The DIY Thread: Anything and Everything You Can Make Yourself for PL and Strongman

Disclaimer: I found a TON of DIY’s, but have tried to select the most straightforward, safest, and overall best ones for each category. I have no doubt there are more/better ones out there, so please feel free to add! Also, be safe about this stuff and test it out along the way if you try these or have a new idea. Not all are how-to’s, there are some pictures and examples as well.

Fat grips, Axle Bars, and Bumpers:
-Video description for fat grips: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spiS9oAQw8w[/url]
-Thread with how-to on even fatter grips: [url]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=208263[/url]
-Beast69 made some good axles (some info on Farmer’s Walk DB’s too): [url]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=764886[/url]
-Simpler axle/bumper plates: [url]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=110591151&highlight=DIY[/url]
-Another, more complicated axle/bumper: [url]http://www.straighttothebar.com/2007/09/how_to_make_your_own_bumper_pl.html[/url]
-One more for thick bars, with some discussion on purpose and applications: [url]http://jva.ontariostrongman.ca/THICK.htm[/url]
-Bars in general: [url]http://www.shermworks.com/bars.htm[/url]

*It should be noted that here, and on a lot of these DIY’s the authors use 1.5” pipe, but that is the inner diameter. The outer diameter should be 2” to fit Olympic weights. Also little hockey tape can be used on any of these to make them fatter, or to give you some better grip.

Deadlift Platforms:
-My favorite: [url]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=120155341&highlight=deadlift+mat[/url]
-Triumph discusses a slightly simpler way (scroll down): [url]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=124206401[/url]
-Another similar one: [url]http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Main/homesweathome6.html[/url]
-A video of an example band setup (refer below to Kabuki’s DIY stuff for construction): [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCvVYCFkJlU&feature=player_embedded#[/url]

Squat Racks, Benches, GHR, Reverse Hyper, Weight Racks, etc:
-Complicated squat rack, T-bar row, DB rack, and dip bar: [url]http://redeye.co30.com/rack.html[/url]
-Simple wood and concrete squat rack…but I would modify it so the bar holder is larger. With effort, it can be made for different heights as well: [url]http://twobargarage.net/2009/06/diy-squat-rack/[/url]
-An “iffy” scaffolding squat rack: [url]http://www.joeskopec.com/scaffold.html[/url]
-Gnarly and not so easy to build reverse hyper: [url]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=118602981&highlight=homemade[/url]
-Reverse hyper on a squat rack: [url]http://www.joeskopec.com/hyper.html[/url]
-GHR: [url]http://rosstraining.com/blog/2009/02/14/homemade-hamstring-training/[/url]
-Divided weight rack: [url]http://patrickhdonnelly.blogspot.com/2008/01/diy-plate-rack.html[/url]
-Typical weight rack: [url]http://www.joeskopec.com/plates.html[/url]
-Pulldown for a squat rack: [url]http://www.joeskopec.com/pull.html[/url]

Atlas Stones, Waterball, Sandbags, Bulgarian Bags, etc:
-Purchase stone molds: [url]http://www.slatershardware.com/stonemolds.html[/url]
-Another option for molds (cheaper but not what they’re meant for): [url]http://www.themedecor.com/product.jsp?prodId=3874&catId=129[/url]
-Excellent DIY on making atlas mold and stones: [url]http://www.bodyresults.com/S2stone.asp[/url]
-A similar, more detailed version: [url]http://www133.pair.com/iain/vault/house/stones/stonemaking.html[/url]
-A third but with a fiberglass mold: [url]http://www.ontariostrongman.ca/Resources/stone/fibreglass_mold/fibreglass_mold_how-to.html[/url]
-DIY Bulgarian bag: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il8rU0H-9ps[/url]
-There is another Bulgarian bag below.
-Video on sandbag construction: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j6yE8LbQTg&feature=player_embedded[/url]
-Waterball: [url]http://www.rosstraining.com/articles/thewaterball.html[/url]
-For a stone platform you can build one (refer to the 6th compilation below), use 55 gallon drums (with modifications for different heights), or just toss it over a bar.

Throwing Stuff (Kegs*, Kettlebells, etc):
-Description of how to open and fill a keg: [url]http://www.joshua-davis.com/index.php?refer=diy-keg[/url]
-Video on how to open: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npUA8DvngVw&feature=player_embedded[/url]
-Fairly simple kettlebell (and another version of the concrete and wood squat rack): [url]http://patrickhdonnelly.blogspot.com/2008/01/diy-squat-rack-and-adjustable.html[/url]
-More complicated kettlebell: [url]http://highland_tools.tripod.com/saacc/id4.html[/url]
-Another kettlebell: [url]http://www.joshua-davis.com/index.php?refer=diy-kettlebell[/url]
-Stonebell…pretty cool: [url]http://jawbonejournal.blogspot.com/2007/04/debut-of-stonebell.html[/url]
-Hammer: [url]http://highland_tools.tripod.com/saacc/id1.html[/url]
-There is a hammer and club a ways down the page here (along with some other grip stuff): [url]http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/shenandoah/Grunt/Grip_1.html[/url]
-There are a few other hammer/clubs in the compilations below.

