York Barbell Club - Part II

[vhd16]

Roll pins are also available on Amazon not that i needed any

IGP,

Yes, I remember the conversation and i was able to get them out. It is in the barbell thread.

[johnlarose]

Hello!
Not a weightlifter but live in the York area. Thought your members may enjoy this airial drone video I shot last summer of York Barbell and the USA Weightlifter Hall of Fame.

Hope you enjoy!
John LaRose

My apologies. It will not let me post a link. You can see the video by searching youtube for 'York Barbell and the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame'. Maybe someone else could post the link for me?

[EricAtl]

Hello!
Not a weightlifter but live in the York area. Thought your members may enjoy this airial drone video I shot last summer of York Barbell and the USA Weightlifter Hall of Fame.

Hope you enjoy!
John LaRose

My apologies. It will not let me post a link. You can see the video by searching youtube for 'York Barbell and the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame'. Maybe someone else could post the link for me?

here you go.
https://youtu.be/_dDuDs8V1Bw

[CliveWarren]

Hello!
Not a weightlifter but live in the York area. Thought your members may enjoy this airial drone video I shot last summer of York Barbell and the USA Weightlifter Hall of Fame.

Hope you enjoy!
John LaRose

My apologies. It will not let me post a link. You can see the video by searching youtube for 'York Barbell and the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame'. Maybe someone else could post the link for me?

Embedded video for Johnny LaRue.

[johnlarose]

Thank you!!

(love the Johnny LaRue reference too!)

[okeley]

Today's find

[EricAtl]

Today's find

Sweet, reps for you. Need some details,of the find.

[okeley]

Lots of mutually beneficial contacts, lots of questions, observant and patient. The finds find me every once in a while.

[irongrandpa]

Lots of mutually beneficial contacts, lots of questions, observant and patient. The finds find me every once in a while.

That's how it seems to go. I may go for months or a year or more with nothing and then, out of nowhere, I'll find some Yorks for good prices. I've had 2 buys in the last couple of weeks after not seeing anything for a loong, long time. Still waiting to see deep dish in RL.

[ExJbeck]

If anyone here is or knows the owner of the 7lb Rhs on eBay pm me please.

[irongrandpa]

I finally had time to clean up the latest York plates and bar. I cleaned everything with steel wool and vinegar and then gave them a good wipe down with WD40. I let everything sit for a couple of days and wiped off any oil. Here's before and after pictures.

[chadsalt]

I finally had time to clean up the latest York plates and bar. I cleaned everything with steel wool and vinegar and then gave them a good wipe down with WD40. I let everything sit for a couple of days and wiped off any oil. Here's before and after pictures.

Looks great. I'd like to have a set with that finish, can't seem to come across enough of the same condition so I end up painting them to match.

[EricAtl]

I finally had time to clean up the latest York plates and bar. I cleaned everything with steel wool and vinegar and then gave them a good wipe down with WD40. I let everything sit for a couple of days and wiped off any oil. Here's before and after pictures.

Great work. Can you detail your process for me. Which steel wool did you use. This does not appear to have taken the paint off. Did you soak the plates in a vinegar bath. And for the bar did you use the steel wool all over it, even on the knurling. I feel like a spent a lot of time on my last lot of yorks and they don't look as good as yours. Thanks. Eric

[rlundregan]

Great work. Can you detail your process for me. Which steel wool did you use. This does not appear to have taken the paint off. Did you soak the plates in a vinegar bath. And for the bar did you use the steel wool all over it, even on the knurling. I feel like a spent a lot of time on my last lot of yorks and they don't look as good as yours. Thanks. Eric

I ended up painting mine because I couldn't get them looking nice enough to oil. I'll get some pics up of mine as soon as I get a chance to get them out into the daylight.

[irongrandpa]

Eric, I didn't soak them in vinegar, I used 0000 grade steel wool dipped in vinegar and I'd scrub and then wipe off the rusty solution with a clean rag. I usually had to do this once or twice and then let them dry completely. Next I used WD40 on a rag and wiped everything down with a heavy coat of WD40. I let them dry 2 or 3 days and wiped any oil that may have not been absorbed before I put them on the rack. Even though I couldn't wipe off any oil, these will continue to dry and will lighten up some. I've done all my plates the same way and some look better than others depending on the starting condition. On the bar, I took the sleeves off and used a wire wheel to get the worst of the rust off, then used the steel wool/vinegar /rag. Then I rubbed the sleeves out with a dry steel wool pad. The shaft of the bar actually didn't have much rust, I used the same thing on it as the plates but only one pass was needed. I let it dry overnight then oiled it . I worked on them at different times but, total time was probably 3 -4 hrs.

