Cheapest decent loadable dumbbells?

[LegosInMyEgos]

In the process of assembling a home gym and want to know where you guys went to get a decent deal on dumbbells if you did (checked craigslist for a while already).

I am pretty sure I am gonna get spinlock collars, but I am still considering olympic handles but I am scared they will feel awkward so i am thinking I will opt not to go with olympic handles.

[andleo]

In the process of assembling a home gym and want to know where you guys went to get a decent deal on dumbbells if you did (checked craigslist for a while already).

I am pretty sure I am gonna get spinlock collars, but I am still considering olympic handles but I am scared they will feel awkward so i am thinking I will opt not to go with olympic handles.

I started with olympic dumbbell handles, they work but are really awkward when used for bench press. You also need 10lb plates to effectively use them.

Last summer I picked a set of ironmaster dumbbells and the 120lb expansion kit and couldn't be happier.

[LegosInMyEgos]

I started with olympic dumbbell handles, they work but are really awkward when used for bench press. You also need 10lb plates to effectively use them.

Last summer I picked a set of ironmaster dumbbells and the 120lb expansion kit and couldn't be happier.

They look good, but I would need to buy up to the 165 lb extension to get 100% use of them for benching, and that would cost me like $700 more than just using spinlocks.

So the olympic handles were no good for benching?

[andleo]

the sleeves stick out past the plates making racking difficult, spinlocks would have the same issue unless you can use powerhooks or something similar.

I originally ordered ironmasters thinking the 75lb would be adequate, I promptly ordered the addon kit.

[Maluket]

I use spinlocks. They work well enough since I have some standard plates, but you're not going to get 165 pounds on a spinlock handle. Five 10-lb plates per side is about all you can do safely, and bigger plates would probably be too awkward.

You could probably get extra-long spinlocks, but I'd be worried about loading up that much weight on something so cheap. Might be fine. I'd just be worried.

[Maluket]

the sleeves stick out past the plates making racking difficult, spinlocks would have the same issue unless you can use powerhooks or something similar.

I use this for racking the dumbbells.

http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/0320.html

The quality seems cheap, but it is what it is, and it does the job.

[LegosInMyEgos]

the sleeves stick out past the plates making racking difficult, spinlocks would have the same issue unless you can use powerhooks or something similar.

I originally ordered ironmasters thinking the 75lb would be adequate, I promptly ordered the addon kit.

Ya, that would really suck after a heavy set.

I really like the idea of the Ironmasters, I'm just not willing to spend $1,000 for them. I need to get a Powerack, Bench Press, Dip attachment, seat, powerbar, and a cheap cable machine too, so i can't drop everything on the DB's.

I use spinlocks. They work well enough since I have some standard plates, but you're not going to get 165 pounds on a spinlock handle. Five 10-lb plates per side is about all you can do safely, and bigger plates would probably be too awkward.

You could probably get extra-long spinlocks, but I'd be worried about loading up that much weight on something so cheap. Might be fine. I'd just be worried.

They don't sell quality DB handles? I mean as long as the plates aren't falling onto my body midset there isn't really much that can go wrong.

[Maluket]

They don't sell quality DB handles? I mean as long as the plates aren't falling onto my body midset there isn't really much that can go wrong.

Eh, surely someone does. I just associated spinlocks with "cheap but functional".

Trying to find some that are load-rated now. First thing I found was someone saying his were rated at 40 pounds per handle. Ack!

Next was this quote from a different site, "I have made them to 100's before. Made a pair of 120's the other day and one of them bent while I was trying to do incline dbell presses with it."

Well, again, surely someone makes good ones, but I'm not finding it in a brief search.

[owasM]

with spinlocks, aslong as you're not using the standard plates with designs cast in, and only using flat prostyle plates it's fine for placing on your knees, you just have to place the edge of the plate on your knee.

i'm getting some pretty cheap 18" spinlocks deliverd in a few days, i'll post up how they hold up maxed with 10lb plates.

[boxertim]

i have some spinlocks that hold 140 lbs....though i only use them for rows. I would be fine using them for dbell press though.

