High Density Weights?

[KeyserSoze]

I was looking at some of the plate dumbbell set-ups and how large and akward they can get when you get in the 100+ lbs. range. I was wondering if anyone knows of any high density weights? Seems like most weights are steel, and after looking up some densities it would seem that Tungsten would be the best material for high density weights, however the price seems to be pretty high. I'm guessing that steel is used for it's relative cheap price, abundance, and safety. Tungsten seems like it would be ideal if it wasn't so expensive. I think it weighs about 2-2.5x as much as steel.

 

[Klotz]

Pretty much all the heavy metals--Tungsten, Gold, Platinum, Uranium, etc--are pretty expensive. Osmium and Iridium are the two heaviest metals, but I think it costs an arm and a leg to get them in large quantities.

The only cheap heavy metal I can think of is lead, and with that you have the toxicity issue, which I guess you could coat in rubber, although there still might be a risk.

I know in California where they've banned lead scuba weights you have to use Bismuth, and only has a specific gravity of like 11, compared with steel's 7.8.

edit: Yeah Osmium costs about $230 for 5 grams on eBay, so that's out.

 

[jk3004]

The only cheap heavy metal I can think of is lead, and with that you have the toxicity issue, which I guess you could coat in rubber, although there still might be a risk.

With lead you also have to take into consideration durability. Over a short period of time a plate made out of solid lead is going to lose its form rather quickly.

 

[Urban]

Lead's toxicity and malleability issues make it unsuitable by itself as a weight... however, many hollow adjustable lifting implements now (the blobette, adjustable atlas stones, the kettlesack, etc.) list lead buck as a potential filler. I have always wanted to fill a 2" OD steel pipe with lead to make a custom apollons axle and I intend to fill my farmer's walk bars as well.

What perplexes me is why they don't make a hollow steel plate and fill IT with lead to make a more dense weight. I have to assume it's because it's not really an issue for most people. What I have seen though are 100 lb plates that are only about 3/8" thicker than 45 'lb plates but lack the rim. Different metals maybe, but design and dead space definitely plays a role

 

[jk3004]

Meh durability, malleability, same difference.

 

[bacon]

Plates forged from fragments of BigJoey's head > any metal around. There is no thinker substance than Bigjoey skull.

 

[oyaji poi]

Plates forged from fragments of BigJoey's head > any metal around. There is no thinker substance than Bigjoey skull.

AHAHAHAHAHAaa........:icon_surp


I had a dream last night that my gym bought a bunch of blobs and we were running around seeing which ones we could pick up. i was so stoked to have grip tools like that in the gym.

Instead today I heard there's a possibility they'll remove the freeweights because people might get injured using them...and replace them with machines.

 

[Urban]

It's true... people COULD get injured using freeweights.

And taking a shower... Could slip and fall...

Getting a drink of water... Could chip a tooth...

driving to the gym... nix the parking lot...

etc...

 

[KeyserSoze]

If they do that shit get a refund, hopefully you can at least get a pro-rated refund.

 

[oyaji poi]

It's true... people COULD get injured using freeweights.

And taking a shower... Could slip and fall...

Getting a drink of water... Could chip a tooth...

driving to the gym... nix the parking lot...

etc...

I live in Japan dude. They would close the showers, ban glass drinking containers, and they have already banned students from driving to the school I go to (too dangerous). When I was teaching in the public system, it was worse. Foreign teachers are often banned arbitrarily from random things, such as driving or riding a bike to school, because of danger to themselves, or influence on the students. ie the students see the "cool" foreign teacher riding his bike, so they want to as well. many schools students are not allowed to ride bikes because of "danger".

I could go on and on.

Last one. There's two machine-stations, each with 2-3 weight stacks. One of the stacks is missing a pin, so there is an "out of order" sign on it. It's been there for over a year. Nothing is broken, just the pin for that one stack is missing, so rather than borrow a pin from another stack, it is "out of order". I want the machines in working order so people stay away from the free weights.

 

[Waxwingslain]

Sasuga anzen dai ichi no nihon da ne...

Ah, good old "safety-first" Japan...

 

[TheNerdKing]

A little bit of a highjack.

Is it possible to find a real powerlifting type gym in Japan?

One with free weights, chains, bands, 2/3/4 boards, bumper plates, chalk and noise?

 

[PhxJudoJujitsu]

They make the 100+ in the materials they do for a reason, economy, and safety

 

[oyaji poi]

i have free weights and bumber plates (i have no idea why though...) at my gym. when i gets me some chalk, we'll have chalk too.

But ya, there are a few hardcore lifters. There's Gold's in a few cities, and everyone now and then you'll see a jacked Japanese dude. Probably a lot of the guys train at fight gyms and lift there, as many fight gyms double as training grounds for the pro-wrestler circuit dudes. Some big arm wrestling guys too, lots of tournaments. Again, associated with Gold's though. In general, Japanese gyms are, from what i've heard, just as bad if not worse, than western gyms for dumbassedness in the trainers and trainees.

Like all things cool and hardcore in Japan, they're probably associated with the mob though.