[NotSoBigJohn]

Eric, I didn't soak them in vinegar, I used 0000 grade steel wool dipped in vinegar and I'd scrub and then wipe off the rusty solution with a clean rag. I usually had to do this once or twice and then let them dry completely. Next I used WD40 on a rag and wiped everything down with a heavy coat of WD40. I let them dry 2 or 3 days and wiped any oil that may have not been absorbed before I put them on the rack. Even though I couldn't wipe off any oil, these will continue to dry and will lighten up some. I've done all my plates the same way and some look better than others depending on the starting condition. On the bar, I took the sleeves off and used a wire wheel to get the worst of the rust off, then used the steel wool/vinegar /rag. Then I rubbed the sleeves out with a dry steel wool pad. The shaft of the bar actually didn't have much rust, I used the same thing on it as the plates but only one pass was needed. I let it dry overnight then oiled it . I worked on them at different times but, total time was probably 3 -4 hrs.

Nice write-up. Long story short: if you want the results you need to put in the effort. I'm going to throw my 2cents in. (1) I've had success on rusty plates or dumbbells with either a wire brush or wire wheel. You are not going to damage cast iron. (2) I use Slick50 OneLube to coat plates/dumbbells that I'm not going to paint. It goes on exactly like WD-40, but the coating is IMHO much more durable.

[EricAtl]

Eric, I didn't soak them in vinegar, I used 0000 grade steel wool dipped in vinegar and I'd scrub and then wipe off the rusty solution with a clean rag. I usually had to do this once or twice and then let them dry completely. Next I used WD40 on a rag and wiped everything down with a heavy coat of WD40. I let them dry 2 or 3 days and wiped any oil that may have not been absorbed before I put them on the rack. Even though I couldn't wipe off any oil, these will continue to dry and will lighten up some. I've done all my plates the same way and some look better than others depending on the starting condition. On the bar, I took the sleeves off and used a wire wheel to get the worst of the rust off, then used the steel wool/vinegar /rag. Then I rubbed the sleeves out with a dry steel wool pad. The shaft of the bar actually didn't have much rust, I used the same thing on it as the plates but only one pass was needed. I let it dry overnight then oiled it . I worked on them at different times but, total time was probably 3 -4 hrs.

Thank you grandpa. I may try this since it appears to not remove the paint.

Nice write-up. Long story short: if you want the results you need to put in the effort. I'm going to throw my 2cents in. (1) I've had success on rusty plates or dumbbells with either a wire brush or wire wheel. You are not going to damage cast iron. (2) I use Slick50 OneLube to coat plates/dumbbells that I'm not going to paint. It goes on exactly like WD-40, but the coating is IMHO much more durable.

Thanks for the Slick50 rec, may have to try it. I spent a lot of time on my most recent plates. Continuous scrub down with 3-1 with the brass tooth brush then final wd40coat. Had to use some CLR on the 45 with heavy rust on the back. Key may be the steel wool if I can preserve the paint since I don’t want to repaint. Used some clr soaked rags draped on the sleeves. I posted some pics a few pages ago.
Before

After

[ChuckRose67]

Grabbed a nice pair of 12lb roundheads at my local pias today... left pairs of 3, 5, and 10lb if any Atlanta folks are in need.

[Sboarder1964]

I picked up some milled plates with paint caked on so thick that the milling felt smooth. So I stripped the coat and saw this. This is rusted off milling, right? Not just a plate that was shaved around the edges?

[ChuckRose67]

I picked up some milled plates with paint caked on so thick that the milling felt smooth. So I stripped the coat and saw this. This is rusted off milling, right? Not just a plate that was shaved around the edges?

That's common. I have a number of plates that are partially milled like that. They came from York that way, the milling didn't rust off.

[AttyGuy]

I picked up some milled plates with paint caked on so thick that the milling felt smooth. So I stripped the coat and saw this. This is rusted off milling, right? Not just a plate that was shaved around the edges?

