I love training with thick bars, but they can be hard to come by. I don’t need a Olympic or Worlds Strongest Man contest rated bar, i just need something solid to do some deads, rows, presses and wrist work. Enter the working mans solution.
Today i made a 2.5 inch fat bar
For this set up you need the following-
1 Olympic Barbell (standard may work, but i would stick to an O-bar)
2 Allen wrenches that will fit the lug nut in teh rotating sleeves
3 One vice grip plier
4 One bar 2 to 3 inches in diameter cut to 5 feet or snug to the inside of the sleeves (use a hacksaw or sawzaw) I used a 2.5 inch steel fence pole.
I also recommend a set of saw horses but that is optional.
Step 1. Measure the thick bar to the inside of the sleeves for the bar.
Step 2. Bite the bar with the vice grips and use the allen wrench to remove the lug which secures the rotationg sleeve. DO NOT STRIP OUT THE LUG TRYING TO REMOVE IT
Step 3. Slide the bar over the barbell
Step 4. Place the rotating sleeve back on the bar. You will need an allen wrench in place on both sides of the bar to secure it.
You now have a fat bar. You can change it back when ever you want just repeat the steps.
{ 4 comments }
Thanks Adam,
Just what I need…Another weekend project.
BJ, RKC
P.S. I’m would like to link to your blog if that’ cool with you.
BJ Biffert,
please do.
hey make sure you have two allen wrenches, because you will need them to clamp the sleeves back on, it is a very important detail!
Great luck, also, 2.5 maybe a little too thick, it is freaking beastly.
man thank goodness I already have a 2.5 inch 70 pound fat bar and dont have to try to make this.lol, like I could if I wanted to. good info adam.
I would like to make a 3″ fat bar. So I follow your directions so far, but once you slip over the lets say fence posts steel over the O bar what will make it a tight fit so it doesn’t turn while being gripped and used. Also what kink of weight am I looking at by doing this project. I want as much weight as possible.
Thanks, Lenny