My dad worked road construction and used concrete for everything. When I asked him for a set of weights he made me a set using buckets and coffee cans. This was 40 years ago. The set was awesome.
The secret is to over pour the concrete then take a concrete grinding blade and grind it down to exactly 45lbs, it will also make the backside smooth then spray it with truck bed liner
Ordered my mold 2 weeks ago... Made 6 plates already. I also added wire lathe inside it, and painted them heavily with rubberized paint. Work great. Also long as you're not that tool that throws or drops the weight after every set, and use them for what they are intended for... Cheapest alternative yet!
How the plates holding up? Mt main concern is going to pull something like 500lbs + on deadlift and dropping the weight. Not all the time just with the occasional slip
Update for the ppl asking I didnt buy this mold I made my own out of aluminum flashing 17.5 inches and 2.5 inches deep. They came out at about 47 pounds. And are holding up very well considering I dropped 405 the other day deadlifting on 2 rubber stall mats and they didnt brake painted them with a rubber coat also fiberglassed the edge on the main pair I use for a little extra very pleased so far
you don't need to add a lot of something to appreciatively change its microstructure. While I am not very knowledgeable on concrete, steels will only contain around .5% of carbon by mass and they are very different in terms of strength than iron.
@@thomas7365 microstucture, yes. But notice, the fiberglass he is adding is only the version rated to help with initial cracking during drying. To help with cracking during usage, more, longer strand, is needed.
@@thomas7365 What you are talking about is called an interstitial alloy (this rearrangement happens at a molecular level). This is done by smelting, therefore the carbon atoms (much smaller in diameter) are able to fit between the much larger metal atoms. Because the molecular weight of metal atoms (could be any but likely Fe: iron) is much higher than that of carbon per mol, the percentage by mass will be greatly skewed towards the metal, however in terms of the number atoms, this ratio would be much less skewed towards the metal because of the difference in molecular weight, which is measured per mole (as it compares to Avogadros Number when counting atoms individually). Therefore though the mass percentage of the alloy will be skewed towards the metal, the atoms making up the molecule will be a much more neutral ratio, though still skewed towards the metal. This process works differently (adding fiberglass to cement) no LARGE molecular changes are happening here because this is simply a mixture as opposed to a solution (wherein chemical composition tends to change). Think of a rock in water (a mixture) as opposed to salt dissolved in water (a solution).
@@rezanadaf1213 Thank you for the clarification on interstitial compounds. I agree that a change in crystalline structure will likely have much greater change on strength and crack propagation resistance of material, but microstructure of material is also very important, and from what I've researched fiberglass can appreciably change this (not so much of the concrete itself but the underlying fiberglass matrix seems to form a microfiber heterostructure within the concrete).
Additional tips: •water weight in the concrete evaporates out •overcast and use angle grinder to grind down to weight/smoother finish (read last tip for what overcasting would be) •if you get a super rough finish, use some concrete repair mix to smoothen it out •if you're gonna spend money on fiberglass reinforcements, use more than that tiny amount •use sch 40 PVC and coat the outside in rubber (either spray on or tape or a rubber sleeve) •spray on truck bed liner to coat the entire plate. The large plates come with a 17.5" diameter which puts the surface area of the plate right around 8sqft. Truck bed liner is supposed to be 0.7lb/sqft at 1/8" thickness. This extra thickness also bumps that 17.5" diameter closer to true size of an oly plage diameter. This means you're getting about 6lbs of spray on rubber into the plate so only pour about 40-42lbs > grind off about a pound or two > lose some water weight from evaporation > spray truck bed liner evenly until 45lbs
Concrete doesn't lose much weight when drying. The amount in these plates would be negligible anyway. The water molecules react with the mix, hydrating it and losing energy to heat, not evaporation. The oxygen and hydrogen ions don't leave the mix, so the weight of the water stays.
@@nathannewman6555 a deadlift is a compound exercise working both your legs and your lats. A heavy deadlift is just an overloaded version of that. You can overload your lats by doing front lever holds, and your legs by doing pistol box jumps. It will provide the same gains as doing deadlifts and by the time you're back in the gym your deadlift will have increased
@@jasonpeng5798 Fair enough. I'd still argue its not efficient. You are doing 2, practically 3 exercises to replace one. I say three, because with a pistol squat being one legged, you'll have to do both sides. They are also still a bit different based on progression. To progress on a deadlift, you simply have to add weight. In Calisthenics, you have to add reps and at some point, change to an entirely different exercise. Weight training doesn't limit you from changing exercises or reps, that's just another option.
@@nathannewman6555 of course. Having more options is definitely far more efficient than relying solely on one way of training. For example, some calisthenics exercises,like pullups, are far more efficient training methods than any weight exercise, so they are pretty much incorporated into any weight training regimen. Other times, weight training exercises like standing rows and squats are far more efficient. Having weights allows you to pick the most efficient exercise - if a calisthnx exercise is more efficient, you can do that, and if it's not, you have the option of using weights. If you have bands, you can mix them into your regimen for even greater efficiency.
For those that own a random orbital sander, take off the sand paper and use the base against the edge of the mold in several place, pressing kinda hard. This will vibrate all air bubbles to the surface and make a much nicer result.
I recently made cylinder shaped bags using green canvas and leather stitcher and filled them with gravel. I also sewed handles and rienforced them with more canvass into the bags and they hold just fine. My heaviest bag so far is 50lbs. All the bags are packed tightly to prevent shifting of rocks. These bags are solid and work greatly.
When we were kids in the 1960s my Dad rented an aluminum canoe for a week. Put it in the cellar on saw horses upside down , coated it with petroleum jelly from the drug store than put fiberglass cloth over and covered it with fiberglass gel. Let it harden and cleaned it up Took back the rental and from the mold we made 3 fiber glass canoes They were heavy but lasted for years Watching this video I’m surprised no one decided to make these molds earlier !!! Guess we needed a pandemic
I am so glad they are giving customers other options for consumers of Olympic Plates because fitness stores are jacking up the prices on all plates, dumbbells, kettlebells, etc. We need more diy videos like this.
