Increasing plate capacity to spin lock DB's?

[paulinkansas]

My spin lock DB's are maxed out with 3 10 pound plates on each side. I'm a cheapskate and don't want to purchase 4 25 pound plates. My idea is to cut the threaded portion of each bar near the grip and fill it in with a Mig to make the threaded portion longer to accommodate one more plate on each side. Does this seem feasible? Would you use GMAW or FCAW?




spinlock.jpg

[radrd]

I would suck it up and buy some Ironmasters or PowerBlocks or go to a commercial gym.

[BenMcLeodNZ]

Damn man, just buy some more plates, or a pair of longer rods

[Mech6]

My idea is to cut the threaded portion of each bar near the grip and fill it in with a Mig to make the threaded portion longer

No, just no.

[air2fakie]

You might be safer designing a slimlock or other type of plug that goes on the very end of the handle to replace the current spinlock. It looks like there'd be enough thread left over to accommodate some sort of custom lock if you added a 4th plate.

If you have other handles and 10 lb plates, and don't need this one to be adjustable, you can just weld the extra plate in place.

[mtnmama]

i agree - buy something - power blocks are pretty good - maybe you can find a used set?

[Skidmarx]

I don't see any problems with this, as long as you know how to weld. Post some after pics.

[vristang]

To each his own, but you can find LONG dumbbells all day on Amazon. Pretty cheap too.
I have a set for dumbbell rows. They are pretty decent.

But if you do this kind of fab work on the regular, I get it…

[BenMcLeodNZ]

I'm still waiting for him to do this in spite of us and post pictures

[paulinkansas]

I'm still waiting for him to do this in spite of us and post pictures

Just wait. I need 65 lb dumb bells in December with my rate of progression. But thank you for your concerns.

[vristang]

I'd like to change my response, lol
If you are asking anything about the welding process, then just buy something... They are cheap...
https://www.amazon.com/Rowland-Harbo...8TMK5G8Q&psc=1

[paulinkansas]

I'm still waiting for him to do this in spite of us and post pictures

Here is a spinlock I fabricated. It's a nut brazed onto a washer, I used a mig for the brazing process. Removed all the zinc first. Going to use a different pitch threaded extension on my existing spinlock handles. I like the look of silicon bronze over ER70-S steel wire out of a mig welder. The brazing material reminds me of my gold teefs.



dumbbell extension.jpg

[paulinkansas]

I welded on a 1.25 inch threaded extension to the end of my spin lock dumb bell handles. I can still use the spinlocks that came with the handles and use the spinlock from there ^ to thread on to the extension. The extension allows me to put one more 10 pound plate on each end of the handle. Thumbs up or thumbs down? What's your vote?



spinlock2.jpg

[BenMcLeodNZ]

The madman actually done it!

[TolerantLactose]

Dramatization of Paul's first workout with the modded dumbbell handles.

[radrd]

I welded on a 1.25 inch threaded extension to the end of my spin lock dumb bell handles. I can still use the spinlocks that came with the handles and use the spinlock from there ^ to thread on to the extension. The extension allows me to put one more 10 pound plate on each end of the handle. Thumbs up or thumbs down? What's your vote?



Attachment 9367993

Thumbs up as long as it works and stands up to abuse. Way to DIY!

[Lifts4longevity]

Years ago I was really scrapping to get by and needed longer DB handles. Someone gave me 2 pairs of old rusty Weider DB handles, one pair was spinlock design, the other was that smooth design that utilizes those silly slip on collars with the threaded T-handle which tightens against the db handle.

I cut the smooth handles down to approx 10" length, then tig welded 3" of the spinlock handles to the ends of the smooth handles for a total of about 16-1/2" dumbbell length. I welded a 2-3/4" OD x 3/16" thick washer to the DB shaft directly (rested against the factory inner collars) so there is no chance of the inner collars breaking loose on the db handle.

I've loaded these handles to 75 and 85lbs quite a few times with 1" plates, and I even built these as an odd pair of 40lb DBs years back by using tubing sleeve adapters and four 10lb Oly. flanged/deep dish plates. Sounds dumb, but they worked well and were no less safe than any other spinlock DB. Poor folks got poor ways....