I need ideas ideas for a weight tree

[MushCreek]

I recently picked up a barbell, dumbells, and plates for my home gym. I'd like to build a tree to hold everything in an orderly and convenient fashion. Anyone build anything like this? I need pegs for the plates, and I'd like arms to hold the barbell at a good height, as well as the barbells. That way, I can slide the plates on instead of wrestling with it all on the floor. I know most people use a weight bench for that, but I don't really need a bench, just a station to store and set up the weights. BTW- This is a small (155 lb.) set with 1" holes, so I don't need (or want) a big giant Olympic set-up.

I think steel is the go-to for something like this, although I see a lot of designs for wooden ones online. I don't want it to get all floppy over time.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I built one for the station several years back. I just took a picture of one off the 'net and started making measurements from it.

Big plates go at the bottom to prevent it from being top heavy. I made the base wide enough to fit 45 lb plates underneath or on the bottom pegs. The pegs were 3/4" bar welded in place like the rest of the tree.

 

[MushCreek]

Part of it will be determined by whatever steel I have laying around. I'm not looking to spend $300 on a tree for a $75 weight set (although that would be nothing new for me LOL)

 

[gearhead1]

I made one for a friend a few years ago.

I made an angle iron top ‘tray’ for hand weights. Think like a bed frame angle iron box but smaller.

For the bottom, think another box but bigger than the top, with vertical tube on end end in the middle. The top ‘tray’ is welded to the vertical tube. I use rebar with a bend in it to keep the big weights organized and not on top of each other.

He was and still is big into weightlifting/CrossFit/etc. I think they were Olympic weights.

I think for you, an A-frame may be easier and faster.

 

[MushCreek]

My heaviest plates are (and always will be) 25 lbs. At 67, I don't need any more weight than that unless I had a leg machine, which I don't. I have a cheap cable gym which covers most of the other basics. I wasn't even looking for a barbell, but mostly wanted the adjustable dumbbells, as the exercises in the computer program I follow include 8, 10 12, 15, 20, and 25 lbs., both singly and in pairs. At the current cost of weights, I'm not gonna buy all of those dumbbells.

I guess an A-frame would be good, with pins coming out the front for plates, notches in the top for the barbell, and side mounts for the dumbbells. Time to go see what I have in the old steel rack!

 

[lis2323]

I use 1 inch solid round stock for standard plates and 2" round tube or 1 12" square tube for Olympic plates.







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[lis2323]

Mush. This is one of fave easy pegs for plates.

I hole saw a 2" hole through square tube and insert the 2" tube right through. Self supporting and easy to keep parallel.

I put a tiny tack weld on the underside just to keep it in place.







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[MushCreek]

Nice! My plates are 1" hole, so I'll probably use 1/2" iron pipe. I've got some of that laying around.

 

[lis2323]

Here's a few more pics

Nothing fancy but I bent up flat bar J hooks for holding barbells. They are plug welded and covered with UHMW tape to protect the bar and the paint.






Appropriately spaced angle iron works well for dumbbell storage.




One inch solid round stock for standard plates.






A no weld option for plate storage would be to drill holes on both sides of square tube, insert round stock through and secure each side with locking collars.




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[BetterDays]

Mush. This is one of fave easy pegs for plates.

I hole saw a 2" hole through square tube and insert the 2" tube right through. Self supporting and easy to keep parallel.

I put a tiny tack weld on the underside just to keep it in place.







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Are those on casters?
I am looking for something that will move on stall mats with weight loaded on it. I realize I am fighting the stall mat, but hoping someone identified a caster that makes it easier.

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[lis2323]

Are those on casters?
I am looking for something that will move on stall mats with weight loaded on it. I realize I am fighting the stall mat, but hoping someone identified a caster that makes it easier.

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I don't know the caster specs but any quality ones should work on mats.




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[BetterDays]

I have tried two different casters and rolling the weight tree is a pain. The current setup is a weight tree on a HF furn dolley.

Next set-up might be a redesign for a weight tree amd see what happens

Next tree will be all 45's (7 pairs in total)

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[NUTTSGT]

I go back to work tomorrow after much needed vacation. . . still could use more. If I remember, I'll snap a picture of the one I built.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Let me get that picture loaded.

This is the one I made. I tried to give it a wide stance, not knowing how wide it should really be.

Compared to a commercial built tree.

 

[Mr_fixit]

here's something my 21 year old made during the covid shutdown out of 2x4's and an old hardwood handle.

 

[lis2323]

Here is an early design of mine I never liked...


Dumbbell foot rest....




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[MushCreek]

Well, I finally got around to making something. After looking through my steel rack, I really didn't have anything suitable, so I just made a quick 'n dirty rack out of wood scraps. I glued and screwed everything, and with the light weights I use, it will be fine. Maybe when the weather warms I'll throw a coat of paint on it. Or not.