Weight Stack Pin Plate Adapter for adding more weight - I finally made one

[STR8OUT]

I have been wanting to have a go at welding one of these for a while now. Its so simple so I'm not sure why it took me so long to finally make one. I am also not sure why no one offers one of these for sale as it works just as good as I had expected and hoped. I have a bunch of extra weight stack pins so I took my longest one and cut the handle off to start, I then used 1/4 steel plate cut into a square, drilled a hole in it, and welded on a 2" thick walled pipe.

I have filled my gym with all selectorized equipment as my wife wouldn't go near anything plate loaded which I used to have a lot of. It's easy to max out the weight stacks on some of them so in comes this piece. I found that it works on every piece of equipment I have but you have to position it different on each machine. For instance on the Maxicam Leg Extension you need to put it on the backside of the weight stack or else it would hit the cable cam. On the Atlantis Tricep Extension it needs to go at the very bottom of the weight stack or else it would hit the cam. So it works on every machine, you just have to figure out how it works on that machine.

Anyone with this problem of maxing out their weight stacks, I highly recommend making one

[trimble006]

Genius

[KBKB]

Very nice!

[aclockworkoi]

Agreed, I have looked for one of these myself(out of curiosity mainly) and was surprised I couldn't find one readily for sale. Nice work!

[swimmer32]

Very cool! I've been looking for one for awhile. There's a member here (Josephbd) who supposedly makes them, but only after he has a certain number of customers lined up. Still waiting to here that a new batch was created. Looks like you did a fantastic job on yours - makes me wish that I could weld!

[Cleveland33]

trolling for reps with something like that.

on spread

[Josephbd]

Hi, that's the design that I have been making since 2001. Can't tell you how many I have made over the years. Well actually I can. If you plan on making them yourself you can have a much cleaner and efficient unit if you use a stick and weld the tube to the plate from the inside. Reason being that you want the plates as close to the weight stack as possible to minimize any kind of leveraging that can damage the pin. Nice job by the way.
Joe

Very cool! I've been looking for one for awhile. There's a member here (Josephbd) who supposedly makes them, but only after he has a certain number of customers lined up. Still waiting to here that a new batch was created. Looks like you did a fantastic job on yours - makes me wish that I could weld!

[Josephbd]

Hi,
PM sent.
Joe
QUOTE=swimmer32;1242567013]Very cool! I've been looking for one for awhile. There's a member here (Josephbd) who supposedly makes them, but only after he has a certain number of customers lined up. Still waiting to here that a new batch was created. Looks like you did a fantastic job on yours - makes me wish that I could weld![/QUOTE]

[rlundregan]

Great Idea! I am getting close to maxing out the stack on my lat pulldown. If only there were someone who lived nearby who might consider welding up one of these for me.....

[CliveWarren]

How about laying a triceps bar across the weight stack before attaching the cable.



I've never measure this out, but it seems like it would be easy and cheap.

[Cpl.Girthington]

I always just assumed that the guide rods could bind a bit if there were weight loaded off-center like your design. So how does it work? Is it smooth or does it bind... if so have you noticed a particular weight where that happens?

*edit- re read my post, don't interpret it as a dis' looks like a cool design, just wondering if you've found it to move smoothly.

[STR8OUT]

Hi, that's the design that I have been making since 2001. Can't tell you how many I have made over the years. Well actually I can. If you plan on making them yourself you can have a much cleaner and efficient unit if you use a stick and weld the tube to the plate from the inside. Reason being that you want the plates as close to the weight stack as possible to minimize any kind of leveraging that can damage the pin. Nice job by the way.
Joe

Thanks Joe! I thought about welding it from the inside as I do have a stick welder also but figured this would look a bit prettier with no gaps. I made the weight horn 3.5 inches long to be able to hold 2 plates if needed. Was also thinking about drilling a hole for a small a hitch pin on the end so the weight plates would never fall off. Its not needed with 1 plate but I didnt try 2 plates.

Great Idea! I am getting close to maxing out the stack on my lat pulldown. If only there were someone who lived nearby who might consider welding up one of these for me.....

haha coming right up!!! I have a bunch of steel in my barn I could make 50 of these right now if needed. The only thing is the weight pin part, I would prefer not to cut up all my weight pins. I am thinking maybe buying a long skinny Grade 8 bolt from Lowes or somewhere to use as the pin or something. I am not sure if weight pins are hardened steel but I would assume so. The place where I buy steel has a bunch of steel rod but I dont think its hardened. I will def make you one man.

