Removing weight plates from machine or barbells after each workout?

[ASFx]

For those of you that have home gyms, do you remove the weight plates from your machines or barbells after each workout?

Would leaving hundreds of pounds of plates on a machine or barbell for long periods of times cause too much stress on the bars after a while?

I like the idea of not removing the weight plates unless I need to just so i can easily keep track of what i used on my last workout, but im not sure if that's good for my equipment over time.

[Biggerfoot]

I have never removed the weights in my Home Gym. I have left over 400 pounds on my hack squat for many years without any signs of wear on the bearings. Most of the other items, such as the Olympic bars are really no different than dumbbells sitting on a dumbbell rack.

Besides, wanting to keep the weight on my equipment give me an excuse to get more!

[cubbybear]

I always need them for somewhere else my next workout, and usually warm up starting with just the bar anyways, so I put everything back on their storage. Plus when my training area isn't in order it puts me in a bad mood.

[need2eat]

If you dont remove the weight, how can you warm up?

From my experience, its a good idea to progressively add weight on each lift, per exercise, especially on your heavier lifts.

[Mj..]

For those of you that have home gyms, do you remove the weight plates from your machines or barbells after each workout?

Would leaving hundreds of pounds of plates on a machine or barbell for long periods of times cause too much stress on the bars after a while?

I like the idea of not removing the weight plates unless I need to just so i can easily keep track of what i used on my last workout, but im not sure if that's good for my equipment over time.

1. Your gym your rules
2. Not likely unless you were tring to do it.
3. Don't worry be happy, if it is quality equipment it was meant for Gorrillas to play on it all day long without breaking.

[ASFx]

Thanks for the replies. I figured it probably wouldn't matter. I ordered 630lb of weight plates so I figure I'll have enough so that I won't have to remove them very often.

I also sent the same question to powertec about leaving the weight plates on their equipment and they replied with: "We have never a problem with the weight horns remaining "plate loaded."

If you dont remove the weight, how can you warm up?

Well i'd remove some of the smaller ones, but Im sure the heavier weight plates might stay on for a while. Also depending on the exercise, I will just end up warming up with dumbbells instead.

[Blue Blazer]

If you dont remove the weight, how can you warm up?

From my experience, its a good idea to progressively add weight on each lift, per exercise, especially on your heavier lifts.

Well I always remove the weights after EVERY workout...I like a clean and organized gym, but eh that's just me...we all have our preferences and differences..

Need2eat I agree lol...I always do my first warmup set with my barbell so removing the weights is something I ALWAYS do!

Yep well that's just me....JM

[TANK25]

I never put my weights away. I have all my equipment setup for warm up.

[Blue Blazer]

I never put my weights away. I have all my equipment setup for warm up.

I see...what's your set-up like? What do you have? Pics?

[johnderriLLL]

If you are strong enough to use the weight, you are strong enough to put them away.

but i keep my rusty weights out side.

[dannygu]

I also sent the same question to powertec about leaving the weight plates on their equipment and they replied with: "We have never a problem with the weight horns remaining "plate loaded."

I have the Powertec WB-LS (leverage/hammer strength machine) . There are small foam "cushions" and rubber grommets where metal parts meet metal parts. For this equipment you should not leave weight on, as this will compress the material and render it ineffective to it's original purpose. Or it will crack and eventually fall off.
But I think you are just talking about barbell/bench/rack (which I previously used), which wouldn't matter.

[KingSht]

For those of you that have home gyms, do you remove the weight plates from your machines or barbells after each workout?

Would leaving hundreds of pounds of plates on a machine or barbell for long periods of times cause too much stress on the bars after a while?

As for a barbell, the larger plates are really resting on the floor and taking the brunt of the weight. So it would depend how much weight the smaller plates, suspended off the floor, are pulling down on the barbell.

If the barbell is left in the air on a rack, then all it's taking the brunt of the all the weight plates.

[*KNUCKLEHEAD*]

Well I always remove the weights after EVERY workout...I like a clean and organized gym, but eh that's just me...we all have our preferences and differences..

same here

[TANK25]

I see...what's your set-up like? What do you have? Pics?

