Making my own weights - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

balefire88 · 06-27-2006, 10:07 AM

So, I'm getting back in the habit of working out at home. As I was browsing excercises online, someone suggested using gallon plastic bottles to work out. I tried it out, and the feel of the bottles is fine. However, the weight of the bottles was not. So, I went and filled a bottle with sand and that seemed to work out somewhat better. My last idea was to add water with the sand till the sand was saturated. This gave me a decent amount of weight (20lbs+).

Any other ideas for materials in the bottles that would be heavier (I was thinking of trying potting soil + water), or just any other ideas besides the gallon bottles.

Thanks.

Toaster126 · 06-27-2006, 10:18 AM

I'd be worried I'd break a gallon bottle if I put 20+ pounds in it.

Weights aren't so expensive that you need to make your own, are they?

Sage · 06-27-2006, 01:52 PM

A good, comprehensive set of weights can be anywhere from $100 to $600+, and they take up a lot of room.

Just make sure your form is good when you're using homemade weights.

Heavy books might work- put a few of them in a bag and then lift the bag... I've seen a website that suggests using a child as a bench-press (just have them lie flat and stiff as a board)... heavy printer or piece of furniture held against your chest for squats...

Also, check out your local Goodwill or thrift stores for secondhand weights- you can get them cheap!

maleficent · 06-27-2006, 02:26 PM

check out the two old standbys for peopel geting rid of stuff - generally free or dirt cheap.. www.freecycle.org or www.craigslist.com --

balefire88 · 06-27-2006, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toaster126

I'd be worried I'd break a gallon bottle if I put 20+ pounds in it.

Weights aren't so expensive that you need to make your own, are they?

They're suprisingly durable, atleast for the month or so I had 2 filled up with sand and water. Unfortunately, for reasons too complicated to get into, I had to get rid of that set. I use them outside in my backyard, so if they were to break, its not really a problem. Just a bunch of wet mud that would not be that hard to clear away.

And as someone else mentioned, a good set is quite expensive. The adjustable ones I've found seem well suited for the full range of excercises I do, but the main problem is I'm only expecting to stay at my current location for another 2 months or so. I'm not expecting to drive up to my next location either, so moving them might be a problem.

balefire88 · 06-27-2006, 07:08 PM

I'll look around for cheap weights at the places you guys mentioned. Thx sage and mal.

Books in a bag seems less stable than the jugs, so I prolly wouldn't try that.

newtx · 06-27-2006, 07:08 PM

A set of adjustable dumb bells is very inexpensive. Bite the bullet and consider purchasing a set from the discount store. Walmart,Target, etc.

Toaster126 · 06-28-2006, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtx

A set of adjustable dumb bells is very inexpensive. Bite the bullet and consider purchasing a set from the discount store. Walmart,Target, etc.

Yep. Less than $30 bucks in some cases.

thingstodo · 06-28-2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtx

A set of adjustable dumb bells is very inexpensive. Bite the bullet and consider purchasing a set from the discount store. Walmart,Target, etc.

Or look for a set of used Power Blocks. They are awesome and take up no room because they are all on one stand using about 2 square feet of floor space. A 90 lbs set might be arounf $600 new but less for used, and even less for the lower weight set.

www.powerblock.com/blocks.html

06-27-2006, 10:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
balefire88 Tilted	Making my own weights So, I'm getting back in the habit of working out at home. As I was browsing excercises online, someone suggested using gallon plastic bottles to work out. I tried it out, and the feel of the bottles is fine. However, the weight of the bottles was not. So, I went and filled a bottle with sand and that seemed to work out somewhat better. My last idea was to add water with the sand till the sand was saturated. This gave me a decent amount of weight (20lbs+). Any other ideas for materials in the bottles that would be heavier (I was thinking of trying potting soil + water), or just any other ideas besides the gallon bottles. Thanks. __________________ "Today is the beginning of the rest of your life."

06-27-2006, 10:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
Toaster126 Extreme moderation Location: Kansas City, yo.	I'd be worried I'd break a gallon bottle if I put 20+ pounds in it. Weights aren't so expensive that you need to make your own, are they? __________________ "The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me." (Ayn Rand) "The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." (M. Scott Peck)

06-27-2006, 01:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sage hoarding all the big girl panties since 2005 Location: North side	A good, comprehensive set of weights can be anywhere from $100 to $600+, and they take up a lot of room. Just make sure your form is good when you're using homemade weights. Heavy books might work- put a few of them in a bag and then lift the bag... I've seen a website that suggests using a child as a bench-press (just have them lie flat and stiff as a board)... heavy printer or piece of furniture held against your chest for squats... Also, check out your local Goodwill or thrift stores for secondhand weights- you can get them cheap! __________________ Sage knows our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's She answers hard acrostics, has a pretty taste for paradox She quotes in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus In conics she can floor peculiarities parabolous -C'hi

06-27-2006, 02:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	check out the two old standbys for peopel geting rid of stuff - generally free or dirt cheap.. www.freecycle.org or www.craigslist.com -- __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

06-27-2006, 07:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
balefire88 Tilted	I'll look around for cheap weights at the places you guys mentioned. Thx sage and mal. Books in a bag seems less stable than the jugs, so I prolly wouldn't try that. __________________ "Today is the beginning of the rest of your life."

06-27-2006, 07:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
newtx Addict	A set of adjustable dumb bells is very inexpensive. Bite the bullet and consider purchasing a set from the discount store. Walmart,Target, etc.