It's a milled plate that was only milled on edge. The milling did not rust off.

[BulkMore]

I picked up some milled plates with paint caked on so thick that the milling felt smooth. So I stripped the coat and saw this. This is rusted off milling, right? Not just a plate that was shaved around the edges?

eye of sauron...id put this one to the side bro

[vhd16]

Needs some restoration but price was decent. They are actually kind a DD . The lip is wide enough to pick them by one hand comfortably ..

[chadsalt]

Needs some restoration but price was decent. They are actually kind a DD . The lip is wide enough to pick them by one hand comfortably ..

Nice. He wouldn't let go of the bar?

[vhd16]

Nice. He wouldn't let go of the bar?

He keeps saying that he will not sell the bar. He wants to keep it. But I know him , he will keep it for 3 to 4 months and then will list it. He does that with Vintage York and Jackson stuff.

so I told him why wait that long. He said that way both of us can feel better. So i will wait. It will be in my GYM . Just matter of time.

my offer was to trade my 80's bar (restored) for this one.

He also has another one with no name on but has roll pin on the end caps. We are planning to take the sleeves off and see when it is made. If it is before 70's then I might grab that one too.

[Sboarder1964]

Thank you ChuckRose and AttyGuy.

I picked up some milled plates with paint caked on so thick that the milling felt smooth. So I stripped the coat and saw this. This is rusted off milling, right? Not just a plate that was shaved around the edges?

https://forum.bodybuilding.com/attac...1&d=1509674613

I have a follow up to this, the other three plates from this pick-up have similar smooth spots (but to a lesser extent). It just doesn't seem like the milling pattern should start/stop in this manner if they indeed came from York like this. The milling is also a lot shallower on these four than my other four, so I wanted to get your guys' opinion again on these.

Rusted and repainted? Or original?

[rthawker]

Thank you ChuckRose and AttyGuy.


I have a follow up to this, the other three plates from this pick-up have similar smooth spots (but to a lesser extent). It just doesn't seem like the milling pattern should start/stop in this manner if they indeed came from York like this. The milling is also a lot shallower on these four than my other four, so I wanted to get your guys' opinion again on these.

Rusted and repainted? Or original?

When the plates were originally cast they were overweight so York mills them down until enough material is removed to bring them down the correct weight. These ones just didn't need to be milled too much and the "smooth" spots are just low areas that the milling process didn't get to before making weight. Some plates need more removed so the entire backside is milled and some plates don't require any milling at all. This wasn't a process they went through just to make them look cool it served a purpose. Looking cool is just a side benefit.

[EricAtl]

Thank you ChuckRose and AttyGuy.


I have a follow up to this, the other three plates from this pick-up have similar smooth spots (but to a lesser extent). It just doesn't seem like the milling pattern should start/stop in this manner if they indeed came from York like this. The milling is also a lot shallower on these four than my other four, so I wanted to get your guys' opinion again on these.

Rusted and repainted? Or original?

I am no expert, but in this case I am going with rust. The mill marks are otherwise deep on these plates. I have one milled 45 with Some significant rust in some spots and the mill marks are obliterated in those spots. After a moderate clean up the result is similar to what you are looking at. Whoever refurbed your plates did a good job with them. Whether it is rust or just an unmilled section it does not matter. Enjoy the vintage iron.

[RestoringTally]

When the plates were originally cast they were overweight so York mills them down until enough material is removed to bring them down the correct weight. These ones just didn't need to be milled too much and the "smooth" spots are just low areas that the milling process didn't get to before making weight. Some plates need more removed so the entire backside is milled and some plates don't require any milling at all. This wasn't a process they went through just to make them look cool it served a purpose. Looking cool is just a side benefit.

And the most likely reason for the odd milling pattern is that the plates were not cast with perfectly flat backs. The portion with no milling marks formed a depression in the back. That is, that part of the back was lower than the milled parts. When the plate was milled to bring it within weight specs, only the high portions of the back were milled down. The low spot was untouched and is free of milling marks.

I do not the specific casting technique used by York, but I would venture to say that they used open molds. The mold has the pattern for the front and sides of the plate, and the molten metal is poured into the mold. The back is exposed to the air. Milling removes the uneven back surface, provided that the surface is relative flat, which is the usual case.

[AttyGuy]

From the 1976 York catalog, photos of the assembly line: