Strength and Power checking in

[strength_and_power]

I found GJ killing time ( working) and have been browsing the forum. Seems like so e good people here.
I am originally from Arizona but have spent the last 15 years in Dallas, Texas.
I've been involved in the security industry for most of my adult life starting as an alarm installer in a car stereo shop and from there I got into locksmithing. Since moving to Dallas I have been a safe and vault technician delivering and installing safes ranging from 100-10,000 pounds in almost every state in the nation. The largest vault I was involved in building was a 94 piece modular vault with 10" walls and weighing just under 250,000#s in Mexico City. I've worked on hot rods since I was 16 and have experience in upholstery and fabrication. Since in Dallas I got into powerlifting as a hobby and have completion lifts of 926# squat, 628# bench and 710# deadlift. From this I got into making gym equipment. My little slice of heaven is a 975 square foot space in an industrial park where I stay out of trouble and build some pretty cool stuff. A Miller 350P, a Scotchman cold saw, a drill press and a welding table I designed and built is what keeps my attention. Looking forward to contributing and learning

 

[drivesitfar]

S & P: those are some amazing #'s you just posted about your lifts. i met the strongest bodybuilder in the world in my gym when i was selling gym equipment (Stan Efferding) and not sure you know or met him. he also lifted #'s like that and almost with ease even if he popped something he still was very little stress which was amazing. since Stan (Rhino) was in the bodybuilding class you might not have competed against him, but thought i'd throw that name out because i knew a lot of guys that lift a lot of weight that don't come close to the #'s you posted. nice work and how many years have you been lifting?

do you have any youtube videos of your lifts? I'd also like to have you post a couple dozen pictures of that welding table you have in the picture that you built if you have any or can take a few more because it looks awesome.

sound like you have a lot of skills and happy you made the first step and joined our group to share some or if you need anything just ask and we'll try to help.

cheers

 

[strength_and_power]

S & P: those are some amazing #'s you just posted about your lifts. i met the strongest bodybuilder in the world in my gym when i was selling gym equipment (Stan Efferding) and not sure you know or met him. he also lifted #'s like that and almost with ease even if he popped something he still was very little stress which was amazing. since Stan (Rhino) was in the bodybuilding class you might not have competed against him, but thought i'd throw that name out because i knew a lot of guys that lift a lot of weight that don't come close to the #'s you posted. nice work and how many years have you been lifting?

do you have any youtube videos of your lifts? I'd also like to have you post a couple dozen pictures of that welding table you have in the picture that you built if you have any or can take a few more because it looks awesome.

sound like you have a lot of skills and happy you made the first step and joined our group to share some or if you need anything just ask and we'll try to help.

cheers

I don't know Stan personally but I have built at least one piece of equipment for him. He is a beast for sure.

Here is another pic of the welding table in use. The slots in the table allow me to clamp roughly 70% of the table surface

 

[strength_and_power]

I hit send too early. Top is 1/2" plate 4' x 7'. 5# C-channel underneath with a perimeter frame and crossmember between each slot. Legs are 6" 3/8" wall. Built it upside down and use a chain hoist from the rafters to flip it. It has wheels and leveling feet. Doing it over again I would have used 1" plate and had it Blanchard ground or just waited for an acorn table to come up within my budget.

 

[drivesitfar]

S & P: so what price would an acorn table need to be to work for you? i see them every once in a while and a couple weeks ago i was in shop that had a 4 foot by 20 foot one the i think was in 5 foot sections next to each other on one I beam type frame. i occasionally see 5 x 5 acorn tables for sale when i'm buying vises and have yet to buy one because not quite sure how i'd move it or where to put one in my limited space.

i do like your table because i'm going to learn to weld. are the slots in the plate nice to have so you can weld from underneath or how do you use them?

here's a table I was planning on building 2 of and project is on hold because my neighbor who is my welder has been working 80 hour weeks the past few months. i'm probably going to put a few things from these other tables in my design. my top i have is 3/4 inch 63 x 26 inch and building 2 of them i'll have sort of like a saw horse situation if i weld or work on something big. what do you think?

whatever you are building or welding on top of your bench in those pictures looks pretty stout.

welcome to our group and ask questions if you have any or just enjoy the reading because there is a lot of information on the threads here.

