Modding home gym dumbells for heavy pressing

[Mitchb]

Due to living in a pretty rural area and having a super busy schedule I train mostly at home.

 

[Mitchb]

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Center and square everything
Weld with ample heat (move on internet welding trolls...)
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As my dad always said "a little putty a little paint helps to make us what we ain't"
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[Mitchb]

I used 6" black pipe 1" Id nipple for the grips. Wrapped them in my kid's hockey tape.
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They work great and have room for eight ten pound plates if you use the same ones that I did. They are also really inexpensive at Walmart.

 

[GKPrice]

I used 6" black pipe 1" Id nipple for the grips. Wrapped them in my kid's hockey tape.
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They work great and have room for eight ten pound plates if you use the same ones that I did. They are also really inexpensive at Walmart.

been a "gym rat" since I was 14 y/o - when alone I always use dumbells for benches but unlike the meatheads who think it cool to drop them when finished with a set, I've looked at it as part of the process of lifting - at one stretch of time I benched and incline pressed up to 120#'s regularly and never had trouble with starting seated on the bench with them on my knees then kicking them to position and reversing that when finished - sort of the same as putting plates away when done, it's part of the exercise process and you'll be stronger because of it - Just REMEMBER ALWAYS to use strict form, it's not the weight ... it's the form in doing the exercise that keeps you strong and HEALTHY (I have 2x bilateral rotator cuff scars and upcoming bilateral knees to speak to that) RULE # 1) GOOD FORM RULE #2) ALWAYS OBEY RULE #1

 

[GKPrice]

Due to living in a pretty rural area and having a super busy schedule I train mostly at home. I definitely have limited space and a small budget so I use plate loadable dumbells to meet those needs. As you know trying to "kick up" one of these for shoulder or chest pressing is pretty awkward and not comfortable. Here is my solution, I am posting the finished product first so you don't have to waste your time scrolling if not interested. Attempt at you own risk. Tools and heavy objects are dangerous!
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The process starts out with some "golds gym" dumbells Handles from Walmart. I cut the rubber grip off.
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I then cut out 2- 8" circles for some scrap 11 ga steel. I used a torchmate but an oxy torch or jigsaw is an option.
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Clean them up with a wire cup
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Cont.

BEWARE of those coarse thread bars, they come lose too easy - there are 2 or 3 dumb bell sets that are quick change and affordable, I've used them in times when I had no gym or opportunity to get to one and they work really really well (and they're safe) IF you're "power lifting" you'll get better results and better longevity for your body by only doing max weights once a week, reps with mid weight give just as good of results IME