Just received and installed my 30 mm PowerBlock (type A, Sport 9.0) knurled handles. They look and feel great, like using the pro-style DB's at the gym! Ordering was straightforward and quick. Thanks, Joe.
I just installed my 35mm Type C for Powerblock Pro Rexans and they completely changed the feel of the dumbbell. The thicker handle feels amazing especially for pressing movements. I’m in love with these grips and dumbbells. I plan to order another set of handles from Powerblock and another set of knurled grips from Average Joes. Highly recommended!!!
5:27 thank you. I came here to address the little wobble I noticed with the new handle on the elite usa. But you covered that with the foam explanation. Thanks!
Fantastic, I am glad you found the video. I had meant to send out a link to all Type B grip owners to let them know about this video, but in the craziness of shipping this week I never got around to it. FWIW, I did inquire with the same folks who make my custom nylon, PTFE and neoprene washers. I asked them what it would take to make a PVC/form washer. Just for the heck of it. I expect to hear from them this week. Although the same thing could be achieved by slicing 2mm rings of foam off of the OEM grips and using those as gaskets between the grips and adder mechanisms. I just keep mine in the locked position as a matter of habit.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC yeah I always have the adder weight in anyways. If the manufacturer gets back to you in a gasket I’m interested! Maybe I can find an oring as well
@@thrust84 You can also cut a custom washer directly from your OEM handle. Carefully run a utility knife around the foam to cut a slice no more than 2-3mm wide, then run the blade along the inner diameter of the foam to release it from the steel core if necessary. Voila, custom foam washer in just the right amount of compression. Should be a perfect fit. Thickness will determine how snugly that adder weight mechanism works when you move it between positions.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Just an update. These have been fantastic replacements. It really changed my experience with the powerblock Pro EXP. To the point where I don't want to sell them. Thank you kindly for making these affordable handles. I love the aggressive bite, the feel, and most importantly the affordable price tag
Installed mine last night. My rexan's feel so much better with the knurling and 40mm thickness. I can tell you thought through all of the details. Thanks!
Piece of advice for people: I installed mine today (Type A Elite Exp) and noticed that the plastic washer is a little too thick with your handles and makes the adjustment lever almost impossible to move, but it's a little too loose without anything. I replaced it with a few sheets of paper towels and that seemed to be a good middle ground.
Hiya, Harwood. Excellent point that I don't believe I mentioned in my installation videos. The molded plastic bodies of Powerblocks aren't perfectly identical. They can vary by as little as a fraction of a millimeter. In your case, it sounds like the hexagonal recess in the molded plastic was ever-so-slightly deeper than usual and drew the grip in more tightly against the washer and adder weight mechanism. Shimming as you did was exactly the way to handle it. I do have some custom 0.25 and 0.5mm plastic shims here, but even 0.25mm is sometimes too much. Just a piece of paper or two is often plenty. Office paper is around 0.05-0.10mm thick. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. Cheers, Joe
Heya J, yep. After what felt like the world's longest-running rumor, PB announced optional grips for the Elite USA. I was disappointed on many levels. First, a vast majority of PB owners have been talking about their preference for knurled grips for ages. What does PB do after 3 decades? They announce optional knurled grips for one model that isn't compatible with any others. And they're still only optional rather than standard on the Elite USA. Why in the world make your customers buy the grips separately? They even went so far as to announce that you could buy a knurled grip-equipped version of the Elite USA handle....separately. Talk about a slap in the face. They should just standardize on knurled grips across the entire product line-up. Second, they either deliberately or unintentionally omitted any mention of the type of steel used. Big difference between stainless and regular steel in terms of cost, aesthetics and maintenance. It's why cheap steels are coated/plated to keep them from rusting. Plating also alters the bite/feel of the knurl. If they're using SS, great. If they aren't, they should just state it up front. Third, I found it strange that their marketing team does not appear to know the thickness of its own product. They advertise it as a 1" grip. 1" = 25.4mm 25mm is the standard thickness of a female Olympic barbell. The grip shown in their marketing photos is definitely not 1". I'd estimate that grip to be 30-32mm based on the photo. That's about 1.2" or slightly thicker than an Olympic powerlifter barbell (29mm). So either the photo is not the finished product, or the product description is incorrect. Fourth is the knurl itself which appears to be just as passive as the one they've been shipping on one of their higher end Pro dumbbells. A common complaint has been that the knurled grip on those pricey Pros is just too passive. To be fair, quite a few of these adjustable dumbbell manufacturers have (in my opinion) played it safe with knurling. They could make some grips with a more aggressive knurl (as I have) for all the PB owners out there that prefer more "bite", but instead they deliver knurling that's so passive some people opt to just wrap it in tape for better grip. Fifth is more a peeve of mine from an engineering and design perspective. It'll only really matter to people who value aesthetics. Powerblock, and others making aftermarket knurled grips take the cheap way out. They basically cut bar stock, knurl it, mill and tap the ends and call it a day. They do that because it's fast and cheap, but their prices do not reflect it. I took the time to make sure every one of the sizes that I designed blends into the OEM handle better than Powerblock's own grips. Side by side, there's no comparison. But then, I'm biased. :-) And last, but not least, their pricing. Currently listed at $99 plus around $20 to ship to me here in NH. I'm just a one-man-band and I'm able to produce higher quality 316 stainless steel grips in 30mm with a better knurl for a better price. My pre-order 35s are (currently) $120 shipped in the States. And my 40s are currently $130. Powerblock has the scale and resources to produce knurled grips at costs far below anything a small biz like mine could achieve. Even more so if it turns out they aren't using a better material such as stainless. There's no good reason why their grips aren't more affordably priced, or why they aren't just standard on all of their dumbbells. I know this is way more than a simple "yes" answer to your question, but I hope you and others find the additional context helpful. [Disclaimer: the pricing above is as of the date of this comment. Those prices may change in the months ahead.]