 

[strength_and_power]

This is the final product of the first pic of the table. It is used for squatting

 

[strength_and_power]

S & P: so what price would an acorn table need to be to work for you? i see them every once in a while and a couple weeks ago i was in shop that had a 4 foot by 20 foot one the i think was in 5 foot sections next to each other on one I beam type frame. i occasionally see 5 x 5 acorn tables for sale when i'm buying vises and have yet to buy one because not quite sure how i'd move it or where to put one in my limited space.

i do like your table because i'm going to learn to weld. are the slots in the plate nice to have so you can weld from underneath or how do you use them?

here's a table I was planning on building 2 of and project is on hold because my neighbor who is my welder has been working 80 hour weeks the past few months. i'm probably going to put a few things from these other tables in my design. my top i have is 3/4 inch 63 x 26 inch and building 2 of them i'll have sort of like a saw horse situation if i weld or work on something big. what do you think?

whatever you are building or welding on top of your bench in those pictures looks pretty stout.

welcome to our group and ask questions if you have any or just enjoy the reading because there is a lot of information on the threads here.

The slots allow me to use an F clamp in the middle of the table so I can secure pieces in multiple areas. I will see if I can find more pics as I'm out of town or else I would take some.

Price wise I am open. Big factors would be how close it is to me as freight isn't cheap. Also the condition affects price. I would probably have it reground so I know I'm starting with a good surface. The clamps and fixtures for an acorn table get pricy. I would possibly consider a Stronghand table as I believe I could use my existing clamps. A lot of what I build isn't high production so spending a lot of time fixturing isn't always efficient.

Table design, a recessed frame is a must so you can clamp on the edges. Leveling feet are great and keeps the table from sliding if you have to resort to a BFH. I used 3" x 3/16" square tubing for the middle legs and the table is cut out. My vise, bench grinder and tubing bender are mounted on bases with a 2.5" square tube on the bottom so I can drop it into the 3", tighten a jam nut and do what I need to do. I also built a pedestal from 3" and anchored it to the ground so I can use the grinder, vise etc a d not tie up the table.

I'm not a huge fan of cabinets under the table, seems like they will collect grinding dust. Clamp and grinder rails are nice touches.

 

[drivesitfar]

S & P: thanks for the picture of your squat rack you built and I've seen videos of Stan and a few other guys lifting under one like it or that one if you sold it to him.

if you are shipping heavy items I've found that Fastenal has some reasonable rates for shipping items on a pallet in the US. if you get up above 500 or 1000 pounds the rates even get better compared to the other shippers I've researched.

post more pictures when you can of your table or other cool gym equipment you've built and i'm sure other members will enjoy seeing what you have made even if they don't post to say so.

here's a cast iron 40 x 50 surface plate i bought last year and i'm still trying to figure out what i'm going to use it for and where to put it. it was sort of an impulse buy, but i'm sure i'll find a use for it some day soon.

take care

 

[RedRabbit]

Welcome fellow lifter, your maxes put mine to shame though... 255 bench, 365lb squat, 315 deadift. Can u post some pics up of you hotrods?

 

[strength_and_power]

1974 Pontiac Ventura. Got it when I turned 16. It needs to be completely redone. Someday

 

[strength_and_power]

Some more equipment pics

 

[drivesitfar]

S & P: is that you in the last picture with the stand you built. or are all of those pictures of the cool racks and stands that you built for local gyms? very nice work and did you send out for the powder coating or painting or do that yourself?

one of my favorite Stan Youtube videos is this 29 second one where he lifts 500 pounds up off the floor with one arm. in my best days i'd have issue with two arms, but since your lifts are in the same range as Stan's have you tried this or is it a good way to get injured?

