Home gym project.

[PhilJohn]

Hello from the frozen North,

So long story short, I overheard a few coworkers complaining about all the gyms being closed due to the pandemic. it gave me an idea.

I used to be fairly heavy into weight lifting, but now that I’m older, I just can’t see myself getting a gym membership and dealing with a bunch of different personalities in that sort of environment, or the time it takes out of ones day. (Work, kids, wife).

I thought it would be nice to have that accessible, so I decided to dedicate a small area of my barn for a home gym. I ordered some equipment more than a month ago and am pretty excited to put it all together and get started.

Here are some pictures of the layout I completed tonight. 15ft X 20ft. Its not all that exciting right now but I think its going to be a cool little project to keep me busy. I’ll post more once the equipment comes and it’s all set up.

 

[MushCreek]

I've been working out at home for ten months now. At 67, I'm into low weights and high reps, plus plenty of cardio. I already had a Concept2 rower, and a few light dumbbells. Weights are sky-high right now if you can find them. I picked up a cheap cable machine which covers most of the basics, and finally scored some cheap weights on Craigslist. My wife always exercised at home, so I already had a large area of mats.

 

[mmb617]

I put a gym in my basement 40 years ago and I still use it every M-W-F. This is an older picture and I've changed it some since then to get rid of equipment I no longer use, but I still have a squat rack, deadlift platform, two Olympic benches, five Olympic bars and more plates than I'll ever need. There's also a fair amount of equipment out of frame.

 

[PhilJohn]

Thats awesome guys. Good on both of you and keep grinding. I put on some weight due to a pretty horrible back issue but its been a year since disk replacement and im feeling pretty good. Cant wait to get after it.

As for weights and equipment, everything has already been ordered, and yes the cost was high but I want to get started ASAP.

 

[ArtisanFarms]

One piece of equipment I'm really happy to have added to my home gym is an inflatable hot tub. It is great to step in and relax after a workout.

 

[drivesitfar]

PHILJOHN: that is some HIGH QUALITY GYM EQUIPMENT there and I for one am looking forward to seeing what else is going to show up. When you mentioned a BARN GYM i was thinking ok he's putting a few things in his barn. then i see a commercial gym rubber floor and a bunch of Rogue gym equipment.

it's great to see a member spending good money on his gym and health and not just on a car or garage!!

if you'd like to post some of this up and post up some of your workouts on a GET HEALTHY THREAD I started just before I turned 60 and I just turned 65 that would be great. the link is in my sig line.

we have a few guys posting on that thread that work out daily and a couple have nice gyms.

I sold most of my machines and heavy weights when I turned 50 and now I just have a Concept 2 rower, a ProMaxima multy-hip machine and dumbbells that can go up to 80. if you are buying adjustable dumbbells I'd highly recommend Ironmaster and he's got a great bench too. if you have any questions about gym stuff if I can't answer it maybe a few other guys on that thread can.

for squatting it looks like you've got a big set up and lots of room, but i really loved my Zane Leg blaster and that's one piece of equipment I should have kept.

good luck and thanks for sharing!!

 

[PhilJohn]

I can definitely post some updates on your thread. I always wanted my own place to work out and my wife was on board when I brought up the idea. Also, I have two small boys so hopefully it will be something they can use in a couple years.

I really liked the idea of buying from Rogue Fitness. American company and high quality. Some of the equipment I purchased already includes the Monster Rack RM4, LT1 Trolly System, Dumbells with rack up to 60 pounds, 5 sided urathane grip plates 300lb, Mil Spec Bumper plate set 300Ib, Ohio bar, safety squat bar, sled and battle rope, arm curl bar, incline /decline bench, regular bench, Echo Bike, couple kettle bells and bags, and some other little things. Rogue currently has a special on shipping that I was able to take advantage of, which really helped on the overall cost.

 

[.mike.]

I love my home gym. I can get quality workouts in, and still spend time with my kids while they goof off and play outside/inside.

 

[drivesitfar]

i'm really looking forward to seeing you post on the GET HEALTHY thread and also waiting to see what all you end up putting in your new home gym.

