HOW TO MAKE

Have you ever been reading about a new technique or training method and been so excited that you couldn’t wait for your next workout?  That is until you realize that you don’t have the equipment needed.  No worries, just go buy it on-line.  Yeah right!  There is probably no bigger rip-off that weight equipment, especially on-line because then your hit with shipping rates that are almost as much as the equipment itself!  Well have no fear, with a little elbow grease and a small amount of money, a lot of equipment can be made at home for about a 1/4 of the price and no shipping fees!  

Look for a new HOW TO MAKE to be posted every week.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment.

CHAINS – Difficulty – EASY

You can make 6 links of 5 foot chains with bar attatchment for about $75 all in, compared to the usuall cost of $70-120 for only 2 links.  Remember that is the price without shipping!   COMPARE 

HOW TO MAKE

WHERE TO BUY - HOME DEPOT

SUPPLIES

One box 30′ 5/8 chain – $67.97 a box (compared to $75 for 2-5′ links of only 1/2 inch chain) 

Two large metal clips – $3.79 a piece

PROCEDURE

Home depot and most other stores that sell chain have a device that will cut the chain to length.  Get someone to help you, I found out that they frown on you doing it yourself.  Cut the 30′ of chain into six 5′ links.  Take your chains and clips home and start pressing away, its that easy!

30' of chain for $67Clips for $4

Clips for $4

Three links on one clip

            

Loop made to hang from bar

Press Away!!!

HOW TO MAKE a “PROWLER” – Difficulty – HARD – (only because of tools needed)

A typical “Prowler” or “Econo Prowler” costs between $269.00 – $349.00 plus $155.00 in shipping.  If you know how to weld or have a shop close bye, you can make one for next to nothing.  I made this particular one out of a broken stair step machine that I got for free.  Check Craige’s List for people selling or giving them away, there are literally hundreds of them.  Once you have obtained your piece of equipment, the process is really pretty simple.  The reason this one is rated as “HARD” in the difficulty catagory is that many people don’t own welding equipment, but never fear.  Check the yellow pages for a shop, these welds are farily minor and can be done cheap.  I go to FRANK’s out of Willowbrook, IL.  He is as good as he is cheap, but beware his warranty – “All welds have a lifetime guarentee, once they break their lifetime is over”

Start with you stair step or similar piece of equipment.  Some things to look for in equipment selection are a wide three point of contact base and some sort of handles.

Broken Stair Step

Cut of the base and the top portion of the handles

Stair step base

Leave some of the neck of the handle section for re-attachment

Grind off any rough sections

smoothing off base for handle attatchment

Weld handles on at single contact point of the base along with two old barrbell ends for a spot to load on weight.  The barbell ends may be hardeer to come bye, but ask around at some local gyms for broken weight equipmet or check used sporting goods stores.

Almost done!

End pieces of broken olympic bars

A little paint and your your done.  Load up some weight get to pushing ! This one has been named “FRANK” after it’s fabricator. 

Quit sitting at your computer and go PUSH!!!