Standard bar (1 in) vs Olympic bar

[RDOG21]

I'm wanting to build a home gym, I've been saving for a while and I'm ready to spend that $$$$. I've noticed that standard weights tend to run cheaper new or used (checked craigslist). They even have 50 lb. plates for standard bars. So the question is..... Is there a disadvantadge with standard bars?? would it be a bad investment??? Are the bars the same strength?

[Domicron]

So the question is..... Is there a disadvantadge with standard bars??

yes

would it be a bad investment???

Yes

Are the bars the same strength?

no

also that's more than one question.

anyhow the bars are not as strong, and olympic plates are very reasonable in price if you buy used. also the olympic bars are heavier and allow you to load more weight, meaning you have a higher ceiling compared to standard bars.

[RDOG21]

yes



Yes



no

also that's more than one question.

anyhow the bars are not as strong, and olympic plates are very reasonable in price if you buy used. also the olympic bars are heavier and allow you to load more weight, meaning you have a higher ceiling compared to standard bars.

Thanks for the advice. I figured if the barbells were the same diameter (where you hold them) then they would be just as strong. Granted... I'm not very strong so it'll probably be a while before I worry about bar bending.

[rlundregan]

Thanks for the advice. I figured if the barbells were the same diameter (where you hold them) then they would be just as strong. Granted... I'm not very strong so it'll probably be a while before I worry about bar bending.

Standard bars tend to bend permanently at around 200 lbs. At your age/height/weight, you'll be bench pressing that much soon, and you'll be squatting/deadlifting a lot more than that.

Take a look at the CAP OB-86B bar. It's not a great bar, but it is a great starter bar for the money.

[RDOG21]

Standard bars tend to bend permanently at around 200 lbs. At your age/height/weight, you'll be bench pressing that much soon, and you'll be squatting/deadlifting a lot more than that.

Take a look at the CAP OB-86B bar. It's not a great bar, but it is a great starter bar for the money.

Did not realize they were so crappy in comparison...... I've always worked out in a gym so I've never had to think about the comparison before. I have a few standard weight plates for my dumbells (the spin lock collar kind), so I thought it would be cheaper to only use the same size bar. Are there any companies that make a stronger bar for standard plates?

[morebarbell]

Are there any companies that make a stronger bar for standard plates?

This one is top notch. At $225, it's not cheap. But the price isn't too bad considering it's basically the shaft of a $600 olympic barbell.
http://www.ivankobarbell.com/products/b86/

I would recommend buying olympic weights. Depending on your location and effort, you may find what you need at a price that suits your budget. Standard plates are easy to find cheap. I've gotten standard plates for as cheap as free (thrown in with other stuff) on multiple occasions. But I've also gotten great deals on olympic weights as well.

[RDOG21]

thanks, I will give an update when I get setup!!

[gmach2]

if possible go with the Oly setup. if Standard is what you have or whats available, use it. weight is weight.

[Domicron]

This one is top notch. At $225, it's not cheap. But the price isn't too bad considering it's basically the shaft of a $600 olympic barbell.
http://www.ivankobarbell.com/products/b86/

I would recommend buying olympic weights. Depending on your location and effort, you may find what you need at a price that suits your budget. Standard plates are easy to find cheap. I've gotten standard plates for as cheap as free (thrown in with other stuff) on multiple occasions. But I've also gotten great deals on olympic weights as well.

this is my personal opinion, but i could only see myself buying that if i had some vintage standard plates that i wanted to use instead of look at. otherwise for that kind of money you can almost buy a texas power bar, or an ohio power bar and be set for a long time. i guess if you had a significant amount of standards it'd be a good reason to buy...

[Hardgains88]

To eep it simple, if you decide to build your home gym around standard plates you will regret it if you wind up actually using it long term and expanding. Not much worth buying uses the 1" plate holes so you won't be able to buy any decent plate loaded machines. Most all specialty bars worth having also only take 2" plates. Also, the bars centers are not usually the same as Olympic bars. Olympic bars are usually between 28-29mm a 1" bar is 25mm so you won't have the same grip feel. There's really no upside. Of the 735 members here with home gyms 735 have Olympic weight equipment... This has been independently verified to be accurate! 👍🏻

[MonkeyT]

I´m going to go against the grain here. There´s tons of 1" York Vintage Plates out there, couple some real York Vintage with the Ivanko bar that morebarbell posted and you´d have a pretty cool setup - IMO

[MonkeyT]

This.

Totally cool idea.

this is my personal opinion, but i could only see myself buying that if i had some vintage standard plates that i wanted to use instead of look at.

[morebarbell]

this is my personal opinion, but i could only see myself buying that if i had some vintage standard plates that i wanted to use instead of look at. otherwise for that kind of money you can almost buy a texas power bar, or an ohio power bar and be set for a long time. i guess if you had a significant amount of standards it'd be a good reason to buy...

I agree with you. I also recommend that he buy olympic weights. I've gotten full olympic sets with good bars for less than the cost of the Ivanko standard bar... many many times.