@@guitubagrips9719 Yeah I figured the size would be big but that can be rectified (Like they do in WSM for axle DLs)through the use of platforms to counter it. Also, I live in Northern Europe where most common wood types are pretty dense like Ash or Oak.
Just LOVED that video. !!!! Got a suggestion I think you and your viewers making these might like I recently bought 2 concrete blocks to do squats with a dip belt and a pair of dumbells while standing on. I didn’t want the blocks to crumble and make a mess in the garage so I went to Home Depot and bought a can of Flexseal - that rubberized stuff in a spray can you see on TV all the time to seal concrete etc to stop leaks. Sprayed both blocks in white to prevent black smudge makers and the stuff worked PERFECTLY!!!!!! Sealed the concrete - no dust or crumbles and if put on in a 2d or 3rd coat would probably be great protect for your concrete weight plates. I got my first weight setback in 1967. 110 lbs of interlocking plastic weights - advertised as not to damage floors. What they really were plastic molds which had a pour hole for concrete which were than sealed Finally got rid of them in 2012 so I definitely got my money’s worth out of them.
I believe give concrete 20-28 days to fully cure and reach max strength. Also I've seen folks spray bed liner on them to make them even more durable as well as give them the look of actual iron plates.
I have been using the 45# mold from Caveman Weights and 8" silicone cake pans. Pour the 45# halfway to make 20# plates. I experienced the same weight discrepancies you did, which was frustrating. But overall, I was able to make 270# of weights for super cheap. Happy to be able to keep working out. Gonna finish them off with truck bed liner spray to help harden the exterior (after a full 28 day cure).
I just finished my first 45. I measured the dry concrete before mixing so I'll see how accurate that made the weight. I used the hot glue seal instead of silicone though and the hole came a bit loose and is just off center as a result. Will try more glue next time. I also bought the refill kit from Caveman as they are significantly cheaper, but not metal so I'll compare how they hold up in comparison after I have at least a set of each.
As others have mentioned you should tare the scale first. Also, I made some concrete plates a few months ago and made sure to make them slightly heavier than what I wanted. Then once it is cured, go back with an angle grinder with a concrete disk on it and you can shave weight until to get it exactly what you want. Obviously there will be slight weight variations as you use them, but this gets you really close to exact desired weight.
When using concrete plates, you're already adapting to a new way of doing things... so it's probably best to adapt the workout with them as well. My point; if you're a bar-dropper... maybe start adding an eccentric movement to the end as opposed to the drop - which will trash them over time, especially with no rebar.
Biggest problem I've had with caveman molds is popping out the plate (even when lubicant is applied). This seems to solve that problem! Just flip it upside down and let gravity do the work. Its more expensive but a huge time saver! Great video!
First of all: kudos to the dude who came up with that weight kit and the mold for gym people. REALLY cool idea! Second: Fiberglass Flakes!!! OF COURSE!!! I was trying to find an old video I saw of some Russian dude who used pieces of rebar throughout and stumbled across your video. Great video and fiberglass flakes a WAY better way to go about reinforcing that. Now I can make those wheel weights for my two-wheel tractor. Thanks!
You also have to consider the water weight that evaporates/bakes away. I think alternately, the best strategy is to pour too much by a couple pounds intentionally, then sand down that rough backside of the final dried plate to get to exactly whatever your target weight is.
Tare out your 5-gallon bucket, add your metal pipe and concrete to 45lbs. Put your pipe in the mold, mix your concrete, and pour. It should dry out darn to close to 45lbs. Tare, for those who don't know, is zero to empty weight in simple terms. Place your bucket on the scales and hit zero. Then whatever weight you put in, the math is done for you.
I bought the caveman weights. It's the same idea but a little bit cheaper and there's different molds with the numbers embedded. I bought all their molds and I've made over 400lbs of weights. I sprayed truck bed liner on mine which gives them a little protective coating and makes them look awesome. Best idea ever. Thanks for this video though, I would've never found the caveman molds without it!!
I made DIY atlas stones maybe 10 years ago. I still have them and still use them. High strength concrete is the way to go. It will stay strong and not break as long as you make sure you use adequate mats when setting them down and or dropping them.
Did this 3 years ago to great result. Couple tips: 1) use a layer of rebar in the middle of the plate. 2) don't buy a kit, buy a pair of cooler tubs and 2" pvc for centers. 3) after weight set up, pond cure them for a few days. 4) buy a mixing drill bit, cheap and worth it
If I were to do it I’d suggest weighing the mold before you add the concrete, add more concrete than you need because you can grind off excess concrete easier than adding concrete and spray finished product with Bedliner so your home gym isn’t dusty after each workout. Just some suggestions I thought I’d share.
Thanks a lot for sharing this. I have always dream to have my own gym but never have had enough money to build it up, but it might be a great idea to start with this concrete stuff. Thanks a lot mate
Thanks Coop. You are awesome. If you add a protein shake to your concrete mix the finish product will actually help you build more muscle; it’s science.
I'm surprised with some of the negative reviews. I was so impressed with the ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxMwYg0MOXR4M-oGeyBsNSYe1aPOUoRH6D cage that I got the lat pulldown attachment that goes with it. It is equally outstanding. I don't have one complaint other than putting it together is a job. The instructions and packaging of the parts are very well designed and organized. Also, I stripped and damaged the pull down cable the first day, admitting it was my stupid fault, and they quickly replaced it at no charge. I'm 6'5, 280lbs and fit in the cage just fine. Glenn B
@@hitleractually8180 i did it as a seasonal worker during summer, ill go to university. If they paid more tho, i would have sticked to it, as i enjoyed it. To be fair tho, in italy they are paid relatively more than in the us, but you also dont get 100k of dollar debt if u go to uni, so ill stick with the second option
@@hitleractually8180 lol, im a union construction worker and i make more money than all of the "suits" I see downtown, who undoubtedly hold on to a ton of college debt. I also own a home and some nice toys. Back is holding up fine, as well...thats why I work out. What do you do for work?
