Black Widow Row Handle Review

[Jetigen]

I purchased few items from Black Widow Training Gear several weeks ago. This review is for their Row Handle.

http://www.blackwidowtg.com/product_...row-handle.htm

I find that a regular dumbbell is not very convenient for doing one-arm dumbbell bench rows due to my hand being positioned too deep inside the dumbbell and dumbbell plates limiting the range of motion. So, here comes Black Widow Row Handle. It's heavy duty and feels like a shortened thick bar. The handle itself is 10" long, and 6" from the bar, and about 1.5" thick. The bar is 27.5" long with sleeves being 8" each. My row handle weighs 9.28 lbs.

The bar length on the product page is stated as 24". I asked Dean specifically to make me one with longer sleeves. It looks like he fabricated my row handle with longer handle instead. I know this because he wrote me that standard length of sleeves is 8" when I was placing my order; and that's what I got. I was initially upset about this mishap; but after trying my custom row handle I realized that 8" sleeves are plenty enough.

After playing with it, I wholeheartedly recommend the Black Widow Row Handle to others.

[Jetigen]

This row handle can take up to eight 45 lbs plates depending on the thickness of the plates. That's 370 lbs.

Here is mine with eight 25 lbs and two 10 lbs plates. The total weight of it in the pictures below is 230 lbs.










Here is a side view and of the plastic end cap:

[Stasher1]

This row handle can take up to eight 45 lbs plates depending on the thickness of the plates. That's 370 lbs.

Here is mine with eight 25 lbs and two 10 lbs plates. The total weight of it in the pictures below is 230 lbs.










Here is a view from a side and of the plastic end cap:

I was seriously interested in ordering one of those a while back, but couldn't get them (him) to respond to my emails. I wound up using a $30 CAP "super curl" bar instead, and it works great.

[Jetigen]

As I wrote above I bought the Row Handle for doing one-arm dumbbell rows. For illustration purposes I scanned a page from Frederic Delavier's Strength Training Anatomy book covering this exercise:

[Stasher1]

As I wrote above I bought the Row Handle for doing one-arm dumbbell rows. For illustration purposes I scanned a page from Frederic Delavier's Strength Training Anatomy book covering this exercise:

I'm not sure if this post was directed at me, but that's exactly what I use this curl bar for. The flat portion in the center makes a perfect handle for rows.

[Jetigen]

I was seriously interested in ordering one of those a while back, but couldn't get them (him) to respond to my emails. I wound up using a $30 CAP "super curl" bar instead, and it works great.

Dean replied to my emails promptly except for weekends. Maybe you wrote Dean when he was super busy or had some kind of emergency.

[Jetigen]

I'm not sure if this post was directed at me, but that's exactly what I use this curl bar for. The flat portion in the center makes a perfect handle for rows.

No, it was not directed at you specifically. I read your reply after posting the exercise page.

[owasM]

i dont see why people use plastic end caps ,
ive found capping open ends with steel plate ALOT cheaper than buying those end caps ..

[vic84875]

i dont see why people use plastic end caps ,
ive found capping open ends with steel plate ALOT cheaper than buying those end caps ..

Well i find the oposite. A machined steel cap is more expensive (machined, maybe is not the right word, sorry). A steel plate,circular, will require welding + polished. The plastic cap, do not require welding or polished, is decent looking, and they cost between U$ 2-5 (really low quality, from $1). Maybe, (language barrier), I do not understand what do you suggest as a cheaper and faster option.

[Skidmarx]

I do not understand what do you suggest as a cheaper and faster option.

It's not.

[owasM]

i got 35 3x3" square,30 33mm round plates (50mm i use the bits that cut off when i drill a 50mm hole) .. for £15, whereas a plastic end cap for 3" cost me close to £1 each, quite a big difference lol



back on topic though, nice review!

[ProtienandIron]

Nice row handle, I've been thinking of having one of these made for some time. I'd be very happy with that.

i dont see why people use plastic end caps ,
ive found capping open ends with steel plate ALOT cheaper than buying those end caps ..

Labour is time, and time is money. Caps can be bought cheap in bulk and then just quickly hammered into place in seconds. Cutting the plate to shape, welding, and then grinding flush- takes time, materials, and power. It might not equal much for one or two, but over the course of production for a hundred or so, its adds up.

[Jetigen]

Labour is time, and time is money. Caps can be bought cheap in bulk and then just quickly hammered into place in seconds. Cutting the plate to shape, welding, and then grinding flush- takes time, materials, and power. It might not equal much for one or two, but over the course of production for a hundred or so, its adds up.

That's my thoughts too. And it seems quality plastic caps can survive many years of product use. I have an old Hampton curl bar. It has plastic end caps that have no damage and still look good though worn out a bit.

I snapped few pictures of the end caps on my bar:

[Jetigen]

Was rearranging my home gym last night and played with my dumbbells and row handle a little bit. Here are my Powerblock Elite 135 lbs, Ironmaster 165 lbs and Black Widow row handle 230 lbs next to each other. That's to give you an idea how big the row handle is in comparison to heavy dumbbells. Got a good workout just from moving these guys around.

[Skidmarx]

I wish I was strong enough to 1 arm row those. I have trouble with my 100's.

[Skidmarx]

Seems like a pretty simple fabrication, a Saturday morning special.

[ironwill2008]

IN on 230-pound Dumbbell Row thread.