@TheUnbreakableOne Awesome video. I am in the process of locating all the parts needed, and was wondering if you ever found a high quality 4x8 horse stall mat. I have called all around my area, and looked online, and have not been able to find a mat that is a high quality 4 x 8.
If you find a tractor supply store that carries 4x6's, which they'll have in stock, ask them if they can order 4x8's. The store where I bought mine could order a 4x8 but it would have taken a few weeks and I just didn't want to wait.
that is a great idea, the old all-wood platforms make incredible noise, thats the one i lift on , my coach and older athletes are all partially deaf from that wood platform, the guy doesnt hear me unless i shout my lungs out,, its fucking scary man i hope that doesnt happen to me.
This is such a great video! i built everything and used an oak top for th actual platform. i was wondering where you bought your mats for the sides and what kind they were?
Hello, I am wondering if I can just use 3/8 inch thick rubber mats and use some sort of adhesive like the ones used to stick the rubber onto wood and stick two pieces of rubber together to make 3/4 inch thick?
Also, for the top layer, why did you not cover the crack up with the layer and instead put it in the opposite direction again? Does it make a difference?
How did you screw in the mats? Also, when screwing in the wood, did you just screw it in the wood or did you make holes beforehand?
I don't think the way the top board is oriented really makes a difference.
On mine, there are 2 pieces of rubber on each side because I purchased the wrong size mat. I used screws on mine instead of adhesive because I knew I'd be replacing them with the right size mats in the future.
I didn't pre-drill any of the holes as plywood doesn't split very easily in my experience (and it didn't during this project). Plus, that'd be a lot of extra work!
I noticed in the end of the video that you have the standard Olympic weights and not the bumper power-lifting weights, do you use those on the platform? How does the platform hold up to their impacts?
I don't do a lot of olympic lifting so I rarely drop the plates onto the platform with any real oomph. I have had 500 pounds slip out of my hands, from the top of a deadlift, and it didn't damage the platform at all. The horse stall mats that I used are very, very tough. As for the base of the platform, I think it'd take more weight than anyone in the world can handle to damage that layered plywood.
@TheUnbreakableOne I'm thinking about building this in the spare bedroom of the second floor of my condo. Will the neighbors below flipout or does it handle the sound of a weight drop pretty well?
It'll muffle the sound a lot but if they're right below you they'll certainly still hear it. No weightlifting platform in the world will quiet it down enough to not piss off your downstairs neighbors.
I wonder what you think about applying a stain and lacquer to the exposed wood lifting surface? Then you could apply a urethane layer....creating like a basketball court type of surface.
I can almost guarantee you that if any chalk falls onto a surface like that it's going to be slippery as fuck. If you're worried about how the platform looks, just spend an extra $20-30 on a nicer piece of plywood for the top.
@spudnutsncoffee Well, on the one hand I see your point. On the other hand, most of the retail platforms have precisely this sort of surface, including the platforms used in official weightlifting competitions. Or, am I mistaken here? Thanks for the dialogue.
@spudnutsncoffee That's a good question, and I intend to find out tomorrow :) One other thing I might add is this: I know a platform is not suppose to be pretty as much as it is functional. That said, it never hurts to have something that looks like it was crafted with pride - and yours does. The other thing to consider is the evenness of the surface itself. The best of ply-wood has splinters and after a while could interfere with footing.. A urethane surface will eliminate that.
im planning on making one of these soon for my garage home gym got the ply in the other day. The 8x4 stall mats i think dont exist i cant find them anywhere but have found other types of mats on ebay that are 2x8 but 9mm thick so i'm wondering if i could just layer 1 on top of the other (buy 4). Did you get the plans for this platform from ironmind?
The 8'x4' mats definitely do exist they're just difficult to find. The farm supply store near me doesn't carry them in stock but their distributer sells them. I should have ordered them but I didn't want to wait 4-6 weeks. I will next time.
I'd definitely layer them if I were you. Mine is supposedly 3/4" thick but I think it's a little thinner than that.
I got them from somewhere a long time ago and saved the directions as a Word document. It could have been from Iron Mind.
1.75" screws will make it through 2 sheets of 3/4" ply by a 1/4"
Use 1.25" screws as he narrated in the video
--Great platform, building one this week!
SpinningAngel 1 week ago
@TheUnbreakableOne Awesome video. I am in the process of locating all the parts needed, and was wondering if you ever found a high quality 4x8 horse stall mat. I have called all around my area, and looked online, and have not been able to find a mat that is a high quality 4 x 8.
hydropurps 1 month ago
@hydropurps
If you find a tractor supply store that carries 4x6's, which they'll have in stock, ask them if they can order 4x8's. The store where I bought mine could order a 4x8 but it would have taken a few weeks and I just didn't want to wait.
TheUnbreakableOne 1 month ago
@TheUnbreakableOne thanks man.
hydropurps 1 month ago
that is a great idea, the old all-wood platforms make incredible noise, thats the one i lift on , my coach and older athletes are all partially deaf from that wood platform, the guy doesnt hear me unless i shout my lungs out,, its fucking scary man i hope that doesnt happen to me.
ahmednabil 1 month ago
legendary bro!! Thanks for the design
Per311 2 months ago
This is such a great video! i built everything and used an oak top for th actual platform. i was wondering where you bought your mats for the sides and what kind they were?
UFC737 2 months ago
@UFC737
They're just called horse stall mats and I bought them at a farm/tractor supply store.
TheUnbreakableOne 2 months ago
Hello, I am wondering if I can just use 3/8 inch thick rubber mats and use some sort of adhesive like the ones used to stick the rubber onto wood and stick two pieces of rubber together to make 3/4 inch thick?
