PlateMate photos and weight measurements

[KBKB]

I received my order for 2.5 lb donut-shaped PlateMates earlier today. I decided to weigh them and take photos of them. I'll also post photos of the 1.25 lb and 5/8 lb hex PlateMates.

I will show...

• Photos of the top and bottom of each type of PlateMate from two views.
• The weight of each PlateMate.
• Photos of that type of PlateMate attached to an Ironmaster dumbbell with 2" fat grip adapters configured to 30 lbs.

The photo below shows the Ironmaster dumbbell without any PlateMates attached. It does in fact weigh very close to 30 lbs. It will be shown with PlateMates attached in each of the subsequent posts.



Here is each size of PlateMate that I own, 0.625 lb, 1.25 lb, and 2.5 lb, shown side-by-side:

[KBKB]

[KBKB]

[KBKB]

Note that the 5/8 lb hex PlateMates all ended up being somewhat overweight. Slapping them on the 30lb (nominal weight) Ironmaster dumbbell caused it to be over the 31.25lb target weight too.

[AttyGuy]

Sweet pics and information! Repping you now or when I'm recharged.

[matrix563]

i have the same scale. now i feel like weighing my ironmasters

[KBKB]

i have the same scale. now i feel like weighing my ironmasters

I'm thinking about weighing and labeling each of my Ironmaster plates, but that's a project for some other day.

[AttyGuy]

i'm thinking about weighing and labeling each of my ironmaster plates, but that's a project for some other day.

Oh, Cee, Dee. OCD.

[highhung723]

KBKB, did you lose your 2.5 lb plates or were you tired of changing them out? I have a set of IMs and it's not exactly fun to do quick, small weight changes with them, so I understand.

Nice pics and detail BTW, will rep on recharge.

[KBKB]

Off topic, but how do you like those IM grips? they look nice

They're awesome.

Here's a link to Ironmaster's Fat Grip page. They're available with either a 1.5 inch or a 2 inch diameter. I have the 2" variety.

They were kind of a pain to put on, but you only have to do it once. I knew that this would be the case when I got them, so I bought some extra handles at the same time. I figured that I'd use the fat handled dumbbells for lighter weights and use the normal handles in situations where lack of grip strength might not allow me to do the lift. It turns out though that I use the fat grip handles for just about everything. I do both overhead presses and bench presses with them. I use them for rows. I do Farmer's Carries with them. Farmer's Carries are difficult as they really work the grip.

For the Farmer's Carries, I could probably go heavier if I used the normal handles. I don't think I'd benefit from smaller diameter handles on any of the other lifts mentioned above. And, with regard to the Farmer's Carries, one of the reasons I do it is to work the grip; I like the fact that I can't get my hand all the way around the handle. It's harder that way.

Those spare handles do get used though. The 2" handles are too big for my wife's hands. She likes the other (normal size) handles better. The spare handles also allow us to work out together without having to switch out weights when taking turns. I'm using the normal handles too for a few exercises on my shoulder (p)rehab days. I usually leave 30lbs on the fat grip handles; the normal handles have no plates on them. That's a perfect starting weight for some of the exercises I do on shoulder rehab days.

[KBKB]

Oh, Cee, Dee. OCD.

I think I'm an OCD wannabe. After all, I haven't actually done it yet...

And I wish that any OCDness that I have would make me keep my office cleaner.

[KBKB]

KBKB, did you lose your 2.5 lb plates or were you tired of changing them out? I have a set of IMs and it's not exactly fun to do quick, small weight changes with them, so I understand.

I still have my 2.5 lb plates. I keep them oriented vertically on the bottom shelf next to the 22.5s. It sounds like a small thing, but due to both that orientation and the fact that I have to stoop down to get them, they don't get used much.

I think the 2.5lb platemates will see the most use when I do the dumbbell overhead press. I am trying to do work sets of 60lbs for 3 sets of 5, but it usually turns into 5, 4, 4, or 5, 4, 3, or even worse. (I am making slow improvement though.) I think some days it'd just be better for me to just use 55s, and that's where I'd use the PlateMates. Also, there will hopefully be a day when I bump it up to 65...

Nice pics and detail BTW, will rep on recharge.

Thanks!

[Jetigen]

Great scale! Love the weight unit selection option. I've just bought 75lb version of it on amazon. Too bad it doesn't come with an outlet adapter.

How did you calibrate yours?