*You can either use a rubber plug (size 12) or find a decent cap and secure it with a hose clamp to close it up. I also have an idea to distribute the weight evenly in a keg: fill with small amount of concrete, let settle to one side, let dry. Repeat this for 4 “sides” so that there is an even layer of concrete around the inside of the keg.

Isometric Stuff:
- [url]http://rosstraining.com/blog/2009/02/23/homemade-isometric-tool/[/url]
- [url]http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/shenandoah/Grunt/Isometrics.html[/url]

Logs:
-Metal log: [url]http://www.ontariostrongman.ca/Resources/training/Metal%20Log/overhead.html[/url]
-Wood log: [url]http://www.straighttothebar.com/2007/05/diy_stongman_log.html[/url]
-Method for handles: [url]http://img130.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc222&image=e01ac_345435435.JPG[/url]
[url]http://img133.imagevenue.com/view.php?loc=loc85&image=17149_546564564.JPG[/url]

Farmer’s Walk:
-Rob’s Farmer’s Walks (not sure about the diameter on these or the weight diameter): [url]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=118043681&highlight=homemade+farmers+walk[/url]
-No-weld Farmer’s Walks: [url]http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f13/behold-my-diy-no-weld-farmers-walk-implements-985277/[/url]
-Farmer’s Walk: [url]http://jva.ontariostrongman.ca/TITEFW.htm[/url]
-Picture of wooden walk: [url]http://img141.imagevenue.com/view.php?loc=loc148&image=47557_homefarmer.jpg[/url]

Yokes:
-Yoke on a budget: [url]http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/strongman18.htm[/url]
-Budget yoke video: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUxGw1EzXhk&feature=player_embedded[/url]
-Pipe yoke: [url]http://img101.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc162&image=47288_PICT0379.JPG[/url]
[url]http://img105.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc195&image=5d146_tt40.jpg[/url]

Sleds:
-Concrete tire sled: [url]http://patrickhdonnelly.blogspot.com/2008/07/diy-tire-sled.html[/url]
-Wheelbarrow sled: [url]http://www.straighttothebar.com/2008/10/the_sled.html[/url]
-Push sleds with video: [url]http://rosstraining.com/blog/2009/12/15/more-push-sled-ideas/[/url]
-Prowler sled with some other stuff: [url]http://diystrengthgear.blogspot.com/[/url]
-Simple pipe sled: [url]http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/7344/sledoh8.jpg[/url]

Excellent Compilations:
-This guy welded all kinds of stuff, excellent work, and with blueprints!: [url]http://home.comcast.net/~stevew01/equipment.html[/url]
-These Finish dudes seem like hippies but did some great builds outdoors: [url]http://tsampa.org/training/blog/archives/2005/07/[/url]
-Kabuki made some awesome stuff including monolift addition, platform mod for bands as mentioned above, and bench mod (page one has some other stuff that I believe I already posted above): [url]http://www.fortified-iron.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2019&st=75[/url]
-Video for dip station, rolling wheel, Bulgarian bag, and hammer/club (careful big guys…this dip station might not be for you): [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA9EhzdN1a4[/url]
-“Isotonics” (clubs, hammers, weight racks, squat rack, kettlebell, and a sled): [url]http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/shenandoah/Grunt/Isotonic.html[/url]
-A ton of strongman stuff, with some links I’ve already posted: [url]http://christianiron.com/FrugalFitness.aspx[/url]
-Squat rack, sled, farmers walk, and some grip stuff: [url]http://makeyourowngear.blogspot.com/[/url]

Miscellaneous:
-Dip belt: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8lWw4w9mQQ[/url]
-How to glue anything to anything (not sure how reliable): [url]http://www.thistothat.com/[/url]
-A “slosh pipe” (my apologies if this shouldn’t be here, but if you made a big one it could be some fun): [url]http://patrickhdonnelly.blogspot.com/2008/07/diy-slosh-pipe.html[/url]
-Ideas for arm over arm pulling: [url]http://img132.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc90&image=011bb_events_3_27_010.jpg[/url]
[url]http://img21.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc236&image=179_resized_truck_pull.jpg[/url]
-Fingal Fingers: get a telephone pole, tree, etc. Drill a hole big enough so that one pipe (say a 2”) barely fits inside, so that it is snug. Then use a smaller but longer pipe (1.5”) as the hinge. Then you can build some kind of base so that the longer, 1.5” pipe can hinge. Not sure if that makes sense but it is my own idea.

very nice work

[QUOTE=skinnycalves;485063061]very nice work[/QUOTE]

x2, awesome.