[Maluket]

Now that I'm thinking about it, yeah, I've had fairly serious weight on my spinlocks for side bends and rows before - couple of 25 pound plates on each side and I think some 10s? I can't promise it's safe, but I've done it plenty of times.

[jackbravo]

i made mine. went to home depot, asked them to cut me 2 x 18" pipes of schedule 40 1.5" steel. bought 4 collars and voila. Works great for me. I use my olympic plates, including the 25s (though I haven't tried to bench with the 25s on). cost me around 20-25$.

[dskoo65]

nybarbells has the handles you need

http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/im-0030.html



the 24 incher can make a 205 lb dumbbell. (you need the pancake type plates and thats a tight fit)

[xephonics]

shermworks also offers a non-spinlock setup:

http://www.shermworks.com/pdb.pdf

[817boy]

arent the cheapest but they hold the most amout of weight.

http://www.southcarolinabarbell.com/...andle-Equip18/


Thats 525lbs


Heres a video of them (they are ridiculous)

http://www.********.com/video/video.php?v=814540467337

to OP just go w/ NYBB DB handles

[ProtienandIron]

arent the cheapest but they hold the most amout of weight.

http://www.southcarolinabarbell.com/...andle-Equip18/


Thats 525lbs

That dumbbell is beautiful^. It must be nice to have TPB knurling/machining on a dumbbell.

[817boy]

That dumbbell is beautiful^. It must be nice to have TPB knurling/machining on a dumbbell.

I saw a month or so ago on rogue's FB page they are considering making their version of that, but im pretty sure it wont be as long.

[Maluket]

arent the cheapest but they hold the most amout of weight.

Wow. That's ridiculous and awesome at the same time.

[morebarbell]

Did Tim design that dumbbell?

[sherman]

shermworks also offers a non-spinlock setup:

http://www.shermworks.com/pdb.pdf

I've been getting requests for ever longer custom handles. The latest was for 28" length (21" standard plate space). When it comes to custom handles, I can provide whatever the customer wants: standard plates only, olympic plates only, mixed standard and olympic plates. 600 lb loads are absurd, but accommodated. PM if curious.

[Armstrongha]

Got to do it off craigslist

Picked these up 200lb +for $100 all delivered



Just got to sand them off and re paint them when I'm done and re sell em when I have space for a power rack

[LegosInMyEgos]

nybarbells has the handles you need

http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/im-0030.html



the 24 incher can make a 205 lb dumbbell. (you need the pancake type plates and thats a tight fit)

I have a NYBB store about 15 minutes from me, I will check them out.

shermworks also offers a non-spinlock setup:

http://www.shermworks.com/pdb.pdf

interesting, I watched the video, the plates look like they would hit my hand midset based on the grip width, idk if thats the standard grip width or not.

arent the cheapest but they hold the most amout of weight.

http://www.southcarolinabarbell.com/...andle-Equip18/


Thats 525lbs


Heres a video of them (they are ridiculously)

http://www.********.com/video/video.php?v=814540467337

to OP just go w/ NYBB DB handles

Thats basically a barbell.

Got to do it off craigslist

Picked these up 200lb +for $100 all delivered



Just got to sand them off and re paint them when I'm done and re sell em when I have space for a power rack

I have been looking, there are just no good deals near me.

I recently bought 500 lbs of olympic weight for 35 cents a lb from a warehouse.

[sherman]

interesting, I watched the video, the plates look like they would hit my hand midset based on the grip width, idk if thats the standard grip width or not.

The standard grip width is 4.5", but it can easily be provided longer or shorter. The plates are 25 lb so they may make the grip width look shorter than it is. So far 4.5" seems adequate to my customers.

[Detrus]

You can get 25 lb plates for standard spinlock handles and probably fit 150 lb on a 14" handle. That's if you're worried about longer handles being annoying.

25 lb plates would get annoying for curls and tricep extensions. They're fine for presses and rows.

I never used 20" olympics but they're a trading off one set of annoyances for another. Bench press is fine if your palms are facing each other. Overhead press must be angled too. But I do dumbbell presses at angles anyway. In exchange you can fit lots of 10 lb plates that are a bit larger in diameter than pancake standards.