Powertec bench,body solid squat machine,body solid lat machine,treadmill,heavy bag,marcy bench,marcy utility bench,powertec t-bar machine, bike,roman chair,dumbbells from 8,20,30,40,75,100,105,dp stack for tri`s,tds tricep chair.

[TANK25]

Not the best camera

[jfindon]

I'm pretty much going to have to, my barbell sticks out in the doorway a little bit and if I have to close the door I have to move the barbell.

[itsallgood]

I always need them for somewhere else my next workout, and usually warm up starting with just the bar anyways, so I put everything back on their storage. Plus when my training area isn't in order it puts me in a bad mood.

same here, except that when mine isn't in order it puts the wifey in a bad mood.

[QUALITYGUY1]

same here

X3...Iv'e been very careful of leaving stuff loaded after a friend of mine lost his 3 YO daughter because he left the bar loaded with weight on his bench..the little girl went and grabbed the bar as to climb up on the bench from behind, the bench went over and landed on her chest causing internal injuries that proved fatal. Sad story, and I hate to even think back at it, but I do every time before I exit my home gym.

[itsallgood]

X3...Iv'e been very careful of leaving stuff loaded after a friend of mine lost his 3 YO daughter because he left the bar loaded with weight on his bench..the little girl went and grabbed the bar as to climb up on the bench from behind, the bench went over and landed on her chest causing internal injuries that proved fatal. Sad story, and I hate to even think back at it, but I do every time before I exit my home gym.

Oh man, thats terrible, damn.

[Blue Blazer]

Oh man, thats terrible, damn.

Damn that's terrible...QUALITYGUY1 you and your friend and his family have my sympathy...

I think there's a lesson to be learned in all of this...if you have kids or friends have kids or whatever and they come over often and are going in all the rooms...always lock your gym door or make sure everything is safe so nobody gets hurt..

And if working out with a friend always be smart..

Example: I was doing my deadlifts inside my power rack due to a lack of space I have...

I was deadlifting with my olympic bar and I told my friend to do deadlifts with the standard bar instead so we can finish quicker..

I had to slide my power rack over for whatever reason (can't remember why but anyway it had to be done..)

While I was moving it, BAM...the standard bar hit me in right in the shoulder! My friend had leaned the barbell against the power rack...why I don't know..

It was leaning in the corner and for whatever reason he leaned it on the rack...when I moved it, I got it right in the shoulder..

He basically laughed at me the whole time thinking I wasn't hurt, but yes I was in pain...he said he was sorry a few times but was always laughing...

I took a break and then decided to do my deadlifts anyway, he kept on saying, if your shoulder gets worse it's not my fault...

Lol, what an @ss haha

Just an example of stupid things that can happen when lifting...always be safe and be smart

JM

[helicopterkid]

i keep em on, its kinda like the stickers you put on your windows warning of an alarm....when someone sees crazy poundages of weight on the rack, they tend to stay away.

[smokeater]

I always put my dumbbells back on the rack, simply to keep the room tidy. I usually put the plates back on barbell movements. Depending on the machine, I may leave the plates on just for convenience purposes.

[user23960508710788]

I never remove the weights.... one of the benefits of having a home gym, I can leave crap wherever I want it. Not a matter of strength, I'm too spent at the end of a workout to care about anything.

[Skidmarx]

Leave em'. This aint no public gym, yo.

[PowerD]

I began working out with guys who were just like damn dude pick up those db's, your done right? so i was just raised to know that a man puts his weights away. If i have 275 on the bar, Ill take the 25 off, put it on the tree, put the outside 45 on the tree, then take the same 25 i just took off, and put it back on. everything gets put in its spot, rests get taken off the bench, bars go in the corner, and the mats get regular cleaning

[QUALITYGUY1]

Oh man, thats terrible, damn.

Damn that's terrible...QUALITYGUY1 you and your friend and his family have my sympathy...

I think there's a lesson to be learned in all of this...if you have kids or friends have kids or whatever and they come over often and are going in all the rooms...always lock your gym door or make sure everything is safe so nobody gets hurt..

JM

This happened in the 80's and I don't see these folks much anymore, but I'm sure their pain will always linger. My daughter actually hangs with one of their other kids and the topic never gets brought up any more.This is the reason I'm a stickler with this sort of thing...it was just such a shock.
Yes JM, I hope that everyone thinks of safety in the gym both at home and away.