for the 8x8:




first 2.5x4' pair of mats down on the 8x8(notice the tennis ball, NOT rolling, even when I nudged it):




Finished product with equipment:



All in all I am pretty happy with the results. It was a ton of work to move my rack and all my weights by myself. My main problem is each side tto my rack is well over 300lbs and LONG.

I suspect I would have had an easier time leveling things out if I had built three 4x8 platforms, but I kind of wanted just one platform for my rack, not two. I may "bolt" it down with just some big screws. Not really necessary with this big of a rack but we'll see.

Definitely happy with the 3' center board so there is plenty of room for my plates. The nice birch was worth the money, looks great. I may paint a design and seal it later.

Some thoughts:

It's hard to touch but the mats are WAY easier to cut when left out in the sun.
Place the non cut side against your center board, there may be some imperfections.
Glue is definitely not needed, these things are heavy. Just pick out some straight OSB and a nice straight piece of top board.
If you use a good hammer driver, you can easly "countersink" the screws in the center piece of plywood.
Any driver can do this with the stall mats, and I got mine JUST deep enough so the rubber started closing back over the heads.


If you are just doing a 4x8 platform, this is fairly easy and you only need 1 mat. Can get the job done in under an hour as long as you don't have to move any equipment. I had originally thought about doing on of the built-up ones with carpet padding inside for noise dampening but I just don't think it's necessary.

I also bought some large cane bolts to use as band pegs, as recommended by Cleveland33 in another thread. I am going to do a few deadlift sessions before I install them because they will need to go on two different platforms...I use part of the 4x8 for weight storage and a place for my deadlift jack to sit.

[Domicron]

nice work. platforms look good, your equipment always looks good; especially mirin your laundry baskets

[THErunCMD]

lol thanks. Most of the work came from moving equipment and leveling the big platform.




You ever buy some decent laundry baskets?

[big420atx]

that came out really nice man congrats...im in the process of building almost the exact same set up for my garage as soon as i get this power rack stripped down.

[rlundregan]

I built a 4x8 and an 8x8 version of these today. My primary motivation was leveling out my deadlift and rack area. Tired of my deadlift bar rolling and loaded bars on my safeties rolling. Decided to not go for the straps. As you can see, I will not be moving this around. Leveling was difficult. I shimmed the end of the smaller platform and had to use the waste plywood from cutting center boards and some lumber I had lying around to support the middle and ends of the bigger platform. There is only one "soft" spot now and it's not in a bad place or that bad.

I used 6 sheets of 4x8 OSB, 2 sheets of 4x8 birch plywood($55each - yikes!) cut to 3x8 and 3x4, and 3 smooth 4x6 3/4" stall mats. No glue, just screws(and a few nails)

All in all I am pretty happy with the results. It was a ton of work to move my rack and all my weights by myself. My main problem is each side tto my rack is well over 300lbs and LONG.

I suspect I would have had an easier time leveling things out if I had built three 4x8 platforms, but I kind of wanted just one platform for my rack, not two. I may "bolt" it down with just some big screws. Not really necessary with this big of a rack but we'll see.

Definitely happy with the 3' center board so there is plenty of room for my plates. The nice birch was worth the money, looks great. I may paint a design and seal it later.

Some thoughts:

It's hard to touch but the mats are WAY easier to cut when left out in the sun.
Place the non cut side against your center board, there may be some imperfections.
Glue is definitely not needed, these things are heavy. Just pick out some straight OSB and a nice straight piece of top board.
If you use a good hammer driver, you can easly "countersink" the screws in the center piece of plywood.
Any driver can do this with the stall mats, and I got mine JUST deep enough so the rubber started closing back over the heads.


If you are just doing a 4x8 platform, this is fairly easy and you only need 1 mat. Can get the job done in under an hour as long as you don't have to move any equipment. I had originally thought about doing on of the built-up ones with carpet padding inside for noise dampening but I just don't think it's necessary.

I also bought some large cane bolts to use as band pegs, as recommended by Cleveland33 in another thread. I am going to do a few deadlift sessions before I install them because they will need to go on two different platforms...I use part of the 4x8 for weight storage and a place for my deadlift jack to sit.

Looks great--on spread, as usual. I may have some questions about this in a month or so, after you have had a chance to use it.

[Domicron]

lol thanks. Most of the work came from moving equipment and leveling the big platform.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/KAo5XPEl.png[IMG]

that was my first thought: "how long did it take him to break that down?"

You ever buy some decent laundry baskets?

no, someone gifted us one of those wicker basket ones with a cloth bag insert, but we still use the plastic one with the torn handle. i'm gonna go troll CL for some laundry baskets and see if i can't find some commercial quality...

[THErunCMD]

Logo time:

[dragon360]

Logo time:

Getting badass.