I would recommend buying olympic weights.

But he already got that advise from you guys and he still wanted a recommendation for a standard bar. So I was just giving him what he wanted and linked to a quality standard bar. Sometimes people have their minds made up.

This.

Totally cool idea.

Could be fun

[morebarbell]

Here's an interesting article....

https://web.archive.org/web/20150322...aining-part-41

[Hardgains88]

Here's an interesting article....

https://web.archive.org/web/20150322...aining-part-41

Reps more, very interesting read! I was thinking while reading this article that half half my movements don't use a rotating sleeve barbell. I squat with a SSB with fixed sleeves, some of my presses and tricep work are with a football bar fixed sleeve, deadlifting with my shrug bar fixed sleeve, and I also use an axle bar with fixed sleeves occasionally. I do not notice much difference and if there is one I have gotten used to it.
My point on the oly vs standard recommendation stands however... Based on future compatibility, availability of uogrades and options, and lower overall quality of most options available with a standard bar.
I did enjoy the read and see your and Doms point if collecting vintage stuff, but I doubt this is the case here.

[morebarbell]

Thanks. I'm on spread. I'm in agreement but I didn't reiterate because you guys covered it nicely. My recommendation is olympic but if he does go with standard then hopefully he gets a quality bar and power rack. Most new standard bars are junk. The Ivanko is the only quality standard bar that I've seen. It is rackable. Hopefully he doesn't use a rickety old standard bench! LOL! For myself, I've kept very little standard stuff. If I get standard stuff in a lot, I get rid of it and the sale reduces the cost of what I actually wanted from the lot. Sometimes it pays for itself when you sell the unwanted stuff. Some of those old standard plates are quite nice though. I do have a few rare standard plates as decoration. They weren't worth enough to bother selling so I just display them. I don't use any standard plates. I do use some vintage olympic plates though.

[Northernmoris]

Thanks. I'm on spread. I'm in agreement but I didn't reiterate because you guys covered it nicely. My recommendation is olympic but if he does go with standard then hopefully he gets a quality bar and power rack. Most new standard bars are junk. The Ivanko is the only quality standard bar that I've seen. It is rackable. Hopefully he doesn't use a rickety old standard bench! LOL! For myself, I've kept very little standard stuff. If I get standard stuff in a lot, I get rid of it and the sale reduces the cost of what I actually wanted from the lot. Sometimes it pays for itself when you sell the unwanted stuff. Some of those old standard plates are quite nice though. I do have a few rare standard plates as decoration. They weren't worth enough to bother selling so I just display them. I don't use any standard plates. I do use some vintage olympic plates though.

I really didnt think you lifted. Reps on spread.

[Synthetickiller]

I really didnt think you lifted. Reps on spread.

I thought this was a collectors subforum. We are supposed to use this stuff?

[Domicron]

I thought this was a collectors subforum. We are supposed to use this stuff?

whoa and risk breaking it? it's so old and probably fragile...

[Synthetickiller]

whoa and risk breaking it? it's so old and probably fragile...

I don't really lift. I spend that entire time staring at the weights & then leave. 10+ hours a week.

[Stasher1]

I don't really lift. I spend that entire time staring at the weights & then leave. 10+ hours a week.

X2


My eyes are makin' mad gains, brah.

[Domicron]

look at this stuff?

i like to use all my plates to make a little fort and sleep inside of it

[RDOG21]

First of all, thanks to everyone for the info. Second........ I haven't been completely honest, but I didn't really know if standard bars were weaker and I'm sure there are others with the same question, so I didn't mention this in my first post.

I have a "bad" back, I had spinal fusion three weeks ago and at the first check-up with my doctor, he told me that if my bones don't fuse together anymore than they already have, that he wouldn't recomend I lift more than 100 pounds for the rest of my life.......... ... But I'm drinking all the milk in the world so hopefully things improve. But, besides all that, I GOT A GREAT DEAL ON SOME PLATES!!!! I got four 50 pound plates for 50$ (my wife had to move them around for me). Its hard to beat 25 cents a pound. And I ordered a CAP barbell from Amazon for 20$, its rated for 200, but I'll try and sneak 250 on there one day. Also, I already have a bunch of 5's and 2.5's for my threaded collar db's. Working on getting a power rack soon, but I couldn't pass up that craigslist deal on those plates.

Hopefully I'll heal up and use these plates as God intended and I'll bend the CAP barbell into a "U", at that point I'll look into that Ivanko barbell, those seem nice. But enough talk............. PICS. what do y'all think of my weights?

[morebarbell]

Hope you feel better!

You've gone your own way with the weights and didn't follow what was recommended. The bar you bought on Amazon might not fit in a power rack. I haven't looked on Amazon so I don't know the specs but at $20 I'd suspect that it is not rackable. You will need a power rack in order to lift safely (see the FAQ that's pinned near the top of the forum). I don't recommend using a bench press or squat stands that lack safety catches. Also keep in mind that weight limits are static limits.

