DIY rowing machine by HHarry
Contest WinnerFeatured

The rowing machine is one of the less familiar fitness machines for cardiovascular training. Exercisers seem more likely to opt for the famous treadmill or the exercise bike. Nevertheless the rowing machine is as well and maybe even better than other fitness machines. On a rowing machine you strengthen your arms, legs, stomach, back and other muscles. In addition a rowing machine is less stressful on the joints and it can make a welcome change in your fitness program.

The total cost of this rowing machine is around  100 dollar. I didn't make this to save money, I just like to make my own.

Note for conversion to inch visit this site: http://www.linuxfocus.org/~guido/javascript/cm-inch-conversion.html 

 
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Step 1: Materials and tools

collage onderdelen.jpg

Materials:

  • Two hook bolts
  • Two hook screws
  • Ten screw eyes
  • Four spring washers M12
  • Eight washers M12
  • Eight hexagon nuts M12
  • Threaded rod M12
  • A bunch of screws
  • One carabiner
  • Two cable clamps
  • Ten small wheels 3 cm in diameter
  • Two small wheels 4 cm in diameter
  • Wooden beams ( 4 cm x 4 cm ) approximately  10 meter total usage
  • Wooden stick 2.5 cm in diameter and approximately 60 cm long
  • Wooden board approximately 88 cm x 30 cm x 2.7 cm
  • MDF boards approximately 99 cm x 33 cm x 1.1 cm
  • Two long pieces of aluminum (140 cm x 4 cm x 3 mm)
  • Elastic straps
  • Four pulleys
  • Two bearings: outer diameter 32 mm, inner diameter 12 mm
  • Rope 2 meter, 10 mm in diameter

Tools:

  • Wood glue
  • Wood wax
  • Wood paste
  • Jig saw
  • Screw driver
  • Sand paper
  • Wood clamps
  • Wood file
  • Drill
  • Drill bit  6 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 32 mm
Dr. Who says: Nov 18, 2012. 3:07 PM
great instructable! just thoght i should mention in the picture, your rowing wrong. the handle should be at the third rib from the bottom.
masterfiddler11 says: Jul 27, 2012. 6:31 PM
This is wonderful! I love rowing and was looking around for machines and none of them seemed good enough for the price they asked. This looks like a really fun project for me to bring that down, and still have a quality machine. Really appreciate the post!

And let me take this chance to introduce myself to the community - this will be my first project. Thanks to all those that make this site wonderful; it is everything I need for living on my own now :)
mindsystem says: Dec 18, 2011. 2:06 PM
Very cool. Wish I had the space in my dorm for one...
On another note, is there any possibility of getting this in some sort of CAD format?
HHarry (author) says: Dec 18, 2011. 3:10 PM
Sorry, i didn't make any drawings.
arivero says: Aug 18, 2011. 7:31 PM
Very nice. It's just what I was waiting for. I'm trying to produce a sketch (using SketchUp) before starting construction, an I got a little confused with some dimensions. Is that possible that there are some mistakes regarding the location of 10 cm pieces on the base and the location of the vertical frame (120 cm)? Thanks for your answer.
hailsteeve says: Aug 6, 2011. 7:16 PM
Excellent build, looks like quality work. My only recommendation would be a back stop for the seat for newer rowers. I had a problem when I started (and still sometimes do) with whenever I sat down the seat always glided to the back and it was only because of the backstop that I didn't fall off. The bungee thing is also brilliant, the sound of the fan blades spinning up was always annoying at high resistance.
10jeeeexx says: Jul 31, 2011. 4:59 AM
very well that's the best thing I've ever seen
splazem says: Jul 25, 2011. 7:42 PM
Amazing! Now we have some good competition for this contest! :) I'm sure you will win the Grand Prize, but I'm going for the first place! Great job again, and good luck!
HHarry (author) says: Jul 27, 2011. 6:25 PM
Good luck to you too!
splazem says: Jul 27, 2011. 6:46 PM
Thanks!
iamspock says: Jul 23, 2011. 3:51 PM
Very probably one of the most well written, and detailed Instructables I've seen since being exposed to the site. Fantastic work, sir! This just made it to my list of projects!
HHarry (author) says: Jul 26, 2011. 3:06 PM
Thank you very much, your comment made my day.
ChrysN says: Jul 21, 2011. 4:27 PM
Awesome, that is a great looking machine.
HHarry (author) says: Jul 23, 2011. 1:35 PM
Thanks!
BeFit says: Jul 22, 2011. 12:05 AM
That's a great looking rowing machine, it's probably not economically convenient to make your own, but I bet it's all compensated by the satisfaction of such a beautiful DIY final result.
HHarry (author) says: Jul 23, 2011. 1:34 PM
Precisely!
Nick.D says: Jul 21, 2011. 10:49 AM
Wow. really great write up and machine!
HHarry (author) says: Jul 23, 2011. 1:29 PM
Thanks, for me writing was the hardest part.
CatTrampoline says: Jul 22, 2011. 10:44 AM
Very nice job. Another advantage of bungee-power over pneumatic resistance is that bungees are always quiet. They do not screech when they wear out and are cheap to replace. This is going on my eventual projects list - I lost my rowing machine during the last move.
HHarry (author) says: Jul 23, 2011. 1:27 PM
Thanks, it was pretty easy to make to. The only thing I would recommend: if you're used to exercising on a rowing machine, use thicker bungees.
shantinath1000 says: Jul 23, 2011. 9:02 AM
This is just awesome! Very nice build.
HHarry (author) says: Jul 23, 2011. 1:14 PM
thanks!
wilgubeast says: Jul 21, 2011. 11:03 AM
That's awesome. My back and legs are tired just looking at it. Excellent work!
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