Rack - Custom/DIY

There aren’t very many existence, but this is definitely a one of a kind squat Rack. This is Bremmy 6 post rack. I built this 3 years ago. I took all of options that I love from other companies mixed it into one rack. The best part is the rack is only 46” wide so it’s very comfortable to lift in while allowing a lot of room for error on walkouts. This isn’t pride and joy when it comes to lifting.

Leaving here just as a “show”. This was a rack and ground set monolift that Rick Davis built and I bought in the Covidian era. He started with his bench upright setup with taller arms, a jack for each arm, and surrounded it all inside a 4 post frame. As a rack it was useful on outside. The inside arms were a fuzz too high to bench out of, and the bar coming across the front made squatting out of it similar to using mono hooks in a rack with a base plate. It was a useful rack, but we moved on from it and cut the next guy a nice deal just like Rick gave me. Not sure how many Rick built as he told me this was more of a prototype, but maybe helps inspire the next. It was a rack based mono long before Rogue released their version.

I built a rack out of pressure treated 4 x 4 posts so that I would have something in the yard to use outdoors when the weather is nice. Sometimes you just don't want to be stuck in a basement dungeon when the sun is shining and you've been stuck working 12 hour days for a week straight. The materials were very inexpensive and I stocked it with a beater bar that cane free when I bought some cheap plates on FMP. Yeah, the stuff is all going to get rusty but who cares? It adds another dimension and option for getting under the bar. Tall enough for full extension pullups, which is better than my real rack. 1" iron pipe fittings from Home Depot for plate storage.

This power rack has a high sentimental value to me, thus this review is totally subjective. It's one of the earliest equipment that I bought for my home gym back in 2012 when I wanted an equipment that I can squat and bench in safely. I found in on Craigslist and the gentleman who was selling it was an old weightlifting coach who was in the process of moving, and didn't want to pay for shipping to move this beast across the country - and who didn't want to see it go to the scrap heaps. I got it for mere $300 and what he told me was that it was fabricated by someone who was himself a lifter. I don't know how old it is, but it is built stoutly and to last: 3" x 3" tubing of 7 gauge steel all welded together. There are no bolts holding it together. It originally came in navy blue, but I later scraped the paint off, planning to change its color. But when I saw the grinding marks underneath, and the rugged bare steel, I liked the look of it, so I kept it unpainted. It, as a result, has taken on some surface rust. But I don't mind it, for I think it gives it character. It has patinaed as I have grayed. Power racks have evolved since I bought it, and I have been at times tempted to sell it for a newer, flashier model (something by Rogue or Rep, perhaps). But it does everything that I need it to do, and its 3" x 3" tubing with 1" holes gives it a modularity that its fabricator perhaps couldn't have envisioned. There was about a two year's time in my training history in which I took a break from the iron and did calisthenics exclusively. During that time, I didn't touch this rack once (pull ups were done via a bar on my doorway), but it waited patiently until I returned. And when I did, we picked things up right where we left off - just like old friends. I will continue to train in it until the time comes for the good Lord to call me home. Then I'll pass this on to the next steward, asking that they use it to get and stay strong - and to keep it away from the scrap heaps.

This was my very first rack in 2012. I bought some square tubing and went to a buddies place to weld it together. Had to rig up some j cups. It definitely was cheap (<$100). At the time it was my best option and would not trade that experience.

Bought this rack of a guy who fabed them up and painted them. It works it holds weight not frills not different spacing.

Not a rack since there isn't quite an equipment category for this, nor is it completely DIY. Jerry Pritchett (the strongman/inventor of Rogue's Pritchett Pad has his own Metal Shop in Phoenix. He makes this piece called the Arm Blaster. You can get one by finding his IG "pritchettmetal" and shoot him a message for it. It was around $400 or so. This thing is the most useful forearm/grip piece ive found. It comes with 3 different attachments and you attach it right into your rack. You can also change the direction in which the handle goes, like vertical or horizontal. I mainly use this as a way to increase my forearm mobility so I can grab my underhand on my deadlift easier. Thi bigger I get the harder it is to open my hands up

I have seen and used a few different home made power racks in my day with the most bad ass one being the one pictured about that’s inside a public gym called The Garrison. In this day and age with how much is available I’d never recommend making your own rack but if you’re big into that kinda thing go for it.

The Roost Mfg. built squat stand with pull up bar. 3” x 3” x 11ga. Construction with 1” holes. Pull up bar is 1-1/2” x 7ga. Seamless DOM pipe coated with truck bed liner for a very durable finish as well as a great alternative to knurling. This very simple piece of equipment does everything it indeed to do very well.

I stumbled upon this RML-6 DIY job not to far from my house and it was the perfect upgrade from an old titan x-3. The original guy who made it did and excellent job going spec for spec with the real thing. It had an awesome clear grind look and has held up to the beating I have given it.