Will provide pics when I get it. BlakkAngus, I'd love to see pics of the assembled rack.
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Thread: Dynamic Fitness and Strength
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01-20-2015, 03:24 PM #121
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01-20-2015, 05:40 PM #122
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It's good to hear from someone who bought from MaxWod. They've been mentioned a few times in this thread as a reseller, but aside from you, I don't think anyone has mentioned buying from them. Did you actually talk to anyone at MaxWod, and if so, did they mention that Dynamic Fitness made the racks, and whether they planned to offer more products from them in the future?
()---() York Barbell Club #49 ()---() ──<//>─<\\>── BWTG Cluster #11 ──<//>─<\\>──
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01-20-2015, 05:49 PM #123
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01-22-2015, 10:46 AM #124
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The bars are now available for purchase here.
As expected, there's no pricing on their site, but they do have specs: 194K tensile strength, 28.5 mm black zinc shaft, clear zinc sleeves. The 32mm bar referred to above is the "45 lb Big D Power Bar" bar, and is presumably a cheaper bar. I'm not sure what the "D" stands for. Dumbass?
The 4 bars they currently offer are all being made in house at their Wisconsin facility.
On a related note, I see the price of the DF's Accell bench at the MaxWod site jumped $90 from $349 to $439.()---() York Barbell Club #49 ()---() ──<//>─<\\>── BWTG Cluster #11 ──<//>─<\\>──
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01-22-2015, 10:55 AM #125
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01-22-2015, 07:16 PM #126
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01-23-2015, 08:37 AM #127
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05-20-2015, 07:40 AM #128
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Last fall I decided to replace my IronMaster bench for something commercial in the medium price range. I didn’t plan to pull the trigger until this spring, which gave me plenty of time to do research. The Legend 3-way was the original front-runner, but I ultimately decided to give Dynamic Fitness a try. I went with the Accell, which is an updated version of the ladder-style prototype bench MoreBarbell bought in 2013.
Pricing
I got quotes directly from Dynamic Fitness and Legend. For those in the market for Legend products, it appears their direct-to-consumer price for small orders is 25% off list price plus shipping. IronCompany lists the retail price for the Legend products they sell, so you can use that as a guide.
Dynamic Fitness Accell: $452
Legend 3-way: $493
Dynamic Fitness Edge (Hammer-Strength clone): $634
Once shipping was factored in, Legend was $63 more than DF. Given the relative price of the benches, I wouldn’t consider price to be a determining factor in choosing one over the other.
Ordering
The sales guy at DF was friendly and responsive. Turnaround time for the Accell is normally 1-2 weeks depending on color selection, while Legend is 2-4 weeks (both companies keep unpainted frames in stock). Although I’d originally planned to go with some color, I settled on a white frame and black pads. I’ve seen enough pics of older equipment whose color combinations scream “Retro!” that I decided to opt for something a bit more sedate. I placed the order on a Tuesday, it shipped FedEx freight the following Monday, and arrived on Friday. Less than two weeks from order to arrival.
I’d heard than FedEx outsources their freight service to other shipping companies, but given what pulled up to my house, that may no longer be the case. The shipment could also be tracked via the FedEx web site.
FedEx called to set up an appointment on Thursday, and asked what kind of truck they should send: an 18-wheeler or something smaller and more maneuverable. We agreed on an afternoon delivery (12pm-5pm), and the guy showed up a few minutes earlier around 11:45. I hadn’t expected it to be on a pallet, but the guy took it off the truck and wheeled it into my driveway.
I wrestled it inside the house. MoreBarbell’s bench weighs 80 lbs, the DF site lists it at 100, and the sales guy said it’s 105. According to my scale, it weighs 93 lbs.
More to come…()---() York Barbell Club #49 ()---() ──<//>─<\\>── BWTG Cluster #11 ──<//>─<\\>──
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05-20-2015, 07:41 AM #129
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Frame
It looks great. Although I’m not a fabricator, the welds look very neat, and the finish is a nice textured semi-gloss. The primary frame is 2x3 while the adjustable “arm” and rear support for the bench in the flat position is 2x2. Given that it’s already heavier than the Legend 3-way, I’m glad they didn’t use 3x3. The pads are supported by wide metal back plates.
As with MoreBarbell’s prototype, any potential contact points are covered in some form of protective plastic or rubber. His bench has hard UHMW on the feet, while my bench has anti-skid rubber. The backstop for the bench when in the flat position is covered with UHMW.
You can see the adjustable arm is slightly off-center and veers to the right. It’s the only aspect of the frame I could find that wasn’t spot on--and I went over the entire thing looking for potential problems.
Update: Mech6 suggested the deflection may be caused by the size of the hole on the threaded side of the bolt being too big. At his suggestion, I loosened the bolt, and he was right--there's a little play in the arm and it can be made perfectly center. After tightening the nut the arm has a tendency to deflect again over time, but I'm not going to worry about it.
Padding
The pads are 2 ¼” thick and appear to use rebond foam (the foam equivalent of particle board). It’s firmer than my IronMaster, but isn’t overly stiff. The seat is 16”, while the upper pad is 35”. The pad gap is a little less than 1.5”. There is no wobble in the bench at any angle of adjustment.
