What makes a good iron plate?

[morebarbell]

In one of Tom's articles, he talks about using a thin layer of paint so that it doesn't chip and crack. Their current OM plates do have a thin layer of paint but it varied on the O plates that I've seen. Some had thick paint that was chipped.

Repainting is a matter of personal preference. I lucked out and found new plates but I've previously had used plates. I painted some and left others alone. I haven't found a similar paint that I like. A lot of folks on the forum like the Rustoleum hammertone paint but in my opinion they have poor durability and the rosemary is more gold than Ivanko's paint. Others disagree. I'd probably leave them alone but if I did repaint then I'd probably paint them flat black.

[Domicron]

maybe cracking isn't the right term, i just mean the plates wear in obvious places like where smaller plates stack up against larger ones, where the compression collars contact them, etc.

i just meant is there a point where people take the time to strip the rest of the paint or just use them as is? i know it's personal preference.

[morebarbell]

I don't know. I had a few that had a lot of gloppy paint and they bothered me. Others had good paint. The poor paint bothered me more than the worn off paint. The Ivanko plates at the local Gold's Gym barely have any paint remaining on them but they still look pretty good.

Here's one example that I repainted.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...post1121665453

Now I usually use aircraft remover to strip the paint. But the citrus stripper is less toxic.

[dukenukem7777]

I'm considering doing a unique design (as much as any plate can be unique, they're all "inspired" by what has come before) and creating new molds. I'm playing around with ideas for designs. Thoughts on my photoshoppery?

[Domicron]

would you go with more of the Troy VTX route where you take the shape of a standard olympic plate and cut holes between the flanges? or go more of a standard grip plate shape where it's symmetrical along the horizontal plane?

in either case, to be honest, is that unless are particularly nice plates, i think that anything not particularly ugly is what's important. consider those troy vtx plates. i don't like the way they look, so i wouldn't buy them used. if they're accurate or good quality (the urethane/rubber vtx pair of 10's i have is well made) i would buy them used or at a more reasonable price. if they were prettier, my price would go up, but then again, this board is more discerning than others...

[Dont Want None]

I'm considering doing a unique design (as much as any plate can be unique, they're all "inspired" by what has come before) and creating new molds. I'm playing around with ideas for designs. Thoughts on my photoshoppery?

I like the first one better than the 2nd (just visual opinion), but the one possible negative I see with a "flat" grip like the one you did... what if your hand is too big for it? it would render the holes nearly useless. Opposed to the revolvers, your hand would fit almost no matter what.

[dukenukem7777]

would you go with more of the Troy VTX route where you take the shape of a standard olympic plate and cut holes between the flanges? or go more of a standard grip plate shape where it's symmetrical along the horizontal plane?

in either case, to be honest, is that unless are particularly nice plates, i think that anything not particularly ugly is what's important. consider those troy vtx plates. i don't like the way they look, so i wouldn't buy them used. if they're accurate or good quality (the urethane/rubber vtx pair of 10's i have is well made) i would buy them used or at a more reasonable price. if they were prettier, my price would go up, but then again, this board is more discerning than others...

I have to dance around patents here, so I'm limited with what designs can be done. I think Troy has a patent on those flanges. I would go with a standard grip plate shape, but just have a very rounded off edge. The edge of the revolvers that someone posted earlier looks like it has trouble sitting flat because it's so rounded. I want a flat part, but very rounded edges. No cut-outs because I think that belongs to Troy.

Regarding the quality--I agree, that's my #1 concern. I'm quoting this out to a couple of factories I deal with to see what they come up with and whether they can adhere to the standards I set. I want to try to get within 1% of weight, machine out the center hole for tight fit, grind down the edges/surface, sandblast before paint, and use a very hard baked-on powder coat. So far if they are able to actually get that done I should be able to retail for around $1.10/lb. But if I can do an eye-catching design too, that won't hurt.

I like the first one better than the 2nd (just visual opinion), but the one possible negative I see with a "flat" grip like the one you did... what if your hand is too big for it? it would render the holes nearly useless. Opposed to the revolvers, your hand would fit almost no matter what.

I like the first one visually better too. If your hand is too big for the flat part, hopefully the rounded edges of the hexagons allow you to use the rest of the hexagon too. Like a kettlebell handle where you can't get both hands on the flat part, but your fingers can go along the rounded edge.

