Introduction: How to Make a Loading Pin
You can use a loading pin with many assorted handles for different exercises.
I made this originally for my Rolling Thunder handle, which will be another instructable very soon.
Step 1: Get Your Parts
Pretty simple setup really:
I used one 3/8" eye bolt, 4" long, rated to 325 lbs. Cost about $1.50
One 1.5" by 6" nipple, as its called in hardware terms.
Just a threaded 6" long pipe, 1.5" inside diameter. Cost me about $4.00
I used 1.5" diameter pipe because my gym's olympic plates have a 2" inside diameter, so these just fit.
One 1.5" floor flange, which cost about $10.
One 1.5" cap, which cost about $3.
All of this was purchased from home depot, I'm sure if you look around you could find a better price for most of it.
I drilled a hole through the cap with a power drill and a 3/8" drill bit.
Then I put some epoxy on the threads of the eye bolt just to make sure the nuts didn't get a mind of their own and start to unspin, and attached it to the cap.
Step 2: The End!
You simply leave the floor flange attached to the pipe, unscrew the cap, load on the weight plates, and put the cap back on!
I have a rock climbing carabiner that I use to attach this loading pin to whatever handle I see fit. Make sure you're using a load bearing carabiner though, otherwise you could probably drop something on yourself. And that's never a good time.
Your average commercial gym probably has 10 or so different handles for the cable stations, get creative! Or check out my soon-to-be Rolling Thunder handle for one-handed deadlifts.
4 Comments
2 years ago
I noticed most of the loading pins you can buy are 12". Is there a reason for going with the 6"?
2 years ago
This is brilliant! Ditto on the last comment about the prices at the big box store. I ordered mine online from a plumbing supply site and it was much cheaper, about $25 bucks for all. The eye bolt was $1.10 and 540lb carabiner was $10. Much better than buying a poorly welded loading pin on amazon for over $50. The only thing I would do different is maybe try a 3/4" or 1/2" diameter so the plate will slide over it without removing the cap. Those are slightly cheaper to buy too. Thank you.
8 years ago on Introduction
All the pipe fittings at my local home center were more expensive than in the article. The flange was over $17 which seems crazy. I bought a 1-1/2" to 2" bushing for just over $5 instead. After applying loctite and screwing it on tightly, I hack sawed off the excess length of the bushing and dressed the cut so it was smooth with no sharp edges. A bit more work, but cost under $20 instead of over $30 if I had used the flange. Thanks for the original idea!
8 years ago on Introduction