DIY deadlift platform

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - DIY deadlift platform

Posted: 2/26/2021 5:22:25 PM EDT

So I’m building a platform. Looking for advice from anyone who has done this before.

I have some 1/2” horse mats as my flooring already.

My plan is to screw together two layers of 4’x8’ .75” particle board for an 8’x8’ platform.

I was going to top it with 4’x8’ 1/2” sanded plywood centered and cut my existing 1/2” horse mats to make two 2’x8’ sides to cushion the weights.

Will be 2” tall 8’x8’ long and wide.

Am I thinking this through enough? Are my 1/2” horse mats the right thing to use? I will be used directly on top of concrete.

Wanting to finish with something similar to this:

Posted: 2/26/2021 6:06:42 PM EDT

[#1]

Well if you're only going to build it once, use subfloor for bottom, hardwood 3/4 for the top. 3/4 stall mats on the sides. I also added cheap puzzle type floor matting underneath everything that you get from Harbor Freight. If you're on a budget, what you propose would be fine. You're really only going to save maybe $50 for something you will probably have for a long time.

I used grk screws countersunk on the hardwood, grk with finish washers on the mats and gave them a few extra turns so they're flush, but still have washers.

Posted: 2/26/2021 7:24:25 PM EDT

[#2]

Quote History

Quoted:
Well if you're only going to build it once, use subfloor for bottom, hardwood 3/4 for the top. 3/4 stall mats on the sides. I also added cheap puzzle type floor matting underneath everything that you get from Harbor Freight. If you're on a budget, what you propose would be fine. You're really only going to save maybe $50 for something you will probably have for a long time.

I used grk screws countersunk on the hardwood, grk with finish washers on the mats and gave them a few extra turns so they're flush, but still have washers.

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Thanks for the advice. Do you think I’m losing anything if I use the 1/2” mats I already have instead of buying 3/4” mats?

They’re still in pretty good shape.

Posted: 2/26/2021 7:26:21 PM EDT

[#3]

3/4 stall mat is kind of the standard, with 3/4 plywood for the part you stand on. I guess it wouldn't be the end of the world if you were pulling from a 1/4" deficit.

Cheap matting under it is a good idea if you are putting it on bare concrete. They will pick up moisture and warp a little usually if they are directly on it.

Posted: 2/27/2021 2:45:48 AM EDT

[#4]

I wouldn't fine sand your top plywood, probably come out too slick.

I stained my first platform, which made it a bit tacky, but have left all other generations bare.

Posted: 2/27/2021 5:51:06 AM EDT

[#5]

Here is the guide that I used to build mine.

Posted: 2/27/2021 10:48:42 PM EDT

[#6]

Alan Thrall has a pretty good video. Link

It'll be a bitch to move around, I couldn't get mine out of my shed when I moved.

Posted: 3/1/2021 9:27:19 AM EDT

[#7]

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Quoted:
Alan Thrall has a pretty good video. Link

It'll be a bitch to move around, I couldn't get mine out of my shed when I moved.

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That's almost exactly how I made mine. 4x8 for deadlifts and occasional cleans. I can move it but it's not fun. The titan band pegs make pretty good handles.

Posted: 3/6/2021 11:12:15 PM EDT

[#8]

Thanks for the great advice. Finished my platform today. Couldn’t be happier with the results.

Posted: 3/7/2021 6:33:27 AM EDT

[#9]

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Quoted:
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/i/BMAK45/EB96F9A8-CFF3-4D0A-81AE-BD8DE09C2C35.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Thanks for the great advice. Finished my platform today. Couldn’t be happier with the results.

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????

Posted: 4/17/2021 4:42:23 AM EDT

[#10]

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Quoted:
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/i/BMAK45/EB96F9A8-CFF3-4D0A-81AE-BD8DE09C2C35.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Thanks for the great advice. Finished my platform today. Couldn't be happier with the results.

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@BadBobTheAlbino Did you attach your rack to the platform? If so, how?

Posted: 4/17/2021 5:04:52 AM EDT

[#11]

I'm looking at building one of these when I get to Ft. Drum, as I plan to use one of the bedrooms as a home gym, and the bedrooms are upstairs...although I may just stick with my "puzzle piece" gym mats.

Posted: 4/17/2021 6:40:17 AM EDT

[#12]

I would also recommend some 1.5" x 1.5" by 1/8" aluminum L channel. Can get it in 8' sticks and screw it to the top to protect the top, sides and that corner. Can be mitered with a chop box really easily. Here I did it on a workbench for my shop. We routed it in so it was flush but definitely not necessary.

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Posted: 4/17/2021 11:54:42 AM EDT

[#13]

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Quoted:
@BadBobTheAlbino Did you attach your rack to the platform? If so, how?

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I did not. I were going to, I would use 1/2” lag bolts and bolt it to the platform only.

Posted: 4/17/2021 1:08:16 PM EDT

[#14]

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Quoted:

I did not. I were going to, I would use 1/2” lag bolts and bolt it to the platform only.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
@BadBobTheAlbino Did you attach your rack to the platform? If so, how?

I did not. I were going to, I would use 1/2” lag bolts and bolt it to the platform only.

Yeah Rogue racks are heavy enough that they don't need to be bolted. Lags would be the most I would do also. If you're a cheap bastard like me and you have a 2x2 square tube rack, then you should use carriage bolts.

I ended up drilling four holes in the legs of my rack, then drilling through the holes all the way through the platform. Then I took the platform apart, countersunk the bottom layer slightly, put 1/2" carriage bolts in, then rebuilt the layers, somehow got the rack slid on the bolts, then tightened it all up. It really sucked, but the rack does not move or wobble at all.

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - DIY deadlift platform

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