Custom Thompson Fat Pad Bench - by Mech6

[C123C]

Mech shipped this in last week and due to work/family travel I just had a chance to build it tonight. Sadly too tired to lift.

A few of us here own Donny Thompson's Fat Pads which due to their thickness end up producing (for me and some others) an unacceptably high flat bench when mounted on a standard frame. My Rogue Monster bench is well over 20" with the Fat Pad mounted and while I like the 14" width and added support - versus my 12" - the additional height negates all of this. At least one other person had their bench cut down but the Rogue Monster bench still doesn't have wheels, handle, and remains damn heavy and awkward to move with the giant rubber feet. Mech was able to make one up for me with wheels, handle, and keeping the overall height to 17". Some pictures below.

So much easier to move and press on.

Note that he also made up a modification for the Reverse Hyper for me that should be inexpensive and compatible with Rogue Z and RH2.0 models also and allow people over 5'6" to use the roller attachment without driving our femurs into our hip sockets. I'll get that rigged up in the coming week and test it out.

SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH EMBEDDING IMAGES - NOT MY FAULT

Packing is second to none. Take note Rogue.


He actually uses 3 different types of wraps, 2 sized bubbles and a foam wrap


Built up


Wheels - super quiet, smooth and spin forever.


He sent a few handles to try out. I opted for the angled one.


In its 17" and mobile glory.

[Nebamartinez]

C123C

Nice bench man. 🍺👍

[turbolsxstang]

Bench frame looks great, rogue really needs to make these changes to the monster utility bench!

[keyboardworkout]

Damn, now I want one.

I bought a cheap bench off craigs for $20 and used the frame to mount the fatpad.

[dumb.bell]

Does the fat pad really make that big of a difference?

[dragon360]

Awesome job as usual.

[Kwazer]

Bench looks great! Want one too.

[AttyGuy]

Mech shipped this in last week and due to work/family travel I just had a chance to build it tonight. Sadly too tired to lift.

A few of us here own Donny Thompson's Fat Pads which due to their thickness end up producing (for me and some others) an unacceptably high flat bench when mounted on a standard frame. My Rogue Monster bench is well over 20" with the Fat Pad mounted and while I like the 14" width and added support - versus my 12" - the additional height negates all of this. At least one other person had their bench cut down but the Rogue Monster bench still doesn't have wheels, handle, and remains damn heavy and awkward to move with the giant rubber feet. Mech was able to make one up for me with wheels, handle, and keeping the overall height to 17". Some pictures below.

So much easier to move and press on.

Note that he also made up a modification for the Reverse Hyper for me that should be inexpensive and compatible with Rogue Z and RH2.0 models also and allow people over 5'6" to use the roller attachment without driving our femurs into our hip sockets. I'll get that rigged up in the coming week and test it out.

SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH EMBEDDING IMAGES - NOT MY FAULT

Packing is second to none. Take note Rogue.


He actually uses 3 different types of wraps, 2 sized bubbles and a foam wrap


Built up


Wheels - super quiet, smooth and spin forever.


He sent a few handles to try out. I opted for the angled one.


In its 17" and mobile glory.

Let me just be the first to say, "No, it doesn't make your a-- look fat." Now, where's the tissue and lotion?

[chadsalt]

Well you beat me home, so I'll just squeeze in your thread here if you don't mind. Not much I can add, typical Mech6 excellence.

[Synthetickiller]

Awesome!
How are you guys liking the pad and setup as a whole?

Quality work from Mech, as usual.

[MGM711]

Does the fat pad really make that big of a difference?

It just depends how wide you are and how bad your shoulders are. I probably need one, but I try and just floor Press since it's full range anyway for me and my shoulders get full support on the floor. If I could, I'd even want to extend it out to 16' pad, but I'm wide as hell.

[Nebamartinez]

Well you beat me home, so I'll just squeeze in your thread here if you don't mind. Not much I can add, typical Mech6 excellence.

Congrats to you too! Nice bench 👍

[C123C]

Well you beat me home, so I'll just squeeze in your thread here if you don't mind. Not much I can add, typical Mech6 excellence.

Awesome! I've had it in house since last Thursday but was in NYC for work last week and then Philly with family. I'm about to hit some presses and squats now so I don't feel like a lazy ass and get to try it.

[C123C]

Does the fat pad really make that big of a difference?

Hard for me to say. The difference between 10" wide and 12" wide is night and day. 10" wide and I struggle to keep my shoulders on the bench and not slip off to a side. I've had the Fat Pad for over a year and generally have positive thoughts but it's been mounted to a regular bench in the near 21" range which is pretty sub-optimal so I'm not getting what I can out of it and stopped using it about 8 months ago (was doing more incline work too so I just used my adjustable as the Monster bench is a PITA to move in/out). I was going to get it cut down but I was lazy and then this option came up.

New training cycle starting now/soon so I'll be using it heavily. Lots of flat bench and dips for a while. Will be able to render a more complete opinion soon. That said, I'd not have had this made if I wasn't somewhat encouraged by it.

