| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 6/2/2008 9:46:38 PM | Ok, I've spent literally thousands of dollars over the last 15 years of my life buying equipment, none are so disappointing as these damn ALEX quick spin nylon dumbell bars.
I've bought about 10 pairs in the last 2 years and the f*ckin' collar stoppers *always* bust.
Here is the thing, I drop my weights on my last rep almost always, especially when doing decline bench, etc. This habit has cost about $1500 in nylon plates but is also has result in my dumbbell bars collar stoppers breaking.
I love the quick screw over the nylon collars you have to slide on and then twist tight -- those suck.
Problem is, because I screw the collar on so tight it eventually breaks away at the collar stopper and with dropping, etc, little fractures turn into major peices falling off. This ocntinues until the collar stopper is gone completely and the dumbbell bar is rendered useless. 
Today one broke as I pushed for the 8 rep and because I was pushing as hard as I could and the weight shifted, everything f*cked up and I could have easily hurt myself, either by dropping the weight on my face or tearing a muscle. I'm thinking law suit. 
Anyways, I love that brand ALEX -- seeing as my name is ALEX it works out well for me. 
I think they have chrome dumbbell bars but I'm not not sure if the collar stoppers are nylon/plastic or if they are chrome -- I think the former.
Is there any brand of dumbbell bar which is entirely chrome and has that quick screw mechanism???
Suggestions??? | |
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| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 6/2/2008 11:54:16 PM | Join a gym that will chastise you for dropping weights.
I use a mix of fixed bells and one set of adjustables. I have to question if it's really worth it to need to drop weights. I work out in my carpeted basement - dropping raw iron hex bell will likely cut the carpet. Can you get 99.5% there without the drop? | |
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| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 6/3/2008 5:25:26 AM | | Olympic dumbell, barbells, appropiate collars, weights, bench, power cage. Weights in particular can be purchased second hand. This will cover you for the vast majority of exercises and be very difficult to break. Stop screwing around with plastic things. | |
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| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 6/3/2008 8:28:27 AM | I'm with you, Crazy! I go the old fashioned route, with the metal plates and bars.
I've used the ones with plastic cement filled plates, but I prefer to spend my $$$ for something that is built to last.
I like dumbells with plates that can be easily be changed as ability to lift increases.
Plus, being female and having small hands -- I notice how thick the bars are on the larger one peice weight. Can't get my fingers around them to get the proper grip. Then I strain my hands and can't lift as much. | |
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| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 6/3/2008 12:28:24 PM |
Join a gym that will chastise you for dropping weights.
It's just a force of habit mostly, and because I workout alone, on that last rep, it's sometimes impossible to return to a seated state, so I just drop em' 
That would be pretty disrespectful in someone else's gym though.
I use a mix of fixed bells and one set of adjustables.
I thought about buying fixed, but I've only been able to find 35Lbs, locally anyways.
I have to question if it's really worth it to need to drop weights. I work out in my carpeted basement - dropping raw iron hex bell will likely cut the carpet. Can you get 99.5% there without the drop?
My basement is concrete and looks like a Dungeon, so damage control isn't nessecary. I drop the weight when for example, I'm doing a decline press and on the 6th ot 8th rep I have absolutely nothing left. At that point I simply cannot be bothered to keep them close to my chest as I situp. I don't always drop the weights, but sometimes I do.
Iron plates are fine, they don't break. I've had some for over 30 years (hand me down).
It's the damn collar stoppers on the nylon dumbbells that are breaking, it's a PITA.
Why don't you use butterfly clips?
I thought about it, thats what they have at the gym. I really like the quick screw though, I don't think anythin compares to the snug feeling that gives you.
Olympic dumbell, barbells, appropiate collars, weights, bench, power cage. Weights in particular can be purchased second hand. This will cover you for the vast majority of exercises and be very difficult to break. Stop screwing around with plastic things.
Buying weights second hand would be great, if I could find it locally. They don't really loose value, especially iron plates. It's about a buck a pound, and if I find it on eBay for cheap, than shipment costs would pretty much make it the same, I would think anyways.
I do have iron collars and iron bars from the 70's that a cousin passed down to me...
Thing I dislike about those, is the hand grip sleeve that slides over the bar makes my grip slightly less secure. I just prefer the tight grip I get with the thinner nylon bars, but the collar stoppers are a piss off. | |
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| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 6/3/2008 5:09:07 PM | | What about something simple, like a piece of wood, or some sort of padding you can drop the weights onto. Even if you put your weight bench onto a 4' X 8' sheet of 3/4" plywood, it would be sturdy, but have some give to absorb the weight vs dropping them onto cement. It would probably get beat up and worn through after a while, but just change it out. | |
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| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 6/3/2008 6:00:58 PM | ^^^ That would work if it was the dropping of the weights entirely...
I think the nylon dumbbell bars are just a POS. I like the snug fit of the quick screw, but the nylon cracks over time, I just think dropping the weights expedites the process.
Ideally, I want to find a new brand of dumbbell bars with quick screw but instead of nylon, everything is chrome and won't break, only bend.  | |
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| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 6/3/2008 11:57:33 PM | I don't mean to have a pop here, but I think you need to look at your training too.
Given the fact those no-solid steel bars break above a reasonably light weight and the thickness of those concrete/plastic plates, you really can't get too much weight on the bar. If you've been lifting for 15 years and you're not lifting heavier than that, I think your routine needs a rethink. | |
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| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 6/4/2008 2:45:50 AM | Find a cattle store near you -- for like forty bucks you can get, I kid you not, a "cow mat" that is between an inch and two inches thick of solid rubber. Just the length and width of one cow. It prevents them having hoove issues and they are as durable as hell.
I use one in front of my Table Saw in my woodworking shop because carbide blade teeth are very expensive and a pain to get rebrazed on. Especially since my blade was custom made for me half way across the country -- if it gets damaged and just the shipping time alone is a loss of my fun hobby time for a week or more. Router bits, easily dropped and chipped/ruined are an issue as well which the cow mat prevents.
It also keeps the concrete floor warmer in the winter and easier on knees and back so I have heard from older woodworkers.
If that is not enough buy a sheet of homasote at your local home center and put that under the rubber mat. You will need to replace it from time to time but it will be drastically cheaper than replacing the weights and their collars.
cheers | |
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| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 6/4/2008 7:41:41 AM | | I don't know how much you are lifting but even when you have the sturdy Iron 90-150lb dumbbells with the hex screw get damaged if you drop them continuously and they are not adjustable, so my advice is the same as the posters above either don't drop them or get some rubber mats and put them on the floor by your bench...if you are doing less than 90lbs there really is no need to drop them.... | |
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| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 7/25/2008 9:53:31 PM | | That's too bad, man. I have Northern Lights myself, it's excellent equipment (I often work out at home in my basement). The collar stoppers are the ones you screw on but I've never had any problems. Something is not normal if they're breaking. | |
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| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 7/26/2008 12:16:22 AM | Ditch the dumbbells and go old school:
Ingredients:
otr tire
sledge hammer
sled
sand bag
kettlebells
barbell
weight plates
Never run into any more problems with db handles breaking or collars breaking.  | |
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| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 7/26/2008 12:44:45 PM | ^^ Like benching pressing neighbourhood children instead?
Hey that might work...I'd certainly have more incentive not to drop them... | |
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| dumbell bar suggestion
Posted: 7/26/2008 7:23:43 PM | ^^ Funny guy
Try setting up a couple of circuits with the equipment I mentioned and you'll never have a better workout
P.S. Try lasting more than 10 minutes going all out. It'd be hard especially coming from using dumbbells all the time | |
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