[Domicron]

i try to think of how people use grip plates. i always thought they were more for show than for function, but apparently people really love them. if you want people to be able to put their hands through them for exercises like goblet squats, lunges or whatever, then having an odd number seems to be better (consider intek's spacing, seems the most practical for that stuff) as opposed to the holes you're thinking about.

i think DWN has a good point about the shape of the holes and peoples' hands being too big, though TBH for all the love revolvers get, i'm curious how "ergonomical" they are compared to OMEZS or intek slots

[Greybird2]

For fun. Try 2 handles, Small script Rep Fitness, and larger 45.

[jormone]

If you made them comfortable-in-the-hand octagons maybe the UFC would buy them too. Octagons are cooler than hexagons.

[Northernmoris]

I'm considering doing a unique design (as much as any plate can be unique, they're all "inspired" by what has come before) and creating new molds. I'm playing around with ideas for designs. Thoughts on my photoshoppery?

I like the first one a lot as well.

[thejosef]

I'm considering doing a unique design (as much as any plate can be unique, they're all "inspired" by what has come before) and creating new molds. I'm playing around with ideas for designs. Thoughts on my photoshoppery?

1st one looks pretty cool. I even like the simple "Rep." Please don't go overboard with REP FITNESS!!! huge all over the plate. Lol. That small "I mean business" Rep looks legit.

[Domicron]

no you need the WWW.REPFITNESS.COM on the top and along the bottom you need "LIKE US ON ********"

[BuckeyeROC]

I'm considering doing a unique design (as much as any plate can be unique, they're all "inspired" by what has come before) and creating new molds. I'm playing around with ideas for designs. Thoughts on my photoshoppery?

I'd love to see the old school deep dish design come back with accurate weight and quality workmanship at a decent price, in pounds, not kilos. One of my next purchases (no rush) will be quality plates to replace my unbranded sporting goods store bought plates. Ivanko OM's are at the top of my list, but expensive. I know it's sacrilege here, but I'm not a fan of the way the revolvers look. I like the look of the Rogue calibrated steel plates, but they are in kg, but there was this pic below...

[dukenukem7777]

Thanks for everyone's feedback. We're going to do some patent research and start developing that 6-hole plate assuming we aren't infringing.

[Domicron]

Thanks for everyone's feedback. We're going to do some patent research and start developing that 6-hole plate assuming we aren't infringing.

if you want me to review a set of 495# i can pm you my address <3 LOL

i'll be interested to see whatever it is you can share about the process.

is the plate going to have a lip around the edge like a normal 45, but with holes cut in it, or will it be more like most grip plates and symmetrical on the horizontal plane? b/c if it's got holes in it but they're all flush to the ground, it'd kind of defeat the purpose, no?

[daniel327]

I'd love to see the old school deep dish design come back with accurate weight and quality workmanship at a decent price, in pounds, not kilos.

Dude, it's 2016. You should try and advance to accepted world wide standards. You never know, you may like it.

[dukenukem7777]

if you want me to review a set of 495# i can pm you my address <3 LOL

i'll be interested to see whatever it is you can share about the process.

is the plate going to have a lip around the edge like a normal 45, but with holes cut in it, or will it be more like most grip plates and symmetrical on the horizontal plane? b/c if it's got holes in it but they're all flush to the ground, it'd kind of defeat the purpose, no?

Symmetrical, yes. I think when you mentioned it before I was thinking you meant the interlocking cutouts. None of those, but yes, plate will be symmetrical so that the holes actually work hehe.

We'll do some cool giveaways later this year once we've got some of our new stuff here. Might be a beastly rack, stainless power bar, these plates, patented new fid, but that's just a rumor

[Domicron]

look forward to seeing the new stuff you keep talking abut. it's fun to at least pretend that we have a little input on your products.

[dumb.bell]

I'm probably not in the target market for this plate, so my opinion my not be worth much, but I don't find hexagonal holes in a round plate to be visually appealing.

[BuckeyeROC]

Dude, it's 2016. You should try and advance to accepted world wide standards. You never know, you may like it.

This is America and we've been fighting against the switch to the metric system for decades! LOL.