My boys used my little garage gym occasionally, but with sports and busy schedules it wasn't everyday during high school.

that said with a few simple rules and a little respect for the equipment your boys will love that their dad made them one of the nicest gyms around. good luck with that and if you need any advise about older equipment just ask cause for a while after I retired I helped a lot of people start home and commercial gyms around the PNW.

that ZANE LEG BLASTER is a good safe way for boys (and you) to do squats and getting a good workout without lifting a ton of weight or using an old style hip sled. frankzane.com is about the only place you can find it I think cause they rarely if ever come up used anymore. Frank was Mr. Olympia just prior to Arnold in case you hadn't heard of him before.

good luck!!

 

[mepstein]

I took over our guest room and made it my indoor cycling studio.

 

[thammel]

Hey Mepstein - I also ride a litespeed!! Great frame!

 

[PhilJohn]

I love my home gym. I can get quality workouts in, and still spend time with my kids while they goof off and play outside/inside.

Thats a heck of a setup. Is that a Titan high pulley machine?

 

[R. Deschain]

I took over our guest room and made it my indoor cycling studio.

That monitor angle down low is brilliant! Stealing that for my own mag trainer set up!

 

[R. Deschain]

I REALLY like the folding tower concepts that have become all the garage/man cave rage. I would love to have the ability to fold my, even though it would stay down 99% of the time, just the ability to fold it out or the way would be stellar.

 

[drivesitfar]

It appears Frank Zane is like everyone else in this new C-19 world and he doesn't have a factory able to make and ship his Zane leg blaster to USA so he doesn't even have picture of it on his website that I just checked (there might be one, but I just saw nothing on a purchase page).

so here's my old one in my garage with a few old Iron Grip weight plates on it.

I think Frank at his peak in the early 70's said he maxed out at something like 150-180 to use this to work on his quads. you keep your back straight and shoulder pads are comfy for me at 6'3 and I sold mine to a gal about 10 years ago that is about 5'3 and she won't sell it back.

thought it was worth mentioning cause maybe you can find a used one since they've been around for close to 40 years now.

 

[PhilJohn]

I REALLY like the folding tower concepts that have become all the garage/man cave rage. I would love to have the ability to fold my, even though it would stay down 99% of the time, just the ability to fold it out or the way would be stellar.

I agree. I really wish I woud have looked at them a bit closer before I bought. Slick way to go for limited space and totally functional.

 

[.mike.]

Thats a heck of a setup. Is that a Titan high pulley machine?

It's the selectorized lat pulldown and low row with a 300lb stack. Awesome buy for the price (I snagged mine when it was still under $1k), but the new price is still a good deal.

 

[Old Man Roger]

It appears Frank Zane is like everyone else in this new C-19 world and he doesn't have a factory able to make and ship his Zane leg blaster to USA so he doesn't even have picture of it on his website that I just checked (there might be one, but I just saw nothing on a purchase page).

so here's my old one in my garage with a few old Iron Grip weight plates on it.

I think Frank at his peak in the early 70's said he maxed out at something like 150-180 to use this to work on his quads. you keep your back straight and shoulder pads are comfy for me at 6'3 and I sold mine to a gal about 10 years ago that is about 5'3 and she won't sell it back.

thought it was worth mentioning cause maybe you can find a used one since they've been around for close to 40 years now.

While searching around I found a face book post from him. He said he was going to make a small amount and sell them first come first serve. There is another company that makes a similar unit, or rip off..lol Barbarian Line Leg Master, it's like 1600 bucks though.

 

[mepstein]

That monitor angle down low is brilliant! Stealing that for my own mag trainer set up!

I stole it from someone years ago. I've had wind trainers, mag trainers, rollers, and computrainers, for years and years. The wall mounted screens look cool but the monitor down low is really easier on your neck if you are on a road bike.

 

[PhilJohn]

It's the selectorized lat pulldown and low row with a 300lb stack. Awesome buy for the price (I snagged mine when it was still under $1k), but the new price is still a good deal.