[KBKB]

Great scale! Love the weight unit selection option. I've just bought 75lb version of it on amazon. Too bad it doesn't come with an outlet adapter.

I have a wall wart for mine. I think I purchased it separately. I don't use it very often though; for our usage, the batteries last a very long time.

How did you calibrate yours?

I haven't calibrated mine.

The UL-50/55 and the UL-75 require a 20kg calibration weight. A single class M2 10kg calibration weight is available from Old Will Knott Scales for a little under $100. That means paying $200 plus shipping if I want to calibrate it myself.

This is an inexpensive calibration weight having an accuracy of +/- 1600 milligrams. (That's 0.0035 lbs which is probably good enough for the scale that I have.)

A 10kg ASTM Class 1 Stackable Calibration Weight is available from Old Will for $720. It is accurate within +/- 25 mg. Two of them would cost $1440 plus shipping.

It doesn't count as calibration, but I have reason to believe that my scale is reasonably accurate. I weighed a package for shipping recently. My scale had the package at 4.4lbs. (Actually, it fluctuated between 4.37 and 4.4 lbs. I used the higher reading and then added 0.1 just to be safe.) The package was also weighed at my local UPS Store. Their scale had the package at 4.37lbs. So it's dead on if I had used the low reading or off by 0.03lbs if I used the high reading. This assumes, of course, that the UPS Store keeps their scale calibrated.

[Jetigen]

I wonder if local postal office or university has a 20kg kalibration weight. Bought 500gram weight from amazon, but quickly cancelled my order after reading your reply.

After calibrating the scale I'll be putting my old Ivanko plates to the weighing test and see if their weight variance is indeed within 2%. I'll post results in this forum after reaching 50-post count and I am allowed to insert images.

[jackbravo]

awesome KBKB. i want that scale.

[KBKB]

I wonder if local postal office or university has a 20kg kalibration weight. Bought 500gram weight from amazon, but quickly cancelled my order after reading your reply.

The MyWeigh Ultraship series manual states:

CALIBRATION

When to calibrate - calibration is almost never required.

If the scale is inaccurate, calibration may be desired when the scale is first set up for use, or if the scale is moved to a different altitude or gravitation. This is necessary because the weight of a mass in one location is not necessarily the same in another location. Also, with time and use, mechanical deviations can occur.

The Ultraship manual from MyWeigh's site contains incomplete calibration instructions. It contains the above text and tells you which calibration weights you will need, but does not explain anything about how to do the actual calibration. The manual hosted by OldWillKnottScales has complete calibration instructions.

Earlier today I was looking at the My Weigh BCS-80. I own some kettlebells that are too heavy to weigh on my Ultraship-55; the BCS-80 has a 176 lb capacity. It requires an 80kg calibration mass however. The manual contains warnings against attempting to do the calibration if you lack a suitable calibration mass. It says "The scale will not function if incorrect calibration weights are used." The (inexpensive & only somewhat accurate) calibration weights would cost $800 for an only $200 scale. I think that using a calibration service would be better. My local (online) yellow pages list lots of businesses that do scale calibration. If you can't find free- or cheap-to-use calibration weights, and you really think it needs to be calibrated, find a local calibration service to do it for you. If you do this, I'd be interested in knowing the cost.

Speaking of kettlebells, I tried putting a 2.5lb platemate on the side of my 32kg (70.5 lb) AOS/Punch kettlebell. It doesn't stick very well, possibly due to the fact that the surface in question is not flat. I was able to do a clean and attempted (and failed on) a press. When I reversed the clean, the platemate skittered down the side of the bell at the bottom of the swing.

[Jetigen]

I think that using a calibration service would be better. My local (online) yellow pages list lots of businesses that do scale calibration. If you can't find free- or cheap-to-use calibration weights, and you really think it needs to be calibrated, find a local calibration service to do it for you. If you do this, I'd be interested in knowing the cost.

I'll definately look around for a caribration service then and see how much they charge. But first I'll make a trip to university. Physics or chemistry departments might have some precision instruments. I'll let you know.

[Lachdanan]

Just came across this thread while looking for platemate pics. Awesome pics as always KBKB. I have 2 pairs of 2.5, 1.25 donuts, and 1 pair of 1.25 hexagon that I bought unintentionally.

Worth the money IMO.

[fishpat86]

Tempted to neg for being so anal





























:}

[ProtienandIron]

Nice pics KBKB. Those dumbbells look very good quality, I can see why they are so popular.