Repped, nice job dude

excellent work OP

Thanks. Some pretty cool stuff there.

No problem, thanks for all the reps. Admittedly it was a lot of work, but I think it should help a lot of people. This has also inspired me to do some GPP/strongman training once I get out of my apartment. Enjoy!

Well done OP. top effort repped

[QUOTE=Doollas;485084161]No problem, thanks for all the reps. Admittedly it was a lot of work, but I think it should help a lot of people. This has also inspired me to do some GPP/strongman training once I get out of my apartment. Enjoy![/QUOTE]

Fantastic, I'd rep you but you're on spread for me.

i reaaaaaly need to make me some farmers walk handles. i have access to a welder, torch, chop saw, etc. its just a matter of finding the time to make em.

Slosh Pipe overhead lunges and zercher carries are probably some of the most taxing core exercises I've ever done.

Good work Doollas, I think your on spread though :(

Should be stickied or added to the stickies.

i made atlas stones, my BRUTAL-EYzer ( prowler) , axl bar, and farmer walkers with all these ideas. Great post. !
i have pictures allover, the ideas all work

[QUOTE=Doollas;485060131]Disclaimer: I found a TON of DIY’s, but have tried to select the most straightforward, safest, and overall best ones for each category. I have no doubt there are more/better ones out there, so please feel free to add! Also, be safe about this stuff and test it out along the way if you try these or have a new idea. Not all are how-to’s, there are some pictures and examples as well.

[/QUOTE]

tie a few logs together with a rachet strap and attach to a rope. then attach the rope to a deer stand safety harness. works great. the logs bounce hence extra resistance and it TEARS your whole body up

[QUOTE=jdude94;485512451]tie a few logs together with a rachet strap and attach to a rope. then attach the rope to a deer stand safety harness. works great. the logs bounce hence extra resistance and it TEARS your whole body up[/QUOTE]

I take it this is for a sled type deal?

Box squat that I missed: [url]http://tsampa.org/training/blog/archives/2005/08/[/url]

[QUOTE=Doollas;485641251]I take it this is for a sled type deal?

Box squat that I missed: [url]http://tsampa.org/training/blog/archives/2005/08/[/url][/QUOTE]

yes u drag the logs across the ground.

Bump. This needs a sticky.

Thank you. Reps on recharge.

nice work OP



repped :eek:

SO , i made 5 atlas stones that came out nice so far .
so i wanted to make this ,
3 bags of 80lbs quikrete pro strength anti crack concrete
3.5 gallons of water .
3 mil painters plastic / tarp

1 - 2x8 10feet long

scrap 3/4 inch playwood

corner brackets with screws

gorilla tape and painters tape

[IMG]http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh184/brutusplac/BRUTUSPLAC%20%20Stone/husafellprint.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh184/brutusplac/BRUTUSPLAC%20%20Stone/006.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh184/brutusplac/BRUTUSPLAC%20%20Stone/007.jpg[/IMG]

made the frame monday , mixed and shoveled the contrete last night

I'll crack it open next monday

suggested weight 265 lbs +/-

peaceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

damm this is sum good stuff big thanks to the OP i really wanna try making that lat pulldown add on to power rack anyone tried something like this before?? any idea what kinda store would sell cable and the pulleys??

[QUOTE=808faka;492873351] any idea what kinda store would sell cable and the pulleys??[/QUOTE]

McMaster-Carr

Bump

new project s started last night.

enjoy the day

peaceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[QUOTE=808faka;492873351]damm this is sum good stuff big thanks to the OP i really wanna try making that lat pulldown add on to power rack anyone tried something like this before?? any idea what kinda store would sell cable and the pulleys??[/QUOTE]

Fullcirclepadding.com

[QUOTE=Billy_Biceps;492948421]McMaster-Carr[/QUOTE]

Dude they are awesome. I found them ordering random stuff for research, and use them for pretty much anything now, good suggestion.

Sticky candidate!

[QUOTE=IronAbrams;500677861]Sticky candidate![/QUOTE]

x20000

Haha, cool to see my DIY bumper thread up there!

I'm actually using them now to train the Olympic lifts at my house. Thing is you gotta keep the tire air pressure pretty high or when you drop it, the tires will compress too much, and if you have additional iron plates on there they will hit the floor. So my solution is to just lay some plywood on the floor where you will drop the bumpers to save the floor.

[IMG]http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh184/brutusplac/newtoys003.jpg[/IMG]

Now that my new driveway is like ?? 6 weeks old. i can use this outside

horse stall mats are the best i have 4 so far. looking for a bunch more