Save 10% off your first order at Ariat.com - https://bit.ly/3p7ct5r
JD’s Ariat Favorites - https://bit.ly/2Mdc1no
The thing I've missed most about having my gym closed is having access to a set of dumbbells. When I saw some large pieces of 1/2" plate at the scrap yard recently, I had the idea to make my own set. Each dumbbell needed a different diameter of plate cut on the CNC plasma cutting table, to match the target weight. I used 1.25" round bar for the handle, which i welded the plates onto. After all the dumbbells were welded, I hauled them in to get a poly coat at the powder coater's. While they were getting coated, I switched to making a flat bench and a seat bench, which is what I found myself using the most at the gym. I cut the wood backing on the CNC routing table and installed recessed T-nuts. I used 3x2" rectangular tubing for the frame. I bought some black vinyl and sewed seat covers, which got stretched over the wood backing and stapled. The last thing to build on this project is a 2 tier rack to hold all the all the dumbbells. I cut the uprights on the CNC table and welded on angle, which the dumbbells will sit on. I milled saddles out of 1" UHMW and bolted them to the rack. Once the dumbbells came back from powder coat, the last thing to do was make stencils and paint on the weights of all the dumbbells. This was a huge project and I'm excited to start using them!
