Homemade Squat Stands
Inspired by Patrick’s design I made a pair of squat stands for Danielle and I to use. Because two people of different heights are supposed to use it, I came up with this design. It improves Patrick’s design in that there’s something to (gently) run into, so it requires less finesse to put the bar down after a heavy squat.
Construction is pretty straightforward. Buy yourself enough 2×4 to cut the 5 lengths for each stand. I got 5 10′ pieces of 2×4. Cut them to the desired lengths. Glue and screw them together. In my pictures, the black lines indicate where I put screws. I have a set of screws at the top, in the middle, and in the bottom. You can use bolts, or whatever. I just happened to have a bunch of 3″ screws sitting around so I used them. Then stand your wood up in the 5 gallon bucket, and fill with concrete until almost the top. Each bucket has about 45 lbs of quick set concrete in them. It seems usable after 24 hours, but it’s definitely not completely set yet at that time. Patrick let his sit for 2 days. I just wasn’t that patient.
The stands are pretty usable. It’s easy to rock them side to side, but as long as the bar doesn’t go over the bottom edge of the bucket, the stands will just rock back to their stable position. It’s not as nice as a rack, but it’s a lot cheaper. I spent less than $50 on it all, and about a day on construction. If you have a miter saw, you’ll spend a lot less time.
I’m Tim and this is my blog. I just started a year-long trip around the world on 7/1/08.
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Nice squat rack. I will be building one very soon according to your directions. Thanks for the pictures and instructions. It hasn’t even been a month, but has this desgin caused any problems so far?
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
So far it’s been fine. The most weight I’ve had on it was 145 lbs. One time it did start tipping a bit when my friend racked some weight. I think that’s because I had the rack on carpet, which is a little mushy. I’ve now got an inch of plywood under the stands and that seems to have solved the problem.
Tim
May 31st, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I like your design, but is the measurement you have in inches or feet and inches? For example you have 59″, right or is that 5′9″? Where should the bar, about armpit height or shoulder height? Thank you!!
May 31st, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Just inches. To figure out how high the bar should be, I put the bar on my back and measured how high it was off the ground. Then I made the front 2×4 about an inch less, and the next one 3 inches less. For me that front 2×4 comes to the middle of my shoulder.
Tim
January 10th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
the bar in the rack should be at the level of your scapula
August 20th, 2009 at 3:02 am
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October 1st, 2009 at 3:35 pm
looks pretty good, can i use for bench press to if i set the length and how much weigth should it can take (300 lbs)
thanks
October 1st, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Yeah, if you make the low one the right height for a bench press, that should work fine. I don’t know for sure how much weight it can take. The most I’ve had on it is 165lbs, but that’s because I’m not strong. I don’t even have these anymore because I moved and live near a nice gym now, or I’d load ‘em up and find out. But I would be surprised if they can’t hold 300 lbs.
October 7th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Hey
Very nice and strong squat stand. I am building right now. Very easy instruction and thanks for posting this. Is there anything more you can do or add to make them more stable (regarding tiping or falling).All i can say you have done very nice work and genereous to share with all of us and very amaze that they can hold 300lbs.
Thanks Again
December 9th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Hello,
I’ve been squatting at home using the Steinborn lift but I’ve got to the point now where I can no longer lift the bar on and off my shoulders safely. So I’m looking for a squat rack.
Really like your homemade rack but I’m a little worried it’s gonna tip easily. If you had to dump the bar onto the rack in a hurry then surely it would be quite easy to push the beams over backwards? Is the concrete enough to keep it stable?
Cheers,
Steve.