I almost beat Stan in a Captains of crush gripper test, but it was his first time and i was working on my grip. he almost closed a #3 and i was about 1/2 inch from closing the same grip. have you tried those grips that www.ironmind.com sells?

i just picked up some steel from a 100 year old steel fab shop where the owner was retiring and i have a 4 foot solid round piece of steel about 7 inches in diameter i can't lift in place. if you are in my area maybe you can stop by and show me how to move it without a machine. or just show me how to weld since i'm starting to learn and shop for the tools.

BTW what welding tools do you use for your big steel welds? i bought these to restore one eventually because i heard they are the best for big steel. ever used one?

anyway back to the forum if you have any questions just ask about how to use it or enjoy reading the threads and hope to see a few of your posts.

 

[strength_and_power]

That is me at my regular gym in Dallas. We had to have a cool chalkbowl

 

[drivesitfar]

S & P: you look like you are in great shape. congrats because i know it's not easy to accomplish that along with the strength too.

you might want to put your location in your profile even if a general area if you don't want to put in city and state because we have members all over the world on here. also if you do happen to start a thread you might want to put a link in the signature in your profile like i did so other members can just click on it to see that thread instead of searching.

in case you know anything about old Ford trucks i invite you to click on that thread and add a post or two or more because i'm in the learning stages for a truck this size.

enjoy and thanks again for the pictures

 

[1/2 Cup]

Hello and welcome to the GJ strength and power, one impressive intro, many thanks for posting.

Regards

 

[strength_and_power]

A few vids from my last meet in December
Squat 775#

Bench 628#

Deadlift 683#

 

[strength_and_power]

S & P: is that you in the last picture with the stand you built. or are all of those pictures of the cool racks and stands that you built for local gyms? very nice work and did you send out for the powder coating or painting or do that yourself?



one of my favorite Stan Youtube videos is this 29 second one where he lifts 500 pounds up off the floor with one arm. in my best days i'd have issue with two arms, but since your lifts are in the same range as Stan's have you tried this or is it a good way to get injured?

I almost beat Stan in a Captains of crush gripper test, but it was his first time and i was working on my grip. he almost closed a #3 and i was about 1/2 inch from closing the same grip. have you tried those grips that www.ironmind.com sells?



i just picked up some steel from a 100 year old steel fab shop where the owner was retiring and i have a 4 foot solid round piece of steel about 7 inches in diameter i can't lift in place. if you are in my area maybe you can stop by and show me how to move it without a machine. or just show me how to weld since i'm starting to learn and shop for the tools.



BTW what welding tools do you use for your big steel welds? i bought these to restore one eventually because i heard they are the best for big steel. ever used one?



anyway back to the forum if you have any questions just ask about how to use it or enjoy reading the threads and hope to see a few of your posts.

I have built equipment for gyms and garages all over the U.S. A few things have made it as far as Ireland. .

A 500 one arm deadlift is damn salty, I will leave it to Stan.
The crush grippers are no joke.



I use a Miller 350P.
Mostly I keep .035 in it with 75/25 gas. For some projects I switch to 90/10 and pulse spray. I have a small bottle of CO2 but haven't needed it.

 

[drivesitfar]

S & P: I'm impressed with your smooth lifting methods. that's crazy weight you lift and just curious if anybody in your gym or Texas lifts enough to give you any competition?

does a 350 need 3 phase power or can you run it off of 220 or a VFD? also i'm guessing you have a wire feeder too? what mask do you use because i'm in the market and see some guys happy with a $50 new mask off of Amazon and others buying the $450 ones?

thanks for the video links and the welding info.

do you have any questions about the forum I (we) might be able to help you with or are you just reading all the information and soaking it in so far because there is a lot here?

cheers