[STR8OUT]

I always just assumed that the guide rods could bind a bit if there were weight loaded off-center like your design. So how does it work? Is it smooth or does it bind... if so have you noticed a particular weight where that happens?

*edit- re read my post, don't interpret it as a dis' looks like a cool design, just wondering if you've found it to move smoothly.

The machines I tried it on didnt feel as if anything was different. I know guys have been doing this for years by hanging plates on stacks with long weight pins. This is just a cleaner idea. Here are some youtube vids:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ArIxlYb790

haha this vid is kinda funny, guy would decapitate himself if he let go
www.youtube.com/watch?v=veIgbwXgpQ4

[STR8OUT]

I made a few more last night and I'm still tweaking some things. I did what Joe recommended and 220v stick welded from the inside instead and it looks very clean. I also used a strong 3/8 bolt and pressed it into the square plate until it was flush with the head so that sucker isnt going anywhere. This version is much stronger and sleeker looking. I just put some on Ebay and I'm going to see what happens

[Synthetickiller]

I found the ebay listing.
I wish I had an excuse to buy one. I don't have any weight stack machines (yet).

Here's the link since you can't "advertise": LINK

It looks like you can put either 45 x2 or 100x1.
Should be enough for "most" people with proper form, lol.


If you used a thicker rod, you'd have a good option to add plate storage to racks with that thing as well.

I'd rep, but on spread. You're really adding to the forum! ^5!

[swimmer32]

Nice job OP! If Joe wasn't sending me one that he made, then I would definitely purchase one from you. I would think that they would sell fairly easily. I'm really surprised other companies don't offer something similar. For comparisons sake, here are a couple pics that Joe sent me. I'll post up more with a review once I receive it.

[STR8OUT]

Nice job OP! If Joe wasn't sending me one that he made, then I would definitely purchase one from you. I would think that they would sell fairly easily. I'm really surprised other companies don't offer something similar. For comparisons sake, here are a couple pics that Joe sent me. I'll post up more with a review once I receive it.

Damn that looks nice, thanks for posting the pics. The end cap was on my mind last night when I was building it and I found some on fullcirclepadding.com but there has to be somewhere cheaper to buy them: http://www.fullcirclepadding.com/ind...ProductID=2693

Props to Joe for making it look that nice

[dragon360]

How much would one of these bad boys weigh? I'm curious because I don't think I will ever max out my stack but there is a 15 pound differential between plates. Not sure if this could be used to slightly micro-load (or simply load less than 15).

[STR8OUT]

How much would one of these bad boys weigh? I'm curious because I don't think I will ever max out my stack but there is a 15 pound differential between plates. Not sure if this could be used to slightly micro-load (or simply load less than 15).

I'm not sure about Joe's but here is mine on the office postage scale. 1 lb 9.4 oz

[dragon360]

Awesome - thank you!

[Josephbd]

Hey guys,
First apologies as I feel I just high jacked STR8OUT's thread. I just wanted wanted you to see how I made mine with the round plate etc. Making equipment is a blast but this is not my livelihood. So I am glad to share everything I have made in the coming threads so you guys can be inspired and inspire me as well. STR8OUt pm me your addy as I will send you one as well.
Mine is about 3 lbs depending on wall thickness. The one above is 2 lbs 15 ounces. I send the ones I make out with a spring collar. Most gyms that I have made them for usually order them when they disappear. Yep with the exception of the one that was busted up by Branch the rest somehow end up in gym bags. All the best guys and keep innovating! Train hard!
Joe

[InspecktaDeck]

Why would you max out on a plate stack..? That defeats the purpose of a machine. Use a barbel if you wana move heavy weight.

[Synthetickiller]

Why would you max out on a plate stack..? That defeats the purpose of a machine. Use a barbel if you wana move heavy weight.

I'm not following the logic here. There's movements, specifically isolation movements, that a lifter can't do with a barbell. Cable machines have filled that gap for more than a few of us as great tools.

[daniel327]

I'm not following the logic here.

It is difficult to follow that which is absent.

[bigfeather]

I made a few more last night and I'm still tweaking some things. I did what Joe recommended and 220v stick welded from the inside instead and it looks very clean. I also used a strong 3/8 bolt and pressed it into the square plate until it was flush with the head so that sucker isnt going anywhere. This version is much stronger and sleeker looking. I just put some on Ebay and I'm going to see what happens

You need to extend the 2" holder for a collar as the pin will start to bend. Regeneration Avenger makes double pined ones for the MedX line and can hold up to 4 45's a holder.

[Conquer92]

You need to extend the 2" holder for a collar as the pin will start to bend. Regeneration Avenger makes double pined ones for the MedX line and can hold up to 4 45's a holder.