If you want to make sure that the outsides stay exquisitely intact, you can hit them with Line-x, and that dimensions the shock significantly . There's a bunch of videos out there of an egg dropped off of a roof with Line-X around it, and it doesn't break that would be a perfect addition to this project
Weigh all dry ingredients to the desired amount, say 45 lbs, and then add water. The water will evaporate eventually giving you the most accurate weights
Coming from someone who test concrete you should you a small tamping rod to help layers become cohesive. We do it during are slump test, and making cylinders.
lb for Americans and Kg for absolutely every other country in the whole wide world. The only thing Americans have adopted when everyone accepted the metric system was ammunition. 9mm, 25mm, etc. It says all you need to know.
@@stixandstone I definitely don't hold other people's actions against y'all guys. Craigslist is always just going to be full of people trying to squeeze every dollar possible out of people.
Loving the DIY videos. This and your home pulley setup = super motivating. Thanks Coop! Love to see you review some ‘home functional trainers’ I know you have the one by prodigy and another separately but would be cool to see side by side ones comparing a few different options 😇
Great Work Coop. Paint these with something like Bill Hirsch Miracle Paint or another moisture cured urethane to seal in that concrete. That will harden it up and help prevent the occasional chipping.
Vance Young sure! For science, maybe we should see how they would perform. Does a cast steel plates do better than a machines plate. I don’t think I’ve seen a video that have done it. Common sense would say no, I wouldn’t drop steel plates, but let’s see the video for science. Drop them on rubber pads would be fine to observe.
I would make a few for maxing out on a leg press machine in my garage gym , don't need to keep buying just so I could max out a leg press , great content bro .
For 9 years I was a technician in my state's highway department lab. For the purpose of enforcing contracts that specify the strength of concrete, the industry standard is to age concrete cylinders under water, at constant temperature, for 28 days, I would suggest that concrete does not reach its full strength until a month after it is mixed. It should be kept thoroughly wet during that month. If strength is important, using high strength cement and adding fiberglass are good things to do. Another good thing is to use less water. One of the primary determinants of concrete strength is the water/cement ratio. The higher the ratio, the weaker the concrete. Knowing this leads to a relatively recent innovation: roller compacted concrete. For RCC, you merely dampen the dry mix. The mix should be thoroughly damp, but not wet enough to flow. Then they shovel it into place and tamp it. For road construction, they use the same rollers they use to compact asphalt pavement. Your weights will get lighter as they continue to dry out, assuming they are kept out of the rain. The weight of the dry hardened concrete is not a concern when building highways, So I have no experience with that. If that is important to you, you'll definitely have to keep the concrete out of the rain. The dry weight will be something higher than the weigh of concrete mix you use because water participates in the chemical reaction. If you want to predict the dry hard weight, I suggest you determine the formula experimentally. Measure the amount of mix and water you use, then weigh the hardened concrete once a week at first, then once a month, until the weight stops decreasing. That will work if the plates are kept in air having a constant relative humidity. If the RH varies, the plates will always be gaining and losing weight. It is likely that the weight variations will be slight. It looked like you were using "mortar," not "concrete." Mortar is cement plus sand. Concrete is cement plus sand plus coarse aggregate.
Made myself a Húsafell stone for my garage gym using a plywood mold. If you want to be sure they don't break add some rebar and/or wire to make it even stronger. Also if you have a wheelbarrow and a hoe mix the concrete there it's easier. If you make a big stone keep misting it for several days while it cures as it will (so I've been told) make the final product much stronger. Also safety tip, make sure to grind smooth any rough edges if you bump rough concrete with any real speed or force it will tear through you...
You are not saving that much. The main thing you gain is the ability to make as many as you want. You also have to factor in the cost of materials etc besides the kit.
You can just buy Olympic dumbbell handles, they’re usually around $100 for a pair (make sure you buy a different set of clamps though, because they all usually come with cheap clamps), and then make your weights.
@@_Car_Ideas i have an adjustable dumbbell set. I want to build a set of regular dumbbells, with flat bottoms so i can rest them on my knees instead of getting jabbed in the quad by a metal pole
You Have to Live It you need to invest in IronMaster quick-lock adjustable dumbbells. Problem is they are not available right now but if you find a pair on the secondary market for around the same cost as new I’d buy it. Worth every dollar. I’ve had mine for 2 years they get used a lot. The square look was weird at first but they feel more like traditional dumbbells at a commercial gym than any garage dumbbells I’ve ever used including power blocks . Plus they come in several expansion sets.
@@MajesticSkywhale you have to realize there are no good diy adjustable designs excepts the long pole version or the Ironmasters which cost £1200 for the 75kg per hand or £350 for 36kg per hand. If you cannot buy, Once you get actually strong then that space on the pole would be filled anyway and you can rest them on the floor. You could have a circus dumbell that is "fillable" but they are quite big. You can use lead-rolls as well for dumbell
For all those thinking about doing this, consider using gloves to prevent chemical burns to the skin. Coop! got to give you credit for the dedication and passion for what you do.
Well, I’m five months into working with my first set of concrete plates using these very molds and they are still going strong. Only a bit of chipping on my small 10lbs because I wasn’t paying attention and it smacked my jammer arm post.
Awesome result. I bet if you spray them with an underseal rubber coating after they've set it would increase the longevity and drop resistance. Could be worth a try.
This is 100% DIY. Purchased molds do not detract from that. Also, it's funny how different this is from your usual videos, while being so 100% on-brand.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
My dad worked road construction and used concrete for everything. When I asked him for a set of weights he made me a set using buckets and coffee cans. This was 40 years ago. The set was awesome.
that is priceless bro
❤ for the dads ❤
The secret is to over pour the concrete then take a concrete grinding blade and grind it down to exactly 45lbs, it will also make the backside smooth then spray it with truck bed liner
TRUCK BED LINER! I didn't think of that! Great idea!
