Wooden Squat Rack Designs

[zhangmaster12]

If you are interested, you can download my model here. Its a sketchup 7 file.

I pretty much copied endlessscott's squat rack but customized it to my height.

Everything in the renders are a 1:1 ratio to what i will build and all angles are exact.

If you can think of any improvements, PLEASE POST!

Im gonna build this once the weather gets a bit nicer and theres no snow. Also these plans can change any time due to space contraints in my shed or whatever.

All the wood will be i guess "bracketed" together using 90 or 45 degree brackets and glue. The crossbeams will be through-bolted so they can be easily taken apart. Im gonna get the steel brackets @ home depot. The lumber too probably.

 

[Klotz]

It's been done, although I'm not sure how safe a wooden squat rack is, especially with heavier weight.

 

[Keith Wassung]

I built my first wooden squat rack when in my basement, when I was 14. I took a pair of 2x4's and nailed them on either side of a ceiling joist and then I attached a wooden block ( heavily boleted) to make a sort of a j-hook. The result looked sort of like a ladder. As I got stronger in the squat, I had to continue to reinforce the racks and I did this at the base at the joist level. I would use all kinds of wire strapping to shore up the wooden j-block and I htink I even ended up nailing a pair of additional 2x4's along the side of each original 2x4/ All I had was an old Sears exercise bar ( no olympic set) and I think I had in the low 400's on the bar at one point in time and then it was time to give it up and after that I used the equipment at school or at the Y

 

[Saith]

It's been done, although I'm not sure how safe a wooden squat rack is, especially with heavier weight.

I'm pretty sure hunto's squat rack is a pair of brackets screwed into some beams that support his house, and he's a strong motherfucker.

 

[savagenation**]

My brother just bolted two steal arms a few feet apart. Throw a bar on it and you're all set.

 

[zhangmaster12]

I dont have a basement, or any part of the house I can just bolt some arms on. Also, I need to be able to move this out of the shed or back into the shed come summer time. So it needs to be disassemble-able.

As for strength of the wood, Im not strong enough to lift weights that can break the wooden rack yet (2 2x4's is very strong).

Btw, most joints will be made with 90 degree aluminum angle and steel tie plates.

 

[chia]

Looks great. Only suggestion would be to reinforce and extend the height of the rear uprights so it will be easier to unrack the bar after a heavy set of squats. I'm not sure how tall you are, but you want to be able to walk the bar straight in and dump it without worrying about overshooting (if the uprights are too short) or breaking them off.

Good luck and keep us updated with pics of the build.

 

[zhangmaster12]

Looks great. Only suggestion would be to reinforce and extend the height of the rear uprights so it will be easier to unrack the bar after a heavy set of squats. I'm not sure how tall you are, but you want to be able to walk the bar straight in and dump it without worrying about overshooting (if the uprights are too short) or breaking them off.

Good luck and keep us updated with pics of the build.

Yea that really my only concern. They're 4 inches below and 4 inches over. Im planning to replace them with a length of pipe bolted/screwed on.

 

[akutz1]

I dont know if i would notch the V shape into the top of the rack where the bar lays. You are basically making the bar into a wedge and with weight might start to split the 2- 2x4s over time. maybe cut like a Ll in it instead of a v. Or use a 4x4 or 4x6

 

[hunto]

I dont know if i would notch the V shape into the top of the rack where the bar lays. You are basically making the bar into a wedge and with weight might start to split the 2- 2x4s over time. maybe cut like a Ll in it instead of a v. Or use a 4x4 or 4x6

Agreed, although looking at it and thinking about it, he could cut a shallower angle (say 20degrees instead of 45) and the stress would not tend to force the 2 2x4s apart. And really, just use one 4x4 for the main rear upright, and cut it off at a 20 angle, and use another 4x4 for the backstop upright, full length.

Also, the braces in back that connect the 2 sides together- consider using 3/4" plywood sheet, to hold it square. Look at Home Depot for studs that have a wood screw on one end, and a bolt thread on the other, and use wing nuts to hold the cross-pieces down if you want them removable. That way you don't strip the threads in the wood taking them off.
hth

 

[chia]

I like hunto's suggestions. 4x4's FTW.

 

[akutz1]

Nice diagram Hunto, I agree. Engineering skillz FTW

 

[Kung-Fool]

How much do you estimate that will cost to build? If you watch craigslist you can usually find a squat or power rack for $200 or less.

 

[#1can]

diagonal bracing FTW

 

[zhangmaster12]

total building cost around seventy dollars, including renting tools.

Inside the v's for holding the barbell, there will be a right angle steel brace making sure the 2x4's wont split.

hunto: thanks for the wing nut tip, but not really sure what you mean with the bolt ( read it kinda fast). I evaluated the design in your diagram, but 4x4's are expensive. also, this rack will only be used untill i can get enough money for a power cage.

Im trying to minize left over wood, trying to be as cost effective as possible. 2x4's turned out to fit the bill perfectly. However, Im really tempted to use 4x4's

edit:

OK, so i made a model with hunto and other suggestions: Here

Added plywood and 4x4's

and for some reason google deleted the origonal. weird. Ill re up the origonal tomorrow

 

[zhangmaster12]

all the wood cut.

real men use handsaws!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WhiteLightning**]

You gonna squat on your front porch, so laypeople can observe proper form? A truly charitable act.

 

[zhangmaster12]

Why thank you whitelightining! people must learn by example!

Actually, im still working on squat form and this racks goin into the shed to protect it from teh elements.

 

[JPC]

My dad made me a wooden power rack when I was a teenager. 4x4 posts bolted together, giant hex screws, screwed in at an angle for "j hooks", and plumbing pipe for safety bars with holes drilled for squat and bench heights. I never had much over 300 on it.

 

[zhangmaster12]

Got some more progress pics for y'all
Lag screws are some tough bitches to screw in!

As for the kid, thats my little bro, im teaching him to DL and squat