Double pinned wouldnt be nearly as universal as a single pin

A tab welded on the underside would solve this instead.

[STR8OUT]

Hey guys,
First apologies as I feel I just high jacked STR8OUT's thread. I just wanted wanted you to see how I made mine with the round plate etc. Making equipment is a blast but this is not my livelihood. So I am glad to share everything I have made in the coming threads so you guys can be inspired and inspire me as well. STR8OUt pm me your addy as I will send you one as well.
Mine is about 3 lbs depending on wall thickness. The one above is 2 lbs 15 ounces. I send the ones I make out with a spring collar. Most gyms that I have made them for usually order them when they disappear. Yep with the exception of the one that was busted up by Branch the rest somehow end up in gym bags. All the best guys and keep innovating! Train hard!
Joe

No man dont worry at all, I am glad I got to see your design. Your weight stack pin is how I envisioned it in my head when I first started to dream this up lol. The inside of my plate sleeve is 1.5" I.D so I'm still trying to find a rubber dome cap for the end like yours. Its crazy yours is almost a pound more than mine. Maybe because your sleeve is longer? I feel like the steel I am using is already way too thick for this application! lol. Maybe its just because of your sleeve length... I dunno. I appreciate your offer to send me one, its very thoughtful but save it for someone who purchases it from you.

Why would you max out on a plate stack..? That defeats the purpose of a machine. Use a barbel if you wana move heavy weight.

I really have no words for this one

I'm not following the logic here. There's movements, specifically isolation movements, that a lifter can't do with a barbell. Cable machines have filled that gap for more than a few of us as great tools.

Agree! Every bodybuilder uses machines in their workouts, I dont think there is one that doesnt

You need to extend the 2" holder for a collar as the pin will start to bend. Regeneration Avenger makes double pined ones for the MedX line and can hold up to 4 45's a holder.

I can make the plate sleeve longer no problem, its just that the longer it is, the more its prone to bumping/rubbing into something. The only way I can see the pin bending is if someone let the weight stack slam down. And I dont think anyone is going to put more than 2 plates of something on there. I bought a skinny hitch pin which I'm playing with the idea of drilling a few holes through the plate sleeve so that you can secure the plate to the sleeve.

I just found that MedX one: http://www.regenerationequipment.com...t%20holder.JPG

That is pretty cool but it does limit you to only MedX since the stacks are different on every machine.

Double pinned wouldnt be nearly as universal as a single pin

A tab welded on the underside would solve this instead.

That is a good idea but wouldnt work if using this adapter at the bottom plate of a weight stack. I think I am going to build a few of them and put them through torture tests using regular bolts, grade 5 bolts, and grade 8 bolts and see how it does when the weight stack gets slammed down. I have an old crappy pec fly in my barn that I can use for this torture test lol. My weight pin is an 8" 3/8 bolt with the threaded part cut off. Works great so far but havent tried torturing it.

[STR8OUT]

After posting my Ebay ad as well as showing some gym owners this device, it has become quite popular so I have made a few now.

I messed with many different designs but I finally have one that I'm happy and confident in. I am now using a shorter Grade 8 bolt and I'm leaving the threads on it. The base material and the sleeve material are still made using super thick steel that will not bend. Not that it was ever a problem before, but I decided to leave the threads on the pin and ship it with a wingnut so that users could snug the adapter against the weight stack. This prevents possible slippage and also prevents the pin from bending incase of heavy slams. I also decided to place a safety pin in the end of the sleeve to prevent plates from having the ability to fall off. Like I said it was never a problem, but the last thing I want to hear is that someone got hurt from a plate falling off one of these things.

Here are some updated pics of ones that are going out:

[aclockworkoi]

Well, I am trying my best to get the Atlantis Leg Press and Cable machine into my garage. If that happens you can be sure I'll be ordering one.

[Synthetickiller]

After posting my Ebay ad as well as showing some gym owners this device, it has become quite popular so I have made a few now.

I messed with many different designs but I finally have one that I'm happy and confident in. I am now using a shorter Grade 8 bolt and I'm leaving the threads on it. The base material and the sleeve material are still made using super thick steel that will not bend. Not that it was ever a problem before, but I decided to leave the threads on the pin and ship it with a wingnut so that users could snug the adapter against the weight stack. This prevents possible slippage and also prevents the pin from bending incase of heavy slams. I also decided to place a safety pin in the end of the sleeve to prevent plates from having the ability to fall off. Like I said it was never a problem, but the last thing I want to hear is that someone got hurt from a plate falling off one of these things.