I think you're onto something. Fucking awesome idea
@Chimera I used to use it when I was a concrete labourer, and we used heaps more than this.
Which part would you grind down? Back of the plate?
@@Sk0lzky Yes - because it's the rougher looking side.
Coop’s glove game in this video is pretty epic. His ability to take off and put on his gloves within seconds between video clips were amazing.
Ordered my mold 2 weeks ago... Made 6 plates already. I also added wire lathe inside it, and painted them heavily with rubberized paint. Work great. Also long as you're not that tool that throws or drops the weight after every set, and use them for what they are intended for... Cheapest alternative yet!
How the plates holding up? Mt main concern is going to pull something like 500lbs + on deadlift and dropping the weight. Not all the time just with the occasional slip
Could you tell us if your plates are still in one piece?
commenting to see if your plates are still holding up
Update for the ppl asking I didnt buy this mold I made my own out of aluminum flashing 17.5 inches and 2.5 inches deep. They came out at about 47 pounds. And are holding up very well considering I dropped 405 the other day deadlifting on 2 rubber stall mats and they didnt brake painted them with a rubber coat also fiberglassed the edge on the main pair I use for a little extra very pleased so far
@@markjonesstrongman thank you so much for real
Happy new year btw
Pro tip: mix concrete with milk instead of water for extra protein!
Rip endorses this idea.
Can I add oatmeal and peanut butter to make it a weight gainer?
@@huflungpu1051 hell yeah!
AWESOME TIP! WAS DELICIOUS!
Someone knows too much about concrete 😉😉😉
The 6 strands of fiberglass you put in there will surely help.
Lmao ahhaha
you don't need to add a lot of something to appreciatively change its microstructure. While I am not very knowledgeable on concrete, steels will only contain around .5% of carbon by mass and they are very different in terms of strength than iron.
@@thomas7365 microstucture, yes. But notice, the fiberglass he is adding is only the version rated to help with initial cracking during drying. To help with cracking during usage, more, longer strand, is needed.
@@thomas7365 What you are talking about is called an interstitial alloy (this rearrangement happens at a molecular level). This is done by smelting, therefore the carbon atoms (much smaller in diameter) are able to fit between the much larger metal atoms. Because the molecular weight of metal atoms (could be any but likely Fe: iron) is much higher than that of carbon per mol, the percentage by mass will be greatly skewed towards the metal, however in terms of the number atoms, this ratio would be much less skewed towards the metal because of the difference in molecular weight, which is measured per mole (as it compares to Avogadros Number when counting atoms individually). Therefore though the mass percentage of the alloy will be skewed towards the metal, the atoms making up the molecule will be a much more neutral ratio, though still skewed towards the metal. This process works differently (adding fiberglass to cement) no LARGE molecular changes are happening here because this is simply a mixture as opposed to a solution (wherein chemical composition tends to change). Think of a rock in water (a mixture) as opposed to salt dissolved in water (a solution).
@@rezanadaf1213 Thank you for the clarification on interstitial compounds. I agree that a change in crystalline structure will likely have much greater change on strength and crack propagation resistance of material, but microstructure of material is also very important, and from what I've researched fiberglass can appreciably change this (not so much of the concrete itself but the underlying fiberglass matrix seems to form a microfiber heterostructure within the concrete).
Additional tips:
•water weight in the concrete evaporates out
•overcast and use angle grinder to grind down to weight/smoother finish (read last tip for what overcasting would be)
•if you get a super rough finish, use some concrete repair mix to smoothen it out
•if you're gonna spend money on fiberglass reinforcements, use more than that tiny amount
•use sch 40 PVC and coat the outside in rubber (either spray on or tape or a rubber sleeve)
•spray on truck bed liner to coat the entire plate. The large plates come with a 17.5" diameter which puts the surface area of the plate right around 8sqft. Truck bed liner is supposed to be 0.7lb/sqft at 1/8" thickness. This extra thickness also bumps that 17.5" diameter closer to true size of an oly plage diameter. This means you're getting about 6lbs of spray on rubber into the plate so only pour about 40-42lbs > grind off about a pound or two > lose some water weight from evaporation > spray truck bed liner evenly until 45lbs
Concrete doesn't lose much weight when drying. The amount in these plates would be negligible anyway. The water molecules react with the mix, hydrating it and losing energy to heat, not evaporation. The oxygen and hydrogen ions don't leave the mix, so the weight of the water stays.
@@Dsquaredforever Do i wait until it is cured to sand it or can i wait until its dry
Do i wait until it is cured to sand it or can i wait until its dry
Your muscles don't know if you're lifting shiny weights or concrete ones, weight is weight!
That's the same with calisthenics.
@@talaverajr391 What calisthenics exercise is equivalent to a heavy deadlift?
@@nathannewman6555 a deadlift is a compound exercise working both your legs and your lats. A heavy deadlift is just an overloaded version of that. You can overload your lats by doing front lever holds, and your legs by doing pistol box jumps. It will provide the same gains as doing deadlifts and by the time you're back in the gym your deadlift will have increased
@@jasonpeng5798 Fair enough. I'd still argue its not efficient. You are doing 2, practically 3 exercises to replace one. I say three, because with a pistol squat being one legged, you'll have to do both sides.
They are also still a bit different based on progression. To progress on a deadlift, you simply have to add weight. In Calisthenics, you have to add reps and at some point, change to an entirely different exercise. Weight training doesn't limit you from changing exercises or reps, that's just another option.
@@nathannewman6555 of course. Having more options is definitely far more efficient than relying solely on one way of training. For example, some calisthenics exercises,like pullups, are far more efficient training methods than any weight exercise, so they are pretty much incorporated into any weight training regimen. Other times, weight training exercises like standing rows and squats are far more efficient. Having weights allows you to pick the most efficient exercise - if a calisthnx exercise is more efficient, you can do that, and if it's not, you have the option of using weights. If you have bands, you can mix them into your regimen for even greater efficiency.