Yes, Ive been looking at that same one for the past month but they have stayed sold out. The price now is 1200.00 dollars, compared to Rogue's lat pull of 3k plus.

How do you like it so far? Any complaints? Does the seat get in the way of doing bicept curls or is it managable enough to get that movement? Im seriously considering getting that machine.

 

[drivesitfar]

PJ: I haven't seen your squat rack yet, but i'm not sure i'd like to use that folding tower without a spotter AND with your boys (and i'm assuming their friends) having a power rack with safety built in I would think is a must. I don't know what the best power racks are now with the safety bars, but you probably do if you've been looking. If i was buying one I'd probably still look for a used Parabody power rack with a weighted lat machine like I had. (life fitness bought out Parabody's business maybe in the early 2000's so these power racks might be 20 years old now). the fold down racks are ok if you are sure you don't need a spotter and you are really tight on space, but the gym in a barn with plenty of floor space doesn't seem to have that issue.

if you need more dumbbell weights take a look at Ironmaster and his super bench is awesome too. I had 2 of his adjustable dumbbell sets that went up to 165 pounds each and WAAAY better than Bowflex and I liked them better than Powerblocks too. (with new Windows 10 pic search I couldn't find pics of my 165 pound sets, but this was a 75 pound set I also had for a while before upgrading)

OLD MAN ROGER: I had never seen that BARBARIAN squat and leg machine and in my opinion Frank's is better, but I do like the better looking calf blocks even though Frank had a nice wood one when he first sold his.

 

[MushCreek]

That Frank Zane leg blaster looks like something I could build. What happens if the weight is too much, and you can't get back up? I don't use a spotter, and my wife would be too weak to be much help anyway. I want to come up with a better set-up for leg work. I've thought about building an inclined leg press, and loading it with concrete blocks for weight. Another dumb question- is there some way to figure out how much weight your legs are lifting without any added weight? A formula, perhaps, that tells you what percentage of your total body weight? I do squats with a little added weight, but I have no idea what the total is.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mush: good question about what is too much weight and how do I get back up using the Zane if it's too heavy.

honestly I doubt you will ever get that much weight put on it before your QUADS are screaming at you and i think I maxed out about 180 pounds. that said I could put 400 on my Nautilus smith bar and squat it pretty easily, but I never did like that 7 degree angle, the bar on my shoulder and not having a FREE WEIGHT type lift.

i've seen some of the first Zane blasters and they were even simpler so I have no doubt you could build something and not infringe on his patent if it hasn't already run out cause like I said I think he was using it in the early 70's (and he might have copied someone else's design sort of like the one Old Man Roger just mentioned that there is a youtube video of a great looking gal using).

start off a bit slow and work on form sort of like you did maybe with your rower. straight back and getting your feet up against the base will get your legs in a good position and then just do a few sets every other day and I bet you'll notice a gain in strength even at our age.

 

[drivesitfar]

Speaking of having a lot of equipment in a small space i used my side (half) of our 2 car garage that has 2 single doors as a gym for about 8 years. in that 9x16 space I had the following items:

1) huge 8 foot tall Nautilus smith machine with a weight rack with 600 pounds of iron grip weights on each side
2) nautilus brand power rack with lat machine that used free weights
3) nautilus hip sled that would change from standing to sitting exercises in about 10 seconds
4) Body solid crossover lat machine
5) Zane leg blaster
6) 165 pound Ironmaster set

here's a few pics and my son and his friends would use this safely and other than it being a bit cold without any heat (I did put a carpet on the floor without tacking it down cause I figured with about 3000 pounds of weights on it that is wasn't going anywhere) and it was on top of 3/4 inch rubber horse mats.

 

[drivesitfar]

Later after the kids moved out I turned my old office into a gym and my garage into a workshop and in that 8x12 space i had an Octane fitness elliptical, Parabody power rack with 2 sets of 165 Ironmasters, stairmaster stepper AND it was a lot warmer for winter workouts.

when i turned 60 I sold the big weights and power rack and now i just have a few weights and a concept 2 rower, bosu ball and a few of these grip workouts.