The vinyl upholstery and stitching are perfect and any staples are hidden behind vinyl-covered back boards. The foam for the upper pad bulges out slightly on the lower left side as if it were cut crooked (I didn’t notice this until I ran my hands along the sides of the pads). Maybe the guy sneezed while he was cutting the foam. Upon further inspection, I also found a dime-sized lump in the center of the pad, which I assume is a defect in the foam. Or maybe it’s the wad of gum that flew out of the guy’s mouth when he sneezed. In any case, you don’t notice it while lying on the bench, but I don’t think a commercial-grade bench should have a surface tumor. It’s the one thing I’d ding them for in terms of overall quality.Last edited by weisgarb; 05-21-2015 at 05:57 AM. Reason: Discussed "crooked" adjustable arm
()---() York Barbell Club #49 ()---() ──<//>─<\\>── BWTG Cluster #11 ──<//>─<\\>──
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05-20-2015, 07:42 AM #130
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Anyone know how to use a ruler?
After doing a thorough QC check on the bench, I decided to get out my tape measure to see if everything was in line with the specs on the site. Width and length: check. Height . . . the site claims 18”, which is what MoreBarbell’s prototype is.
I guess once I start benching 1000 pounds, it might compress to 18”. Maybe they hired the same guy who measures equipment for Body Solid--you know, the guy who thinks the 79” tall GPR378 rack is 82”. Someone should tell him to stop using this tape measure:
It’s bizarre. I don’t feel as strongly about bench height as some people on the forum, so the extra inch doesn’t really bother me, but if you’re going to publish specs, they should be accurate. I sent the sales guy an email saying they should update the measurements on the web site.
Final verdict
It’s a nice bench. It’s more comfortable and stable than my IronMaster, and looks sharp. If the height isn’t a problem for you, I think it’s a good option among ladder-style adjustable benches.
Last edited by weisgarb; 05-20-2015 at 07:49 AM.
()---() York Barbell Club #49 ()---() ──<//>─<\\>── BWTG Cluster #11 ──<//>─<\\>──
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05-20-2015, 08:13 AM #131
This is probably because they use a bolt as a pivot instead of a shaft. Loosen the nut on the long bolt, and hold the bolt end "up" while you tighten it back (or crank the arm to center). The problem is the threaded part of the bolt is looser in the hole than the other side, causing that small shift. Hole may also be pretty loose, which is normal for bent parts (bends are seldom absolutely perfect that holes line up 100%).
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05-20-2015, 08:33 AM #132
I'm surprised about the height difference. The frame of your bench is definitely taller than mine. I knew my bench wasn't the production version but the height isn't something that I'd expect to change. The height of my bench is about as tall as I'd want it. I've actually thought about having the pads redone with a denser foam to drop the height by about 1/2 inch which would be even better for me. I've also thought about widening the backrest by about 1/2 inch.
I've been to the shop that does the padding. I had him reupholster some pads for some other benches. He does use rebond but he'll use whatever you want. He picked up something special for me since rebond wouldn't match well with the seats which weren't being redone. He's a straight shooter and I learned a lot from talking to him. IIRC, I mentioned by email that I prefer the dense molded foam used by Cybex and Hammer Strength and Paramount and Matrix. I think Legend and Sorinex/Reflex may also use rebond like Dynamic... or they did at one time (not sure if they still do). I wasn't impressed by the padding on my old Sorinex/Reflex bench. It was basically the same but half the thickness.
I've seen the padding assembly at his shop and they are perfectly cut out as if he uses some sort of cookie cutter. I don't know how it's done. My guess is that the lump is from one of the many layers in the rebond bunching when they covered it.Last edited by morebarbell; 05-20-2015 at 08:43 AM.
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05-20-2015, 11:03 AM #133
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05-20-2015, 11:20 AM #134
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Thanks. I gave this a try tonight and you're right--the hole on the threaded end is large enough that when I loosen the nut there's enough play that the arm can vary from dead center to being deflected to the right. I can tighten it so the arm is centered, but after moving it around a bit the arm has a tendency to deflect again. Now that I know what's going on I'm not going to fret over it.
That could be the case. I was just surprised because the rest of the padding job seemed first rate.
Incidentally, when I originally wrote my review I felt I was coming across too negative regarding the upper pad (I tend to write up reviews a day or two in advance of actually posting them so I have time to think them over and make changes), so I toned it down a little. It took me about a week to find the two problems I mentioned, so they aren't glaring defects. I wouldn't be afraid to have the guy do upholstery work for me in the future, but assuming that whatever foam they're using really is designed for commercial use, it's going to be a long time before I have to worry about replacing any pads.Last edited by weisgarb; 05-20-2015 at 06:38 PM. Reason: Followed Mech's suggestions
()---() York Barbell Club #49 ()---() ──<//>─<\\>── BWTG Cluster #11 ──<//>─<\\>──
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05-20-2015, 07:00 PM #135
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05-21-2015, 05:48 AM #136
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I don't have that much other equipment at this point. I like to keep things simple, and if I find I don't use something on a regular basis I get rid of it. I don't have that much space and I'm not a fan of clutter. In terms of bars, I have a Cap OB-86B, one of the early T-Grip Barbell prototypes, and 3 Black Widow bars, two of which I've reviewed in the Official BW thread (the third is a safety squat bar). I never posted about my Ivanko Revolvers, as I felt there were enough plate restoration threads floating around, and there's not much else that can be said about Rogue half racks.