You're tripping me out with wearing gloves when you grab the cement but when you are packing it in the mould, no gloves!
yeah, what the hell. not only that, then that person is wearing shorts and he was wearing pants!
He had someone do all the dirty work. HA!
His wifey caught him, beat his ass, and took them away.
OSHA has entered the chat.
Gloves? Lol. 3 decades in construction never saw gloves with concrete.
@@donoberloh ok boomer
For those that own a random orbital sander, take off the sand paper and use the base against the edge of the mold in several place, pressing kinda hard. This will vibrate all air bubbles to the surface and make a much nicer result.
Sawzall without a blade works well too.....
Or use your wive's vibrator wrapped in cellotape.
I randomly own one 😭😭😅
They look so good! I think a lot of people would like to see more DIY gym equipment videos from you 👍🏼
I recently made cylinder shaped bags using green canvas and leather stitcher and filled them with gravel. I also sewed handles and rienforced them with more canvass into the bags and they hold just fine. My heaviest bag so far is 50lbs. All the bags are packed tightly to prevent shifting of rocks. These bags are solid and work greatly.
When we were kids in the 1960s my Dad rented an aluminum canoe for a week. Put it in the cellar on saw horses upside down , coated it with petroleum jelly from the drug store than put fiberglass cloth over and covered it with fiberglass gel. Let it harden and cleaned it up Took back the rental and from the mold we made 3 fiber glass canoes
They were heavy but lasted for years
Watching this video I’m surprised no one decided to make these molds earlier !!! Guess we needed a pandemic
“Money in tha bank shawty wat u thank” my favorite quote from coop so far 😂😂😂
That’s T pain brotha
But what does it mean? Coz I have no clue! Is it some UA-cam thing for how much he gets for making this video?
@@andrewbarnes8475 no lol
@@andrewbarnes8475 It's a lyric from an old t pain song.
Actually it’s lil scrappy.
I am so glad they are giving customers other options for consumers of Olympic Plates because fitness stores are jacking up the prices on all plates, dumbbells, kettlebells, etc. We need more diy videos like this.
Sshheeeeeiiiitttttt!!! No mofo lies bro!!!!!
No one can make me pay 120 euro for 25 kg of steel....no way. Prices of weight plates is insane.
Honestly you could just make them out of wood and they would last longer than concrete.
@@LS-jv9hp you'd need super dense wood, and the plates would be massive
@@guitubagrips9719 Yeah I figured the size would be big but that can be rectified (Like they do in WSM for axle DLs)through the use of platforms to counter it. Also, I live in Northern Europe where most common wood types are pretty dense like Ash or Oak.
Just LOVED that video. !!!!
Got a suggestion I think you and your viewers making these might like
I recently bought 2 concrete blocks to do squats with a dip belt and a pair of dumbells while standing on. I didn’t want the blocks to crumble and make a mess in the garage so I went to Home Depot and bought a can of Flexseal - that rubberized stuff in a spray can you see on TV all the time to seal concrete etc to stop leaks. Sprayed both blocks in white to prevent black smudge makers and the stuff worked PERFECTLY!!!!!! Sealed the concrete - no dust or crumbles and if put on in a 2d or 3rd coat would probably be great protect for your concrete weight plates.
I got my first weight setback in 1967. 110 lbs of interlocking plastic weights - advertised as not to damage floors. What they really were plastic molds which had a pour hole for concrete which were than sealed Finally got rid of them in 2012 so I definitely got my money’s worth out of them.
I believe give concrete 20-28 days to fully cure and reach max strength. Also I've seen folks spray bed liner on them to make them even more durable as well as give them the look of actual iron plates.
There's also Caveman weights that have a different look at a lower price point: cavemanweights.bigcartel.com/
@@MoCheeks3000 love my Caveman weights. My 45s all clock in at 46.1#
Great, plates will be ready in October.
I like the bed liner idea
Concrete when properly mixed reaches its PSI strength at about 28 days but will continue getting harder for decades
The Martha Stewart of the concrete game.
As a cement mason i agree
It’s a good thing.
Po
Is he getting arrested too?
This comment has freaked me out as i am sat watching the first episode of Home and away while watching this
Damn coop start wearing green clothes and you could be Luigi.
Good thing I read this after I finish the video. Would've been a distraction. Overall great video tho.
Camo = Sgt Slaughter
Lol great vid by the way
"About half the size of me, so you can just imagine how massive he is in person" 💀💀💀
twice the size LMFAO jackass
Jacob Wrenn he said half the size... go to 1:20
@@StonewallJacobFILMS That was the joke.
🤣🤣🤣
Prison! REALLY?
🤔
By the time all my plates cure I'll be ready for Covid-20
Shut your mouth.
Damn, son
Mirza.mm why so angry little man?
@@UnknownUser-fg3fs you want a covid 20 big man ?
@@mirza6399 yes
I have been using the 45# mold from Caveman Weights and 8" silicone cake pans. Pour the 45# halfway to make 20# plates. I experienced the same weight discrepancies you did, which was frustrating. But overall, I was able to make 270# of weights for super cheap. Happy to be able to keep working out.
Gonna finish them off with truck bed liner spray to help harden the exterior (after a full 28 day cure).
Make a video review plz
You should add rebar or wire mesh would be 100 times stronger
@@Jesus713martin I did. Put in chicken wire on the first group. Haven't had issues 2 years later with the 45lbs plates.
$115? for this mold? I mean I know regular plates get expensive but common. That's expensive considering the whole point of this is to save money.
The initial price seems high but assuming the molds are reusable you can make a bunch of plates for a fraction of the cost to buy manufactured plates.
@@oXchoujiXo exactly. I also cover shipping to US customers.
@@oXchoujiXo it's still just a plastic mold that's it... way to expensive
And you pay how much per pre-fabbed weight?