Also, for the top layer, why did you not cover the crack up with the layer and instead put it in the opposite direction again? Does it make a difference?
How did you screw in the mats? Also, when screwing in the wood, did you just screw it in the wood or did you make holes beforehand?
Unrunning 2 months ago
@Unrunning
Using two 3/8" mats might be OK.
I don't think the way the top board is oriented really makes a difference.
On mine, there are 2 pieces of rubber on each side because I purchased the wrong size mat. I used screws on mine instead of adhesive because I knew I'd be replacing them with the right size mats in the future.
I didn't pre-drill any of the holes as plywood doesn't split very easily in my experience (and it didn't during this project). Plus, that'd be a lot of extra work!
TheUnbreakableOne 2 months ago
@TheUnbreakableOne thanks
Unrunning 2 months ago
I noticed in the end of the video that you have the standard Olympic weights and not the bumper power-lifting weights, do you use those on the platform? How does the platform hold up to their impacts?
mksmartialarts 2 months ago
@mksmartialarts
I don't do a lot of olympic lifting so I rarely drop the plates onto the platform with any real oomph. I have had 500 pounds slip out of my hands, from the top of a deadlift, and it didn't damage the platform at all. The horse stall mats that I used are very, very tough. As for the base of the platform, I think it'd take more weight than anyone in the world can handle to damage that layered plywood.
TheUnbreakableOne 2 months ago
Nice!
heppsan 3 months ago
Should have boughten? *lol* JK - excellent video!
ElementalSQL 4 months ago
It looks awesome but can you show us you actually using it?
illouie 6 months ago
@illouie
I would but now it's in Las Vegas and I'm in Denver. I miss her though.
TheUnbreakableOne 6 months ago
Comment removed
TheJesselg 6 months ago
Comment removed
LOKMETADASANTUNATWAI 9 months ago
@LOKMETADASANTUNATWAI
3/4"...whatever that translates to in the metric system.
TheUnbreakableOne 9 months ago
@TheUnbreakableOne
Just saw the end of the video also, thanks!
LOKMETADASANTUNATWAI 9 months ago
Comment removed
chevyv8v12 10 months ago
What did you use to cut the mats?
Brand0n4569 10 months ago
@Brand0n4569
A plank of wood and a sharp utility knife. It...was...a...bitch!
TheUnbreakableOne 10 months ago
@TheUnbreakableOne - Like a box cutter? How long did that take? Were your edges clean?
Brand0n4569 10 months ago
@Brand0n4569
Yes, but a larger one that's almost angled at the top. It took about an hour and the edges are clean-ish.
TheUnbreakableOne 10 months ago
@TheUnbreakableOne I'm thinking about building this in the spare bedroom of the second floor of my condo. Will the neighbors below flipout or does it handle the sound of a weight drop pretty well?
Brand0n4569 10 months ago
@Brand0n4569
It'll muffle the sound a lot but if they're right below you they'll certainly still hear it. No weightlifting platform in the world will quiet it down enough to not piss off your downstairs neighbors.
TheUnbreakableOne 10 months ago
@Brand0n4569
Add water when cutting the mat. You will absolutely be amazed. Seriously, watch your fingers!!
TheJesselg 6 months ago
Comment removed
spudnutsncoffee 11 months ago
I wonder what you think about applying a stain and lacquer to the exposed wood lifting surface? Then you could apply a urethane layer....creating like a basketball court type of surface.
spudnutsncoffee 1 year ago
@spudnutsncoffee
I can almost guarantee you that if any chalk falls onto a surface like that it's going to be slippery as fuck. If you're worried about how the platform looks, just spend an extra $20-30 on a nicer piece of plywood for the top.
TheUnbreakableOne 1 year ago
@spudnutsncoffee Well, on the one hand I see your point. On the other hand, most of the retail platforms have precisely this sort of surface, including the platforms used in official weightlifting competitions. Or, am I mistaken here? Thanks for the dialogue.
spudnutsncoffee 1 year ago
@spudnutsncoffee
I wonder if they use some other type of coating that reacts differently than that on a basketball court?
TheUnbreakableOne 1 year ago
@spudnutsncoffee That's a good question, and I intend to find out tomorrow :) One other thing I might add is this: I know a platform is not suppose to be pretty as much as it is functional. That said, it never hurts to have something that looks like it was crafted with pride - and yours does. The other thing to consider is the evenness of the surface itself. The best of ply-wood has splinters and after a while could interfere with footing.. A urethane surface will eliminate that.
spudnutsncoffee 1 year ago
im planning on making one of these soon for my garage home gym got the ply in the other day. The 8x4 stall mats i think dont exist i cant find them anywhere but have found other types of mats on ebay that are 2x8 but 9mm thick so i'm wondering if i could just layer 1 on top of the other (buy 4). Did you get the plans for this platform from ironmind?
jacks0003 1 year ago
@jacks0003
The 8'x4' mats definitely do exist they're just difficult to find. The farm supply store near me doesn't carry them in stock but their distributer sells them. I should have ordered them but I didn't want to wait 4-6 weeks. I will next time.
I'd definitely layer them if I were you. Mine is supposedly 3/4" thick but I think it's a little thinner than that.
I got them from somewhere a long time ago and saved the directions as a Word document. It could have been from Iron Mind.
TheUnbreakableOne 1 year ago
Cool, 1st comment too!!!!
Nice job Joe, I've got nothing quite so stylish, in my workshop I have a rusty old bar that sits on a couple of old car tyres.
Might have to make me one of these fella?
Nice work!
kristonabbott 1 year ago