Sorinex i think makes this grip stand and Ironmind makes the Captains of Crush grippers. can any of you squeeze the #3 shut?

 

[MushCreek]

Drives- It's not like I'm going to build them to sell. All it is is a yoke to hold weights that fits over your shoulders, and a stand to hold them, and give you something to hold on to while you do your lifts. My old knees wouldn't handle much weight; I do free-standing squats with 50 lbs. Two sets of 20, though. It would be handy for calf raises, too. I made a thing to do them, but have no good way of adding weight, and my body weight alone isn't really enough.

 

[Old Man Roger]

That Frank Zane leg blaster looks like something I could build. What happens if the weight is too much, and you can't get back up? I don't use a spotter, and my wife would be too weak to be much help anyway. I want to come up with a better set-up for leg work. I've thought about building an inclined leg press, and loading it with concrete blocks for weight. Another dumb question- is there some way to figure out how much weight your legs are lifting without any added weight? A formula, perhaps, that tells you what percentage of your total body weight? I do squats with a little added weight, but I have no idea what the total is.

Going by a few of the videos I watched, it looks like you would be able to use your arms to help you get back up if you got tired. The idea is to just use your arms to help you get the right angle, but you only use your legs to lift with. If you get in trouble, then you can use your arms.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Drives- It's not like I'm going to build them to sell. All it is is a yoke to hold weights that fits over your shoulders, and a stand to hold them, and give you something to hold on to while you do your lifts. My old knees wouldn't handle much weight; I do free-standing squats with 50 lbs. Two sets of 20, though. It would be handy for calf raises, too. I made a thing to do them, but have no good way of adding weight, and my body weight alone isn't really enough.

When doing standing calf lifts, stand on whatever it is you use, but have it close to a door or something semi-slippery. That way you can rest your **** against the door for balance, then you can hold dumbbells.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mush: I wouldn't worry about loading it up to a point where you can't recover from lifting too much and like OMR said you can use your arms to help pull you up if needed. or you could maybe collapse to the floor and get the weight off you there as a last resort. once you build this and start slowly adding weight you might find out that even 50 or 100 pounds is more than enough to get your Quads a good workout.

i'd love to see what you make and how you like using it. for calf work it's awesome cause you are standing upright and you won't have weights in your hands pulling your shoulders out of their sockets. my back and shoulders NEVER hurt using my Zane leg blaster.

the one copy that is $1400 I watched a video off seems a bit clunky with that big square tubing cause I'd think 1.5 or 2 inch tubing is plenty big, but the shoulder harness looks pretty comfy on that gal.

 

[MushCreek]

I wouldn't use enough weight to get in trouble, although if something 'gave' in my knee or elsewhere, it could be a problem. The leg machines I've used at the gym have a stop so that they'll only go so far, and you could still get out.

My 'calf machine' just consists of a 4X4 on top of some 2X4 cross pieces, and some non-slip stapled on it. I stand next to a pole in the basement for balance, as mine isn't what it used to be. I actually use that pole a lot. I have elastic bands for rear delt and abductor exercises. The problem was keeping them in place on my legs or arms, but going around the pole keeps them from riding up. I'm on the tightest of budgets, so I have to use what's laying around.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mush: As i've said many many times before and over on our GET HEALTHY thread too. our body weight is probably more than enough to get a good exercise. push ups, pull ups for a couple examples.

also until you build this MUSH BLASTER you can even sit against a wall (no weights) and have your knees at a 90 degree bend and see if you can hold it for a mintute, two, three and honesty if you can hold it over a minute you are doing great and I bet you'll be sore the next day.

good luck

ALL: if you don't have money for this awesome gym equipment I have to say one of the strongest guys I knew for his body weight and size used to just tie a rope around each end of a log. then he'd put the middle of the loop around his waist and pull the log up a steel hill while clearing out the wild brush and blackberries. or he'd pull on it sort of like tug a war from the middle.