But for the $ 115.00 you can make a thousand of them if you want.
I just finished my first 45. I measured the dry concrete before mixing so I'll see how accurate that made the weight. I used the hot glue seal instead of silicone though and the hole came a bit loose and is just off center as a result. Will try more glue next time. I also bought the refill kit from Caveman as they are significantly cheaper, but not metal so I'll compare how they hold up in comparison after I have at least a set of each.
As others have mentioned you should tare the scale first. Also, I made some concrete plates a few months ago and made sure to make them slightly heavier than what I wanted. Then once it is cured, go back with an angle grinder with a concrete disk on it and you can shave weight until to get it exactly what you want. Obviously there will be slight weight variations as you use them, but this gets you really close to exact desired weight.
When using concrete plates, you're already adapting to a new way of doing things... so it's probably best to adapt the workout with them as well. My point; if you're a bar-dropper... maybe start adding an eccentric movement to the end as opposed to the drop - which will trash them over time, especially with no rebar.
If you do eccentrics on heavy deadlifts, you're putting yourself at a higher risk of injury for no strength gain whatsoever.
@@uwirl4338 someone hasn't done much research
Biggest problem I've had with caveman molds is popping out the plate (even when lubicant is applied). This seems to solve that problem! Just flip it upside down and let gravity do the work. Its more expensive but a huge time saver! Great video!
First of all: kudos to the dude who came up with that weight kit and the mold for gym people. REALLY cool idea! Second: Fiberglass Flakes!!! OF COURSE!!! I was trying to find an old video I saw of some Russian dude who used pieces of rebar throughout and stumbled across your video. Great video and fiberglass flakes a WAY better way to go about reinforcing that. Now I can make those wheel weights for my two-wheel tractor. Thanks!
Why not put the molds on the scale, zero the scale and then pour to the right or closest weight to be more accurate?
You also have to consider the water weight that evaporates/bakes away. I think alternately, the best strategy is to pour too much by a couple pounds intentionally, then sand down that rough backside of the final dried plate to get to exactly whatever your target weight is.
49lb in wet concert is the sweet spot then after drying it would be 45lb 46lb
@Eric Gatlin nice send the video sanding concrete. Lol. The balance on the weight is also a factor I think
Tare out your 5-gallon bucket, add your metal pipe and concrete to 45lbs. Put your pipe in the mold, mix your concrete, and pour. It should dry out darn to close to 45lbs.
Tare, for those who don't know, is zero to empty weight in simple terms. Place your bucket on the scales and hit zero. Then whatever weight you put in, the math is done for you.
This would also ensure that the plates are the same weight afterwards
I bought the caveman weights. It's the same idea but a little bit cheaper and there's different molds with the numbers embedded. I bought all their molds and I've made over 400lbs of weights. I sprayed truck bed liner on mine which gives them a little protective coating and makes them look awesome.
Best idea ever. Thanks for this video though, I would've never found the caveman molds without it!!
that's a lot of weights! nice!
I made DIY atlas stones maybe 10 years ago. I still have them and still use them. High strength concrete is the way to go. It will stay strong and not break as long as you make sure you use adequate mats when setting them down and or dropping them.
Its pure genius.... Way to think outside the box......I do not give 5 stars for being creative very often.. 5 STARS for sure!!!!
How consistent is the density/uniformity for weight accuracy purposes? Super cool!!
If you mix each batch of concrete the same, they will be very consistent.
Stix And Stone great product genius
Put it on a scale while you pour it
@@jhoags92 The weight will be different when dried.
@@stackerhvh Not really. When both are dried
I think he should have just kept dropping UNTIL THEY BROKE, as an idea of how long they might last.
They were already breaking (chipping). 10:45 where the concrete touches the 2 inch electrical conduits (metal cylinders).
@@axlsane427 could add foam wrap between the two
@@reburied9727 Uhm...better use Polyurethane bushings. www.kurth-classics-autoparts.de/gb/suspension/303-mercedes-g-wagon-pu-bushing-set-trailing-arm.html
He was supposed to wait 7 days before using them so it wouldn't be accurate anyway
I've heard of suggestions on other peoples videos of them spraying it afterwards with truck bed lines but no ones actually done it on youtube
I’ve had a bunch of customers do it and they seem to love it.
That's actually genius
@@brianfox340 and it looks good too
Did this 3 years ago to great result. Couple tips: 1) use a layer of rebar in the middle of the plate. 2) don't buy a kit, buy a pair of cooler tubs and 2" pvc for centers. 3) after weight set up, pond cure them for a few days. 4) buy a mixing drill bit, cheap and worth it
If I were to do it I’d suggest weighing the mold before you add the concrete, add more concrete than you need because you can grind off excess concrete easier than adding concrete and spray finished product with Bedliner so your home gym isn’t dusty after each workout. Just some suggestions I thought I’d share.
Do i wait until it is cured to sand it or can i wait until its dry
Thanks a lot for sharing this. I have always dream to have my own gym but never have had enough money to build it up, but it might be a great idea to start with this concrete stuff. Thanks a lot mate
Thanks Coop. You are awesome. If you add a protein shake to your concrete mix the finish product will actually help you build more muscle; it’s science.
Man. You seem like a very easy dude to get a long with. I don't even plan on getting this or working out, you're just fun to watch.
Gotta love how Coop takes off the cloves to handle concrete
wet cement and fibreglass is really good for your skin I hear!
you can also brush acrylic concrete sealer on them after
Cheaper than buying actual weights, going to try this for sure! Thanks for the video
Would it be possible to calibrated these by drilling holes and filling it with something heavy until it reaches the wanted weight
Yes
I'm surprised with some of the negative reviews. I was so impressed with the ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxMwYg0MOXR4M-oGeyBsNSYe1aPOUoRH6D cage that I got the lat pulldown attachment that goes with it. It is equally outstanding. I don't have one complaint other than putting it together is a job. The instructions and packaging of the parts are very well designed and organized. Also, I stripped and damaged the pull down cable the first day, admitting it was my stupid fault, and they quickly replaced it at no charge. I'm 6'5, 280lbs and fit in the cage just fine. Glenn B
Just got a set of these moulds today for my birthday cool video bro.
