Posted: 10/19/2010 8:00:33 AM EDT
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I've already ordered some GoFit kettlebells for my guys at work and I'm running into funding problems.
These things are expensive and I don't have a lot of cash to push a crossfit program at work. The solution I'm interested in: I've also seen some folks using handmade kettlebells using basketballs and soccer balls using concrete and some hose-covered rebar for handles. Anyone out there with a "recipe" or instructions for making some heavier kettlebells? I'm looking at sourcing enough stuff for about four 35-50 lbs. kettlebells. Any assistance or information is appreciated. |
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IronMind makes some kettlebell handles. Probably not what you want to spend but it might give you some ideas.
Kettlestack has another design. Again, might give you some ideas. Iron Company has a good selection of kettlebells. I like Hampton brand dumbbells. I'm sure their kettlebells are good too. Play It Again Sports sells Hampton stuff, if you've got a store locally. Dumbbells are $1.30/ lb. Not sure of price on kettlebells. GL CORRECTION - It's 2nd Wind Exercise that sells Hampton weights, not Play It Again Sports. |
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I completely forgot about Play It Again, we have a pair that are not too far off. In the mean time, I might just pursue the rebar-set-inside-a-concrete-filled-basketball approach. True to form, I will probably get both. If I remember, I'll put up how badly I fuck up some handmade kettlebells. |
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How about these.....you can roll your own http://www.ironwoodyfitness.com/kettle-grips.php |
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I've bought a lot of gym equipement from these guys and been very happy.
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/im-0350.html |
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Quoted: I've bought a lot of gym equipement from these guys and been very happy. http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/im-0350.html Awesome! This is exactly what I was hoping for. Thanks for the assist Bhart. |
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find a form: either gut a basket ball or find something else sphere-shaped and cut out a small opening in a radial patter: meaning, make a single hole and then slice out radially from that center with a blade to make the opening big enough (trial and error here). Mix up some concrete - making it slightly wetter than normal. Fill basketball with concrete through the hole you made. I suggest the radial cut above, folding the flaps back to give the edge a little more support and helping your form to stay more or less spherical. You'll need to find a way to help support your form depending on what you have available (see: kettlebox for easier production below).
Take 2ft piece of rebar bent into desired shape for a handle (an exaggerated "U") and set into concrete bar through that same hole. Think of a way to stabilize the "ball" in a way that the handle remains upright. Approximate the weight you want by taking into account the amount of dry-mix, water and rebar you are using. Once the concrete has set, cut off the shell and whalla! cheap, durable Kettlebell in any weight you desire. If you are really retentive, you can chisle off some of the concrete as necessary for a more precise weight - but really, how precise does this need to be? If you're less retentive, you can make open-topped boxes out of plywood, and repeat the steps above for two "kettleboxes" that will cost you right around $8: $3.50 for a 60lb bag of dry-mix, $2 for each 2ft piece of rebar, and find scrap plywood and screws for your form. If you have a reasonably accurate weight scale, you put the form on top of it while you pour to better approximate the total weight. A little experimentation can provide you with a cheap, easy and reasonable fascimile at a fraction of the cost - with everything available at your local home improvement store. Add in a can of optional rubberized spray-paint (used for weights, sports equipment, etc) and it will look a little nicer. 
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Quoted: find a form: either gut a basket ball or find something else sphere-shaped and cut out a small opening in a radial patter: meaning, make a single hole and then slice out radially from that center with a blade to make the opening big enough (trial and error here). Mix up some concrete - making it slightly wetter than normal. Fill basketball with concrete through the hole you made. I suggest the radial cut above, folding the flaps back to give the edge a little more support and helping your form to stay more or less spherical. You'll need to find a way to help support your form depending on what you have available (see: kettlebox for easier production below). Take 2ft piece of rebar bent into desired shape for a handle (an exaggerated "U") and set into concrete bar through that same hole. Think of a way to stabilize the "ball" in a way that the handle remains upright. Approximate the weight you want by taking into account the amount of dry-mix, water and rebar you are using. Once the concrete has set, cut off the shell and whalla! cheap, durable Kettlebell in any weight you desire. If you are really retentive, you can chisle off some of the concrete as necessary for a more precise weight - but really, how precise does this need to be? If you're less retentive, you can make open-topped boxes out of plywood, and repeat the steps above for two "kettleboxes" that will cost you right around $8: $3.50 for a 60lb bag of dry-mix, $2 for each 2ft piece of rebar, and find scrap plywood and screws for your form. If you have a reasonably accurate weight scale, you put the form on top of it while you pour to better approximate the total weight. A little experimentation can provide you with a cheap, easy and reasonable fascimile at a fraction of the cost - with everything available at your local home improvement store. Add in a can of optional rubberized spray-paint (used for weights, sports equipment, etc) and it will look a little nicer. Slick. If you have any nuance from experience with this, I'd like to pick your brain for that as well. |