When do bars start to bend?

[Black_Label]

How much weight starts to bend a standard 45 pound bar?

[RUTHL3SS]

How much weight starts to bend a standard 45 pound bar?

I've seen 8 plates on a standard bar (4 each side) with no problems.

it varies from bar to bar but I think at 8 plates you can see a bend forming

[An Inconvenient Bro]

there is a lot of variance amongst different brands of bars but usually 405 will begin

[nano.ix]

At my old gym 45x3 on each side would make it bend a little, but this was a old oly bar, not the nice shiney ones gyms typically have;they can hold alot more without bending

[RUTHL3SS]

At my old gym 45x3 on each side would make it bend a little, but this was a old oly bar, not the nice shiney ones gyms typically have;they can hold alot more without bending

yeah I've seen a powerlifter in the YMCA do around 455lb for a couple reps on a standard olympic flat bench with no problems, guess it varies...

[Black_Label]

I thought it would be around 400 or so.

Was squating 345 and started to wonder when the bar would bend a little, not permanant of course

[arctic_wave]

ive seen a bar bend with only 225..... but usually its 315

[SHOWTIME]

Now I do not know every brand but as soon as you get 8 plates you can see it actually bending.

[iForce Dave]

the first time I saw a bar bending was at 405, but for a gooood bend, you gotta be at 500+

[bigla2004]

the first time I saw a bar bending was at 405, but for a gooood bend, you gotta be at 500+

Fosh

[Black_Label]

I could have swore i saw a tiny curve forming on my bar today

[iForce Dave]

I could have swore i saw a tiny curve forming on my penor today

go to doc

[nano.ix]

the first time I saw a bar bending was at 405, but for a gooood bend, you gotta be at 500+

ive got some time ... er years before i will witness that

[lambpasty]

I guess it sort of depends on the exercise too, there's a guy at my gym who does clean and presses with around 245 or so but the force of pressing the weight up bends the bar slightly during the movement (or at least it looks that way). For deads and the like I first really noticed it around 405.

We've got one bar at my gym that's permanently curved from a guy who I've seen rep 12+plates on deads, some of the 18y/o bros use it when they deadlift 135 as a confidence booster I think

[Free Weight Friedel]

When I bend them!

/thread

[Adawg4929]

yeah I've seen a powerlifter in the YMCA do around 455lb for a couple reps on a standard olympic flat bench with no problems, guess it varies...

Its more likley you will notice a bend on deadlift or seomthing where the grip is a bit closer, more unlikley youll see it bend on a WG bench press.

[MattyH7688]

whenever i lift the bar bends

[SHOWTIME]

whenever i lift the bar bends

wow...lol

[iForce Dave]

whenever i lift the bar bends

do you bend dumbells too?

[|ceman]

I could have swore i saw a tiny curve forming on my bar today

Once it starts bending, then it's just a short time before it's totally hosed.

From last year:

The bar I've been using since then is starting to show signs of slight curvature too, but I'm laying off the really heavy training to try and save it until I buy a Texas Power Bar : http://www.troybarbell.com/store.php...on=show_detail

[nano.ix]

Once it starts bending, then it's just a short time before it's totally hosed.

From last year: [im g]http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4578/img3286qf7.jpg[/img]

The bar I've been using since then is starting to show signs of slight curvature too, but I'm laying off the really heavy training to try and save it until I buy a Texas Power Bar : http://www.troybarbell.com/store.php...on=show_detail

you been using my curl rack?

[Rodzilla01]

Once it starts bending, then it's just a short time before it's totally hosed.

I already said I was sorry once, sheesh....

[|ceman]

you been using my curl rack?

I always squat in the curl rack.

I already said I was sorry once, sheesh....

Hey, you're from Texas - send me a Texas power bar, nao!

[SHOWTIME]

Once it starts bending, then it's just a short time before it's totally hosed.

From last year:

The bar I've been using since then is starting to show signs of slight curvature too, but I'm laying off the really heavy training to try and save it until I buy a Texas Power Bar : http://www.troybarbell.com/store.php...on=show_detail

Why in the world do you have that much weight on that bar? Especially for Bench Press?

[|ceman]

Why in the world do you have that much weight on that bar? Especially for Bench Press?

Seated calf raises.

The journal entry that accompanied the picture (from last year) :

Last Saturday pulled 425 for 4 reps on deads (last set) - needed straps, but was able to pull 405 for 4 reps without straps. This is a huge strength increase over a few months ago.

Monday benched 225 for 2 reps. This is just slightly above my bench press maxes under madcow. I'm ok with this though, as my bench is nothing more than an ego lift in my book. I much prefer the feel of dumbbell presses for chest stimulation. Nonetheless, good to know the strength is still there. The week before I was able to bench 215 for 4 reps.

Also did military presses on Monday. 160 for 2 reps. Week before I did 150 for 4 reps. Again, with my left shoulder issues, I'm happy just to keep strength up (and slightly increase) on pressing movements.

Today was lower body and squats. Last week I squatted 315 for 4 reps (which is an increase over previous records) and this morning I pushed 335 for 2, failed on 355, but then immediately took 10 lbs off and did 345 for 1. This is a big deal for me, as I'm now into the "3 plates a side" territory on squats.

Oh, and all this heavy lifting has destroyed my olympic bar. Today was the last straw on seated calf raises (595 x 4). I have another bar that will work, but this one was my favorite.

Yes, I know my pressing lifts (bench and military) suck thank you.

[Country Mike]

the first time I saw a bar bending was at 405, but for a gooood bend, you gotta be at 500+

I agree, This guy "Danny" at my gym will bench 515 for 2 reps and the bar will bend alot...... Kinda scary looking when it does it too.

[em-dubya]

Once it starts bending, then it's just a short time before it's totally hosed.

From last year:

The bar I've been using since then is starting to show signs of slight curvature too, but I'm laying off the really heavy training to try and save it until I buy a Texas Power Bar : http://www.troybarbell.com/store.php...on=show_detail

Agreed^^^
They are made of medium tensile strength steel, which allows for the "expansion". That is a good thing because if not they would crack

[MajorCajones]

yeah I've seen a powerlifter in the YMCA do around 455lb for a couple reps on a standard olympic flat bench with no problems, guess it varies...

of course im gonna say itll take more weight to bend a bar on flat bench or deadlift, because of your points of contact with the bar

at around 400 at squat the bar starts to bend for me

[Gramalski]

How much weight starts to bend a standard 45 pound bar?

It honestly depends on the age, the bar, and who manufactures it. That's the basic answer, here's the scientific one.

When a bar bends, it's basically going through something known as deflection. That's when a member (a pole, plank, or bar) begins to bend because there's enough force added onto it somewhere that causes it to permanently bend. The formula that determines how much it bends (or deflection) is dependent on the material being used, the member's length, and its thickness.
While steel is a relatively strong substance, it is not perfect, and there are different types of steel as well. That's why several people are giving different answers, but generally staying around 300-400's. It's because different types of steel play a part in the amount of weight needed to bend a bar, as well as how long the bar is, how thick it is (even though that generally stays around the same), and how old it is (because the older the bar the more it's used and thus the more likely it is to bend).

Hope that makes some sense!

[EastonNida]

I maxed 265 on squat yesterday and the bar was bending. Keep in mind I’m a sophomore in highschool and obviously not on roids lol. Our schools weight room isn’t too great so the bars aren’t the best and that’s the first time I’ve seen a bar bend at such little weight.