Hell yea! Thanks for dropping them. I already have the kit and will be making some weights soon.
Make a video bro!!!!
"Cool Batman suit dude" LOL Love it Coop! Thanks for the great vids, as always!
The construction worker in me cringed at the way you mixed the concrete, it would have been much easier for you to mix it in a wider pot
^^^THIS
I was looking for this comment!
you'll die at age 55 with a broken back and no money. Shoulda went to college.
@@hitleractually8180 i did it as a seasonal worker during summer, ill go to university. If they paid more tho, i would have sticked to it, as i enjoyed it. To be fair tho, in italy they are paid relatively more than in the us, but you also dont get 100k of dollar debt if u go to uni, so ill stick with the second option
@@hitleractually8180 lol, im a union construction worker and i make more money than all of the "suits" I see downtown, who undoubtedly hold on to a ton of college debt. I also own a home and some nice toys. Back is holding up fine, as well...thats why I work out. What do you do for work?
If you want to make sure that the outsides stay exquisitely intact, you can hit them with Line-x, and that dimensions the shock significantly . There's a bunch of videos out there of an egg dropped off of a roof with Line-X around it, and it doesn't break that would be a perfect addition to this project
I think I saw a short when they drop a watermelon off of a fire tower covered in that stuff.
That pretty clearly chipped around the whole for the bar even from deadlift height
Made my first plate, taking it out of the mold tonight! Excited about it
Coop try making a video where you make your own mold for cheaper
"Titan Concrete Weight Molds"
The most cheaper way is Marcio Fitness way using a paperboard... watch in his chanel.
I would spray them with flex seal. Those mats are stall mats available at tractor supply. They go on sale fairly often.
Weigh all dry ingredients to the desired amount, say 45 lbs, and then add water. The water will evaporate eventually giving you the most accurate weights
I was wondering about that!
That's not how concrete works. The vast majority of the water stays in it forever.
I used rebar instead of the concrete fiber to hold it all together. I have yet to have them break over a month of heavy lifting with them.
How did you cut the rebar?
ultimaetsolder use a angle grinder if you can if not a hacksaw are very cheap and work well
ultimaetsolder I didn’t cut anything, I used a 3/8x12 rebar that sat around the PVC to hold it in place
Or chicken wire, hog wire, or just concrete reinforcement wire/mesh.
Coming from someone who test concrete you should you a small tamping rod to help layers become cohesive. We do it during are slump test, and making cylinders.
I like how the plates have Lb and Kg on them to write in what they weigh afterwards.
lb for Americans and Kg for absolutely every other country in the whole wide world. The only thing Americans have adopted when everyone accepted the metric system was ammunition. 9mm, 25mm, etc. It says all you need to know.
@@andrewbarnes8475 There are many common calibers measured in inches, such as .22 and .45
Don't forget to seal the concrete. Also some rebar or just something in addition to the fiber glass may help in longevity.
Steel mesh works well, i saw on buffdude dads channel, he made the barbell as well with 2 inch collar
I was thinking steel mesh. Or fencing mesh, or chicken wire,
Breath of fresh air mate some one that is just being there self and making people smile great vid
I've seen people selling concrete plates on craigslist made with these molds.
How much were they?
Omar Alcantara crazy expensive for what you could make yourself
@@ohms2754 yeah, they were being sold for like $1.80 per pound, which is crazy when you know that concrete is under $5 per 80 pound bag.
Connor Nolan I cant do anything about gougers and resellers. I have called a few out that I have seen in my area.
@@stixandstone I definitely don't hold other people's actions against y'all guys. Craigslist is always just going to be full of people trying to squeeze every dollar possible out of people.
Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what kept you going. 🙌
That's awesome. The next industrial revolution has begun!
I just removed the rear axles off my two trucks. One’s a 1/2 and other a 3/4 ton and welded some handles. They work.
Loving the DIY videos. This and your home pulley setup = super motivating. Thanks Coop! Love to see you review some ‘home functional trainers’ I know you have the one by prodigy and another separately but would be cool to see side by side ones comparing a few different options 😇
I'm impressed by how quickly your pink gloves are taken off and put back on again between shots
Honestly it seems they were taken at different times, one in which he is wearing gloves and one in which he isn't
Texan: *sees State of Texas on product, immediately clicks thumbnail, regardless of content*
Everybody else: "Oh hey cool another useful DIY video."
Neither person is wrong 😂
These turned out better than I expected.
Tip: pour extra and shave the back to exactly 45
Concrete calibrated plates!
Great Work Coop. Paint these with something like Bill Hirsch Miracle Paint or another moisture cured urethane to seal in that concrete. That will harden it up and help prevent the occasional chipping.
Do another review. Drop them till they crack. How many times does it take to crack the plates from shoulder height?
Richard Lahman would you drop iron plates from shoulder height?
Vance Young sure! For science, maybe we should see how they would perform. Does a cast steel plates do better than a machines plate. I don’t think I’ve seen a video that have done it. Common sense would say no, I wouldn’t drop steel plates, but let’s see the video for science. Drop them on rubber pads would be fine to observe.
I would make a few for maxing out on a leg press machine in my garage gym , don't need to keep buying just so I could max out a leg press , great content bro .
i need some junky plates for sled pulling, this might work well.
A lot of strongmen competitors have done this for sleds, yokes, frames, or anything that needs to stay outside or stay heavy.
For 9 years I was a technician in my state's highway department lab. For the purpose of enforcing contracts that specify the strength of concrete, the industry standard is to age concrete cylinders under water, at constant temperature, for 28 days, I would suggest that concrete does not reach its full strength until a month after it is mixed. It should be kept thoroughly wet during that month.