I had a guy come to my gym to buy a couple 220 pound dumbbells I never needed and he shot a video of him pressing them at his gym. He was about 35 years old and 6'1 and 275 and he also posted a youtube video of him lifting 500 pounds with one arm (that's 10 45 steel plates on a 45 pound olympic bar). and he did it twice cause he didn't think the guy with the camera got i the first time.

remember your pre workout drinks and especially your after workout drinks and stay hydrated with good water (not pop/soda) during your workouts too.

 

[MushCreek]

Yeah, I'm reduced to doing push-ups on my knees these days. I can do some regular push-ups, but I can actually hear noises coming out of my left shoulder when I do. Probably not good...

 

[drivesitfar]

Mush: I'm sure holding weights in your hands while doing calf workouts doesn't help. push ups are not the best for injured or sore shoulders so keep finding out what works for you and keep moving will help a lot.

have you heard of TRX straps? you can use your body weight to exercise and the angle of hang determines the amount of weight you are using (sort of like doing push ups on your knees, but without knee pain). you could probably make some or maybe find a nice used set on Craigslist.

I bet i'll have TRX straps and a hook in my garage soon now that I posted this cause I always liked using TRX at the gym when I would visit one.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Yeah, I'm reduced to doing push-ups on my knees these days. I can do some regular push-ups, but I can actually hear noises coming out of my left shoulder when I do. Probably not good...

I'm no doctor, but noisy shoulders aren't always a problem, some people just get louder with age..lol Are you having pain in your noisy shoulder?

 

[Old Man Roger]

Jeez I just realized we really hijacked PhilJohns project thread.Sorry man.

 

[drivesitfar]

OLD MAN: its not like we weren't talking about exercise or gym equipment so hopefully PHILJOHN likes that it's an active discussion.

PJ: I'll gladly delete my pics and long posts if you'd like this thread to be just about your new gym so just say the word or send me a PM.

it's so nice to be talking about working out and not C19 or politics or the economy.

cheers

 

[Old Man Roger]

OLD MAN: its not like we weren't talking about exercise or gym equipment so hopefully PHILJOHN likes that it's an active discussion.

PJ: I'll gladly delete my pics and long posts if you'd like this thread to be just about your new gym so just say the word or send me a PM.

it's so nice to be talking about working out and not C19 or politics or the economy.

cheers

True

 

[cstmg8]

Hello from the frozen North,

So long story short, I overheard a few coworkers complaining about all the gyms being closed due to the pandemic. it gave me an idea.

I used to be fairly heavy into weight lifting, but now that I’m older, I just can’t see myself getting a gym membership and dealing with a bunch of different personalities in that sort of environment, or the time it takes out of ones day. (Work, kids, wife).

I thought it would be nice to have that accessible, so I decided to dedicate a small area of my barn for a home gym. I ordered some equipment more than a month ago and am pretty excited to put it all together and get started.

Here are some pictures of the layout I completed tonight. 15ft X 20ft. Its not all that exciting right now but I think its going to be a cool little project to keep me busy. I’ll post more once the equipment comes and it’s all set up.

Amazing work so far! I'm jealous of the room you have in your barn for this. You could charge memberships, lol.
What are the specs on the equipment you have coming and what kind of workout do you like to do?

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[cstmg8]

I put a gym in my basement 40 years ago and I still use it every M-W-F. This is an older picture and I've changed it some since then to get rid of equipment I no longer use, but I still have a squat rack, deadlift platform, two Olympic benches, five Olympic bars and more plates than I'll ever need. There's also a fair amount of equipment out of frame.

Love this. I prefer the no frills dungeon (in a good way) style gym. No fluff, just equipment to get it done.
Did you do some powerlifting in the past? Pics on the wall.

 

[PhilJohn]

OLD MAN: its not like we weren't talking about exercise or gym equipment so hopefully PHILJOHN likes that it's an active discussion.

PJ: I'll gladly delete my pics and long posts if you'd like this thread to be just about your new gym so just say the word or send me a PM.

it's so nice to be talking about working out and not C19 or politics or the economy.

cheers

Ha no not at all. I am sort of stuck until my equipment starts getting here. Until then im just kicking back and enjoying the conversations.