The first part of the home gym.

[Betticus]

Okay, so today I broke out and put together the first part of my home gym to be someday hopefully.

I know, no weights yet and I need a heavy bar for that weight bench too. I have a weight stand that isn't assembled yet. Also, in case you can't tell from the photos (like that's possible) that is in my garage. I'm going to build out the home gym in the garage. Next summer I'll have to get some kind of auxiliary cooler or chiller for the garage but that's okay. The wall that is behind the bench if you look up you'll see the water connection for the bathroom that is behind that wall. It has a sink, toilet, shower. There is also a connection for a washing machine out there. I love that garage!

Here is what it looked like just out of the box.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/betticus/IMG_8336.jpg
This one is assembled a couple of hours later.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/betticus/IMG_8350.jpg
This one is from before I got started.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/betticus/IMG_8331.jpg

 

[trisquel_astur]

Nice place to have a gym...

and can be used as dungeon with a few touches!

 

[Homburg]

Brother, get yourself a power rack. The one I got was nicely inexpensive and still strong enough, heavy enough, and large enough for my use. Got mine for $300 S&H included, and it was worth every penny. PM me if you want details on the one I got.

It's the piece of equipment to do squats in (and if you aren't squatting, shame on you =P ), and, just as importantly, makes for one hell of a great place to chain your gal into for lavishing her with percussive attention. You can see my rack in use for a partial suspension in my ropework thread, and it is strong enough, and stable enough, that I will be able to safely do full suspensions in it (when I am confident enough in my ropework to risk my gal's life in it, that is)

Trust me, both from a fitness standpoint and a BDSM standpoint, a power rack is an awesome purchase. A power rack will nicely compliment your bench and pulldown station, and it sure beats trying to power clean worthwhile weights into the rack position for front squats (largely because my power clean is anything but power)

What is your bench rated for, weight-wise? I ask becuase I'm getting to the point on mine where wieght limit is actually a concern. I can feel the uprights flexing when I do heavy board pressing. I'm probably going to buy a thousand-pound flat bench and just press in my rack here shortly. that way I know I'll never exceed my gear's capacity.

 

[Betticus]

Some guy beat the 1000 pound bench press record. It's on youtube also.

I feel you on the squat cage, I have to be careful as I jacked up a disc in my lower back doing squats long ago and manage to reinjure it periodically. On this weight bench I don't think I'll be going over 300 or so on it without reinforcement on the tabs that hold the bar in place. It also doesn't have any catch pins in case you over do it and can't get the bar back up and I'll mostly be working out alone so I'll keep the weight manageable. I could always dump weight off to the side but I wouldn't want a plate going through a wall or into a car.

I plan on getting this heavy bag rack that has a hefty overhead arm with a swivel mount at about 7 ft. up and a speed bag attachment on the back. Could use the swivel mount to hold either a bag or a subbie.

 

[Homburg]

Some guy beat the 1000 pound bench press record. It's on youtube also.

I can bench a thousand pounds! It just takes me 4-5 reps...

I feel you on the squat cage, I have to be careful as I jacked up a disc in my lower back doing squats long ago and manage to reinjure it periodically.

Ever used a reverse-hyperextension machine? It's a Louis Simmons design. We built a rev-hyper platform for the squat cage and I started a buddy of mine using it. Between teaching him proper form in the deadlift and putting him on the rev-hyper, we dressed his back up big time. He has three hernisated discs and a couple of other issues. The rev-hyper is serious juju for back issues.

On this weight bench I don't think I'll be going over 300 or so on it without reinforcement on the tabs that hold the bar in place. It also doesn't have any catch pins in case you over do it and can't get the bar back up and I'll mostly be working out alone so I'll keep the weight manageable. I could always dump weight off to the side but I wouldn't want a plate going through a wall or into a car.

That's another reason why I want to press in the rack. I can set the pins at chest level, and not worry if I need to ditch. My primary training partner really destroyed his back at work, and can't do any lifting whatsoever right now, so no spotters, boo.

I plan on getting this heavy bag rack that has a hefty overhead arm with a swivel mount at about 7 ft. up and a speed bag attachment on the back. Could use the swivel mount to hold either a bag or a subbie.

Not that is some seriously good stuff. The cage is fun, but I can see how a swivel mount for both wrist would be truly great.

 

[kiten69]

This one is assembled a couple of hours later.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/betticus/IMG_8350.jpg

Oh goodness, that one gives me many naughty thoughts!

 

[Luvkitty33]

Congrats on getting started on your home gym!! Looks like you have a nice place to workout.........and play