Focus on doing what is necessary for your recovery. And follow your doctors advise. You don't want to make things worse.

[morebarbell]

X2


My eyes are makin' mad gains, brah.

Don't blame you.

What goes on in Stasher's garage stays in Stasher's garage...

[RDOG21]

Ok, found a decent barbell, it is a beefy bar from Hampton fitness, and according to what I've read the bar is rated for 300 pounds (I emailed Hampton fitness and will let yall know what they say). Surgery bills continue to come in and have drained my funds; so my gym is going to be more budget friendly than I thought. I already have this pullup / dip station and the 5-foot bar fits between it well. I'm going to modify and reinforce it so I can use it like a half rack. the dip bars (which move up and down) will act as safety catches. BTW.... I am a welder, so I have confidence in my plans #won't kill myself!! Anyhow I want to fix it up so I can attach some bands, and Ill put a landmine on it for bent over Rows, and I may fix it so I can store my plates on the back piece if I can't find a good deal on a weight tree. As is, this stand is rated for 300 pounds, and it feels very sturdy, so when upgraded; this may act as a good beginner setup until I'm ready for some real weight. (Currently, it seems that may be years down the road). Anyhow, I will post pics when I feel good enough to weld it up! until then, here are some links, and pics

First the dip station, that I have been using for 3 years.....
http://www.hayneedle.com/product/bod...DITH_HAYNEEDLE


The 5ft. Hampton standard beefy bar.
https://www.uniquefit1.com/hampton-f...beefy-bar.html


product description from Hampton Fitness website.

Product Description

Hampton’s Beefy Bars are what specialty fitness is all about: Superior quality! Sporting goods and cheap mass merchants can not deliver you this type of quality product. Our Beefy Bars are made of forged steel and feature polished threading and solid urethane handles. Harden chrome plating resists flaking and is extremely durable. All Beefy Bar plate receptors are machine down to 1 inch so they fit any type of 1 inch regular plates.

[morebarbell]

When your doctor approves, you could use the power tower for body weight exercise. There's a good reason that using a power tower as a rack isn't in the FAQ that's pinned to the top of the forum. If you don't have the necessary equipment at home then you should consider joining a gym.

Again, 300 lbs is a static limit. An average male will exceed that static limit on at least a couple of main lifts. And the dynamic force of a moving bar will exceed that static limit with less weight. A power tower will also have a low static limit and obviously it is not designed to be used in place of a rack. You would need to start from scratch if you want to fabricate your own rack. Mark Rippetoe has designs for a basic power rack. The designs should come up in a Google search.

You might search through KBKB's posts about his home gym. He uses a hex bar (with olympic weights) and dumbbells. That may be something to consider if you aren't going to use a power rack.

[rlundregan]

When your doctor approves, you could use the power tower for body weight exercise. There's a good reason that using a power tower as a rack isn't in the FAQ that's pinned to the top of the forum. If you don't have the necessary equipment at home then you should consider joining a gym.

Again, 300 lbs is a static limit. An average male will exceed that static limit on at least a couple of main lifts. And the dynamic force of a moving bar will exceed that static limit with less weight. A power tower will also have a low static limit and obviously it is not designed to be used in place of a rack. You would need to start from scratch if you want to fabricate your own rack. Mark Rippetoe has designs for a basic power rack. The designs should come up in a Google search.

You might search through KBKB's posts about his home gym. He uses a hex bar (with olympic weights) and dumbbells. That may be something to consider if you aren't going to use a power rack.

This ^^

No one wants to kill your ideas, but what you are proposing to do is dangerous. Please reconsider this!

The way that tower is constructed, there is a crossmember that sits on the floor. That is going to get in the way of your stance when you try to do squats. Also, I can see the loaded barbell rolling off the dip arms and onto your feet.

I can appreciate that you want to get started, and I admire your enthusiasm, but this is trouble waiting to happen.

[Hardgains88]

That is a nice power tower OP, but no squat rack, Unfortunately. I agree 100% with the above and will add that the narrow arms will be dufficult to rack into, and the bar will want to roll off. I think it's a decent piece to do upper body weight movements. I was going to recommend you order the killer deal on the CAP hex/shrug bar as they are under $100 delivered and allow for a hybrid squat deadlift movement that requires no sporting, as well as lunges, farmers walks, and many additional options... Then I remembered you are using standard plates. This is the exact reason why I recommend Olympic plates.
Listen, your specific health reasons make starting slow important. Use the power tower as intended, use the Hampton beefy bar for light deadlifts and whatever ancillary work can safely be done. If your welding and fabrication skills are up to par maybe in future build a simple rack with fixed points fir bar catches and chain safety or something similar.

[RDOG21]

You've all made good points! the dip bars are too narrow, and the cross members would hinder my foot placement in squats. Thanks for all the help on this Forum!! I will keep you guys updated when I finish the setup.