I'll probably write up something for my Orlando Barbell GHR--there's not a lot of detail about it online and I think it's a good alternative to the full-size monstrosities you normally have to buy.
I might post something in the Ivanko thread to show some of the differences between the used Ivankos I refinished two years ago and the new pair of 45's I picked up this year. The older Ivanko surfaces are much smoother. A short write-up on my IronMind Hip Belt and EZ-Dip belt could be of value to someone.
I should probably post what I've got in the "Gym Pics" thread.()---() York Barbell Club #49 ()---() ──<//>─<\\>── BWTG Cluster #11 ──<//>─<\\>──
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05-21-2015, 10:51 AM #137
If the Ivanko revolvers were used, the smoothness could be from wear. I've never seen newish older revolvers (only seen new or heavily worn) but I've seen old O and OM plates from both commercial gyms and home gyms. Some of the plates that I've seen from commercial gyms are impressively worn down.
Also, a wire wheel will remove metal and smooth the surfaces.Last edited by morebarbell; 05-21-2015 at 11:25 AM.
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06-09-2015, 05:45 AM #138
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Update on the Accell bench: Alex got back to me about the discrepancy in height (19" versus the 18" listed on the site). He said they recently started using a new upholstery company and that could explain the difference. Although the new pads appear to be slightly thicker than the early prototype, the frame height is 16.5" which would leave only 1.5" for the pad, and I don't believe their pads were ever that thin. The frame must have grown since the early prototypes.
In any case, they've updated the web site to list 19" as the new height.
()---() York Barbell Club #49 ()---() ──<//>─<\\>── BWTG Cluster #11 ──<//>─<\\>──
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06-09-2015, 12:04 PM #139
I haven't been to the upholstery shop in over a year so it's possible that they switched. I thought he did a good job. The frame on my prototype is an inch shorter so the pad on your bench is probably the same thickness. The thickness is really only necessary since they use rebond. I think Legend does the same. If they switch to a denser foam then they could probably drop the height of the bench by a half inch or so with a thinner pad. Someday I may have Brad (their prior upholstery guy) make a custom pad for me. It's really not necessary but I'm an equipment junkie.
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10-06-2015, 05:59 AM #140
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Dynamic Fitness has overhauled their site recently, but they still don't have a shopping cart or prices. However, www.maxwod.com has added both the Edge half rack (which is similar to Legend's Pro Half Cage #3226, with 4x3 7 gauge uprights) and the Accell GHD.
Including shipping, it looks like the GHD is $900 while the half rack is around $2100. When I bought my Accell bench earlier this year, I found the price direct from Dynamic Fitness to be very close to what MaxWod was selling the same bench for.
()---() York Barbell Club #49 ()---() ──<//>─<\\>── BWTG Cluster #11 ──<//>─<\\>──
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12-20-2015, 03:03 PM #141
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12-20-2015, 06:00 PM #142
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12-20-2015, 06:21 PM #143
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02-17-2016, 07:30 AM #144
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They went live with their Westside products last week. It looks like they're offering everything that Legend used to make for Westside. Still no prices on their site, though, and many items still don't have dimensions or weight listed. Requesting that kind of info is probably easy enough, but basic specs should be published.
()---() York Barbell Club #49 ()---() ──<//>─<\\>── BWTG Cluster #11 ──<//>─<\\>──
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03-25-2016, 10:03 PM #145
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03-25-2016, 10:11 PM #146
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03-26-2016, 06:51 AM #147
Ditto, I wasn't really clear if the $2k-2.5k per piece was due to Louie's attorney costs, or Legend's manufacturing costs or both...... but "re-design" just seems like a fancy word for.... price increase. I'd love to have the hip/quad machine, but it's always been way to overpriced in IMHO.
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03-26-2016, 05:47 PM #148
I've always thought the Hip/Quad Sissy Squat machine and the Inverse Curl were cool pieces but not cool enough at their price point. I can't imagine very many were ever sold during the Legend days, so I just can't see how a redesign and price hike would make any sense if you were trying to get them into more weight rooms.
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03-26-2016, 07:19 PM #149
I have an inverse curl. The idea itself is outstanding. It is really hard on the hamstrings, much more so than a GHR, even when a lot of weight is used on the counterbalance. Just a beautiful machine, but it may actually be too stressful for some. You're in such a vulnerable position at the bottom when you reverse, you have to be very smooth and not jerk at all.
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03-26-2016, 09:36 PM #150
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Have to ask mech, is it west side or mech made? It seems such a cool ability to be able to make just about any piece of equipment and at the highest level. I do get that there s time and still expense that go into it but at the end of the day you can have any piece of equipment exactly the way you want it if you want it enough. Just was curiose
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