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AR15.COM
11/18/2008 8:43:13 AM EDT
My son has a squat rack, pull down system, bench, free weights etc that he uses on a regular basis. All this takes up a corner of my shop and with no way to store the weight plates they get scattered about.

I want to make a plate rack to store at least the Olympic plates and maybe the smaller dumbbell plates as well. I need this rack to be as compact as possible and I will put it on wheels so it can be moved around easily.

Having never seen one of these in person, a quick internet search seems to indicate that there are two basic styles. One that is straight up vertical like this:



and one that is angled like this:



Any input on which is the better design of the two?

Thanks
Wayne
11/18/2008 1:03:03 PM EDT
[#1]
I would prefer the straight one. Much easier to rack and unrack the plates. Probably slightly easier to make too.
11/18/2008 3:31:09 PM EDT
[#2]
It'd be nice if the pegs on the vertical were at an upward angle like the tree one.  

This isn't as compact but it's ready-made for wheeling around.  Don't know how hard the design would be to fab: horizontal bumper plate storage
11/18/2008 4:01:53 PM EDT
[#3]
I end up lifting in a lot of different gyms and have been around both types and really dont feel either type is better than the other. The one thing I have noticed is when the plate pegs are two inches, it is a little more of a pain putting plates on and off than say a 1 inch peg. 1 inch doesnt look as good, but easier to deal with.
11/18/2008 4:03:51 PM EDT
[#4]
I like the ones with integrated bar storage, usually two tubes, one on either side for a straight bar and a curl bar (or whatever your preference is).
11/18/2008 4:53:04 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
I like the ones with integrated bar storage, usually two tubes, one on either side for a straight bar and a curl bar (or whatever your preference is).


Like this:


How about a way to store the dumbbells up off the ground. Do they make some sort of bracket that utilizes the holes in the squat cage that would hold a loaded dumbbell?

Thanks
11/18/2008 6:08:02 PM EDT
[#6]
I have an A-frame made with pretty crappy materials. It's had a shit ton of weight on it for a decade.  The linear one would need to be better made, IMHO.

And a big +1 on going with smaller pins.
11/19/2008 5:30:10 AM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
It'd be nice if the pegs on the vertical were at an upward angle like the tree one.  

This isn't as compact but it's ready-made for wheeling around.  Don't know how hard the design would be to fab: horizontal bumper plate storage



The gym I work out at in the morning, the owner made a couple of racks for the plates at the squat rack.  It looks similar to this one, but is made from tubing legs that are at an angle.  The dividers are rod stock.  I prefer it to the trees.

11/22/2008 4:08:36 AM EDT
[#8]
I got one of the angled ones on sale at Dunhams, which I reinforced with an extra steel bar. That holds my 'good' Olympic plates, and I just throw my cheapie 10lb York plates (for my 'Olympic dumbbells') on my weight rack.


Works fine, though on mine, the bottom 2 spokes are each holding 3x45lb plates, so I don't how long it will last. Been about a year so far, and it seems OK, but I can see them potentially bending if I ever throw the weight on there too hard or something.
11/22/2008 7:11:25 AM EDT
[#9]
Quoted: (for my 'Olympic dumbbells')



Yeah, I made that mistake, too.  You're still using those?
11/26/2008 4:21:03 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
Quoted: (for my 'Olympic dumbbells')



Yeah, I made that mistake, too.  You're still using those?


And I will be for a long while. To get the dumbell set I want would cost a metric shit-ton these days. (Not a fan of the 'dial-a-weights'). I check Craigs List from time to time, but with decent dumbells going for over a buck a pound now, it'll cost way too much to get a good set.

They're sort of unweildy, but other than that, the Olympics are OK...