[C123C]

Awesome!
How are you guys liking the pad and setup as a whole?

Quality work from Mech, as usual.

Just lifted. Infinitely better at the lower height. With shoes on it's perfect and I'm getting plenty of drive. Better arch also lessens contact between my triceps and pad which was "close" to being a bit overdone, beyond just support and more into impairment with the higher bench.

Pretty excited overall.

[keyboardworkout]

Hey Mech,

Sounds like you have at least two on your waiting list.

[Mech6]

Hey Mech,

Sounds like you have at least two on your waiting list.

More than that. I'll let you all know if I make any more.

[fatal11]

This is awesome. Enjoy your new bench!

[Mech6]

I've gotten over 10 requests in 12 hours. Can someone harass rogue to get their design updated? It's obviously in demand. At least for the proper height, seems like a no brainer to offer different legs.

[C123C]

I've gotten over 10 requests in 12 hours. Can someone harass rogue to get their design updated? It's obviously in demand. At least for the proper height, seems like a no brainer to offer different legs.

It's in the queue, they are releasing them right after the Monster Lite Swing-In Safeties.

[this is a joke for anyone who isn't aware - don't expect anything]

[keyboardworkout]

It's in the queue, they are releasing them right after the Monster Lite Swing-In Safeties.

[this is a joke for anyone who isn't aware - don't expect anything]

Will they eventually be offered in stainless?

[Nebamartinez]

I've gotten over 10 requests in 12 hours. Can someone harass rogue to get their design updated? It's obviously in demand. At least for the proper height, seems like a no brainer to offer different legs.

Yes, it would be great if Rogue did offer a monster utility flat bench 2.0 but I doubt it'll happen soon... They probably have a ton of those stilted benches in stock that they would rather off load first.

Back to your bench: Not only do you make superior products over many manufacturers including Rogue; but, your designs are inspired by a weight lifter's perspective or an "in the trenches concept" which employs common sense in designing of equipment.

[C123C]

Yes, it would be great if Rogue did offer a monster utility flat bench 2.0 but I doubt it'll happen soon... They probably have a ton of those stilted benches in stock that they would rather off load first.

All they have to do for height is cut off a few inches and drill another hole on each leg. Easy. Jtaliani did it with his. I was going to do it with mine until this came up. Will bring the bench down to 18" roughly. Will still be a bear to move around but that's secondary. They'll cut racks...no idea why they won't do this.

[gym62richard]

Great work as usual from Mech, enjoy your new bench.

[Cleveland33]

All they have to do for height is cut off a few inches and drill another hole on each leg. Easy. Jtaliani did it with his. I was going to do it with mine until this came up. Will bring the bench down to 18" roughly. Will still be a bear to move around but that's secondary. They'll cut racks...no idea why they won't do this.

The uprights are stored as is - I would imagine the benches are stored boxed, so cutting would require opening, unpackaging, cutting, drilling, repackaging and reboxing. With returns it would have to be marked and stored as different. So while it's easy, it adds a lot to a company.

[Nebamartinez]

All they have to do for height is cut off a few inches and drill another hole on each leg. Easy. Jtaliani did it with his. I was going to do it with mine until this came up. Will bring the bench down to 18" roughly. Will still be a bear to move around but that's secondary. They'll cut racks...no idea why they won't do this.

Agreed, it doesn't make any sense that they wouldn't offer a shorter bench at an upcharge.

If I remember correctly I believe Smokinhawk altered his monster flat bench too...

[Mech6]

The uprights are stored as is - I would imagine the benches are stored boxed, so cutting would require opening, unpackaging, cutting, drilling, repackaging and reboxing. With returns it would have to be marked and stored as different. So while it's easy, it adds a lot to a company.

They should just offer replacement legs with the fat pad option. Everything else stays the same.
Which is another direction I've considered. Just making the 2 leg weldments and shipping those. Re-use the other stuff off the original bench. But that means you're basically throwing the other legs away.

[dukenukem7777]

I've gotten over 10 requests in 12 hours. Can someone harass rogue to get their design updated? It's obviously in demand. At least for the proper height, seems like a no brainer to offer different legs.

We've got a competition flat bench in development now. I was considering offering a wider 14" or 15" pad option, partly because I want to try it for myself. Is there any reason why a 4.5" thick pad is needed? I really don't want to make a lower frame just for a wide pad. 2.75" is the standard thickness, with .75" for the plywood and 2" typically enough for padding. We're using Naugahyde for the material on this and another bench in development, but I'm not sure if that qualifies as "grabber vinyl cover."

[Cleveland33]

They should just offer replacement legs with the fat pad option. Everything else stays the same.
Which is another direction I've considered. Just making the 2 leg weldments and shipping those. Re-use the other stuff off the original bench. But that means you're basically throwing the other legs away.

Yea but that's not as easy as it sounds.

[keyboardworkout]

Is there any reason why a 4.5" thick pad is needed?

When you retract your scaps and take the bar, the scaps sink into the pad and really stay planted and fully supported.