If strength is important, using high strength cement and adding fiberglass are good things to do. Another good thing is to use less water. One of the primary determinants of concrete strength is the water/cement ratio. The higher the ratio, the weaker the concrete. Knowing this leads to a relatively recent innovation: roller compacted concrete. For RCC, you merely dampen the dry mix. The mix should be thoroughly damp, but not wet enough to flow. Then they shovel it into place and tamp it. For road construction, they use the same rollers they use to compact asphalt pavement.
Your weights will get lighter as they continue to dry out, assuming they are kept out of the rain. The weight of the dry hardened concrete is not a concern when building highways, So I have no experience with that. If that is important to you, you'll definitely have to keep the concrete out of the rain. The dry weight will be something higher than the weigh of concrete mix you use because water participates in the chemical reaction. If you want to predict the dry hard weight, I suggest you determine the formula experimentally. Measure the amount of mix and water you use, then weigh the hardened concrete once a week at first, then once a month, until the weight stops decreasing. That will work if the plates are kept in air having a constant relative humidity. If the RH varies, the plates will always be gaining and losing weight. It is likely that the weight variations will be slight.
It looked like you were using "mortar," not "concrete." Mortar is cement plus sand. Concrete is cement plus sand plus coarse aggregate.
Love them purchasing today
You could add concrete colors. So you get your red 45ers. Greatings from austria i think they will add nice to a home gym
Ive done just that with my personal set. Green 25s, blue 45s, and red 55s
Maybe put the mold on the scale, tare it and then add the cement.
Some of the weight is water that evaporates out
Made myself a Húsafell stone for my garage gym using a plywood mold. If you want to be sure they don't break add some rebar and/or wire to make it even stronger. Also if you have a wheelbarrow and a hoe mix the concrete there it's easier. If you make a big stone keep misting it for several days while it cures as it will (so I've been told) make the final product much stronger.
Also safety tip, make sure to grind smooth any rough edges if you bump rough concrete with any real speed or force it will tear through you...
Coat them in Line-X to make them invincible
where do i buy the lead shot? is just the little metal lead pellets used for shotguns?
Strength of concrete decreases as you increase water content
Use a recip saw with out the blade pressed up against the mold to vibrate the air out
I personally use an old back massager to do that.
Great video. Save people some money!
Have you seen how expensive the moulds are ....
You are not saving that much. The main thing you gain is the ability to make as many as you want. You also have to factor in the cost of materials etc besides the kit.
Really interesting video you made here. If I wasn't living in the heart of NYC I'd go into a backyard and start making plates right now.
This guy needs to make a dumbbell mold!
You can just buy Olympic dumbbell handles, they’re usually around $100 for a pair (make sure you buy a different set of clamps though, because they all usually come with cheap clamps), and then make your weights.
@@_Car_Ideas i have an adjustable dumbbell set. I want to build a set of regular dumbbells, with flat bottoms so i can rest them on my knees instead of getting jabbed in the quad by a metal pole
You Have to Live It you need to invest in IronMaster quick-lock adjustable dumbbells. Problem is they are not available right now but if you find a pair on the secondary market for around the same cost as new I’d buy it. Worth every dollar. I’ve had mine for 2 years they get used a lot. The square look was weird at first but they feel more like traditional dumbbells at a commercial gym than any garage dumbbells I’ve ever used including power blocks . Plus they come in several expansion sets.
@@MajesticSkywhale you have to realize there are no good diy adjustable designs excepts the long pole version or the Ironmasters which cost £1200 for the 75kg per hand or £350 for 36kg per hand. If you cannot buy, Once you get actually strong then that space on the pole would be filled anyway and you can rest them on the floor. You could have a circus dumbell that is "fillable" but they are quite big. You can use lead-rolls as well for dumbell
@@JamesPhillipsOfficial I do realize that lmao, that's why I want to make concrete ones. I have a circus dumbbell too.
For all those thinking about doing this, consider using gloves to prevent chemical burns to the skin.
Coop! got to give you credit for the dedication and passion for what you do.
Crazy how fast he goes from gloves on to no gloves... :P
Oh good I wasn't the only one who noticed 😂
That’s what she said...
Been training with concrete since June... Solid training alternative if you dont have access to plates (at least for now).
Made my own using a 16" Sonotube and 2" PVC pipe. 2.5" thick comes out to 40 lbs exactly.
That’s a great idea. How are they working out?
@@vipnetworker they're working great! I need to make a few more so I have enough weight for squats and deads. I only made 4 plates initially.
@@vipnetworker they actually sell bags of fiber reinforced concrete at my local hardware store. I also used chicken fence wire for reinforcement.
16 sonotube is way expensive though...I like your ideally
Really? Where I'm at, a 16" cardboard sonotube is less than $8 and bags of fiber reinforced concrete are less than $6.
Thanks Coop. Always giving us good content.
We need a week update on those.
Well, I’m five months into working with my first set of concrete plates using these very molds and they are still going strong. Only a bit of chipping on my small 10lbs because I wasn’t paying attention and it smacked my jammer arm post.
Stix And Stone awesome
I LOVE YOUR OMEGLE VIDS BRO!
funny stuff scaring folks and freaking them out.
These are awesome, thanks for sharing! Have you considered coating them with rubber?
Awesome result. I bet if you spray them with an underseal rubber coating after they've set it would increase the longevity and drop resistance. Could be worth a try.
Nice advice
1/2 the size of me... that dude has to be HUGE!!!
This is 100% DIY. Purchased molds do not detract from that.
Also, it's funny how different this is from your usual videos, while being so 100% on-brand.
"Hitler shows you how to make concrete weights, adding to the already 32,343 other videos showing the exact same thing"
This could be a good idea to build an outdoor gym
That’s exactly why I started the molds. My entire gym is in my backyard.
concrete get his maximum strength at 28 days Coop
Been wanting to work out again and grow my mustache again... I think this video was the motivation I needed