Concrete Weight Plates

Intro: Concrete Weight Plates

I recently bought a weight set, but it only had 100 pounds. For dead-lifting and certain exercises I decided I'd needed more weight. Being frugal I searched online for a cheap used set, but most were 100 dollars or more. I decided to make my own since concrete is pretty inexpensive and the weights I bought were just the concrete variety as well.

STEP 1: Item List

Total cost:

$11.99 for approx 80 pounds

About 0.14 cents a pound not including tax. (This includes the mold. Second set will be cheaper.)

What you'll need:

-Concrete_$4.18

(I bought the least expensive at 30kg and used 1 and a quarter bags)

-18" Plant pot saucer_$6.99

(Could also use a bucket, water bottle or any other rounded mold. It should be over two inches in thickness)

-PVC pipe_$0.00

(Doesn't have to be pvc. It should be as large as you'd like the weight opening. I used whatever was lying around.)

Garbage bags_$0.00

(Again, used what I already had. I recommend heavy duty bags or tripling them up).

Paper grocery bags_$0.00

(Old cloth, towel or other material that can soak up and retain water)

STEP 2: Mixing and Adding to Mold

1.Place the bag of concrete in your doubled heavy duty garbage bag (You can skip this step and and use a large bucket if you have one.)

2. Cut it open and pour out contents (while still in the garbage bag)

3. Add water (approx 3-4 liters per 30kg bag)

4. Close the bag with your hand and slosh around with your other hand until mixed.

5. Add it to your mold and then shake the mold (Make sure your mold is over 2 inches thick. Shaking ensures more even distribution. You might want to scrap the top with a flat object until even .)

6. Cut your PVC pipe and press into the center of your mold. (There should be a portion of it still visible above the concrete)

STEP 3: Curing

7. Place a wet grocery bag or towel over the mold and keep it damp.

8. After 24 hours remove from the mold and continue to place the Paper bag or towel over it.
(Use pliers to shake the pipe out)

9. let it cure (Sit) for 2-3 days. Continue to keep it damp.
(Concrete doesn't dry, but cures. This means it bonds together over time if it's kept damp. If it dries too quickly it will become brittle and crack).

10. Continue to let it dry without dampness for another day or two.

STEP 4: Finishing

11. You now have some weights

(You might want to add some duct tape or PVC tubing in the center opening so it doesn't scratch your bar. Another thing to consider is adding concrete fibers or shredded nylon rope to the mix for more strength )

12. Add a cover

You can also add some kind of covering to keep any dust from the concrete inside. The image is a quickly done garbage bag and duct tape cover with PVC in the center.

Have fun lifting.

(update)

Comments

[Rob311]

I used a plywood base, with tar paper wrapped around the outside, 2" PVC pipe in the middle, steel reinforcement mesh inside, and Pam as a mould release. I also bought the fancy concrete mix with the fiberglass in it to prevent cracking.

Works good so far... But needs to be painted.

[reisdorffcm]

What did you use for a mold?

[Rob311]

Plywood disc with tar paper wrapped around the outside as walls. Rip off the paper, and knock the plywood loose.

[Allonsy]

How do you manage to get the concrete out of the mould? Mine is Not Cooperating.

[Rob311]

Before you put the concrete in, already the mould with Pam or some other sort of non stick coating (no joke). They make stuff called mould release, or form oil that they use on construction sites. Also, I hot glued the PVC pipe down first (don't spray the pipe). Just enough to hold it while you pour the cement.

[Allonsy]

Ah, putting the mould in hot water helped loosen it up, but now I'm having trouble with the PVC pipe, trying to use the same logic with cold water and wiggling it around to loosen it but no luck yet

[chrispaul096]

These look great! Do you know heavy each of your plates came out to be? Thanks!

[Waldemar Sha]

Have you heard of Heavyweight Concrete?

http://www.concrete.org.uk/fingertips-nuggets.asp?...

You can gather magnetite at thr river or at the beach with strong magnet (at some places you can just shovel it up as wash uout gravel). It's readily available in nature. Or you can buy it online. According to the article by the link above adding magnetite to the concrete will make it 60% more dense. This way you can make weights of the same size heavyer.

[oragamiunicorn]

I really like the idea of this, I've a few cheaper sand filled plastic weights and a few more expensive solid metal ones, I hate the plastic ones, too much bulk for too little weight. so I think these concrete ones are are great idea, and affordable. However, my concern with these concrete weights is that over time the hole will crumble and start to get sloppy. I'd like to see a metal pipe core with maybe rebar for strength. Also have you thought about painting on a soft rubber coating to protect surfaces? I was suprised that you didn't coat the mold with anything to help it release, did you have any problems?

[Justbtoo]

Yeah. You'll have to add something to the center like a pvc pipe or some other reinforcement. I'll be using duct tape for this set. Could possibly do a metal pipe with some coat hanger wire wrapped around it as well instead of needing to weld something for the core.

I've thought about plasti dip, but it's a bit costly for my goals and I'm not sure if it will stick long term. Still thinking on that one. Might do a plastic cover by cutting a strip for the center and pieces for the sides, then taping them together.

No problems with the mold. Came right out. I read that concrete doesn't stick to smooth plastic. PVC came out as well after a bit of shaking.

Next set I'll be adding a top part to the mold to compresses it.

[gravityisweak]

You're right about the plasti dip probably being too expensive for this. What you might try is using the right type of plastic to shrink wrap the concrete. Wrap it up and hit it with a heat gun. If they already have a pvc sleeve fitted into the hole you would end up with no exposed concrete anywhere.

[Justbtoo]

This is what I used as placeholder for now. Just some garbage bags with Duct tape with PVC in the center.

Thinking of using some inexpensive foam mats glued together and cut to fit. Will also protect the floor/surface. 4 mats should cover 2 weights.

[Red_Crushed_Chili_Peppers]

Brilliant idea! Concrete is much less expensive than purchasing new or used weights! Splendid thinking.

[Justbtoo]

I agree. You get a lot of weight for 5 dollars.