Hi. Yes, they should fit your Pro Series. I show what they look like on a pair of my Pro Series handles here: ua-cam.com/video/VN0Ko9K7fsg/v-deo.html and they've been confirmed on the newer Pro 100s too. They all fit my "Type A" grip. Cheers.
Hia, Marucat, I think we already might have covered this in an email. So this reply is for anyone interested in an answer to your question. My grips all ship with hardware kits unique to the grip type. Type B grips for the Elite USA now ship with EPDM custom foam rubber washers that effectively mimic the role of the foam on the OEM grips. I still prefer cutting a slice of the OEM grip foam to make washers. But for folks who just don't want to do that, they can use the EPDM washers that come with their grip kit.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Thanks! I just installed your type C grips on my rexans and they feel incredible. Honestly like a whole new dumbbell. The perfect thickness and perfect knurling sharpness just right. Anyone reading this who haven’t tried, please do so. It will change how your powerblocks will feel :)
Depends on your hand size. 40s push the available space inside that frame to its limit. People with thick hands may find the 40 to be on the snug side with their knuckles brushing against the adder tubes. In that case I would recommend pre-ordering my 35 mm Type B due out around April. And the 30s should fit all but the most massive hands.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Thanks for the quick reply! Will do. In your installation video, I saw you could remove the other bars with foam. Do you think that would affect anything if removing those? I saw someone remove on an older model but don’t know if that’s the best thing to do
@@General505 No prob man. I'm taking a quick break and answering some YT messages before I get back to packing kits for shipment. Although the bars are removable, and there are even models without the upper bars, I would not recommend it. The ones without the upper bars, like a Sport 50, typically have steel reinforced plastic end caps. I have been toying with some offset bar designs that install in the OEM openings but move the bars out away from our hands while maintaining the OEM structural integrity of the handle. If I end up making any, it'll be late next year.
Definitely! The grip I refer to as "Type A" is compatible with most of the new Pro models. Older ones, especially decades old, tend to be my Type C grip.
Hi Frank, 40As are out of stock already, 30 and 40Bs are down to fewer than 10 pairs remaining of each. I totally underestimated how many people would be interested. So it depends on which model PB you own, and which grip size you want. Another production run is already underway. I kicked it off a few days ago, but that cargo won't arrive here until around April. That order will include my new 35mm 1.4" grips too. So as soon as I get myself through this crazy week filling the many remaining preorders, I'll kick off another preorder campaign for anyone who missed out and wants in on the next batch.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC okay thanks. I just watched this video again because I just picked up a pair of old PowerBlocks and I hate the foam handles so I'll be pre ordering a set. This video is extremely helpful!
Just received and installed my 30 mm PowerBlock (type A, Sport 9.0) knurled handles. They look and feel great, like using the pro-style DB's at the gym! Ordering was straightforward and quick. Thanks, Joe.
I just installed my 35mm Type C for Powerblock Pro Rexans and they completely changed the feel of the dumbbell. The thicker handle feels amazing especially for pressing movements. I’m in love with these grips and dumbbells. I plan to order another set of handles from Powerblock and another set of knurled grips from Average Joes. Highly recommended!!!
5:27 thank you. I came here to address the little wobble I noticed with the new handle on the elite usa. But you covered that with the foam explanation. Thanks!
Fantastic, I am glad you found the video. I had meant to send out a link to all Type B grip owners to let them know about this video, but in the craziness of shipping this week I never got around to it.
FWIW, I did inquire with the same folks who make my custom nylon, PTFE and neoprene washers. I asked them what it would take to make a PVC/form washer. Just for the heck of it. I expect to hear from them this week. Although the same thing could be achieved by slicing 2mm rings of foam off of the OEM grips and using those as gaskets between the grips and adder mechanisms. I just keep mine in the locked position as a matter of habit.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC yeah I always have the adder weight in anyways. If the manufacturer gets back to you in a gasket I’m interested! Maybe I can find an oring as well
@@thrust84 You can also cut a custom washer directly from your OEM handle. Carefully run a utility knife around the foam to cut a slice no more than 2-3mm wide, then run the blade along the inner diameter of the foam to release it from the steel core if necessary. Voila, custom foam washer in just the right amount of compression. Should be a perfect fit. Thickness will determine how snugly that adder weight mechanism works when you move it between positions.
Just installed mine on my rexan set. A must have upgrade. Soooooo much better now. Well worth the wait. Thanks Joe 🤙.
Awesome, Randy, I'm glad you like them man. It was quite the process, but I hope everyone feels it was worth it.
Mine will be arriving Friday and I cannot wait! Thanks for offering a great affordable price!
Awesome! I'm looking forward to hearing your what you think, man.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Just an update. These have been fantastic replacements. It really changed my experience with the powerblock Pro EXP. To the point where I don't want to sell them. Thank you kindly for making these affordable handles. I love the aggressive bite, the feel, and most importantly the affordable price tag
Received mine yesterday and installed them. Such a great improvement. Thank you!
Thanks for taking the time to let everyone know, Greg. I'm stoked that you like them.
Installed mine last night. My rexan's feel so much better with the knurling and 40mm thickness. I can tell you thought through all of the details. Thanks!
Awesome! Super glad that you like them. Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
Piece of advice for people: I installed mine today (Type A Elite Exp) and noticed that the plastic washer is a little too thick with your handles and makes the adjustment lever almost impossible to move, but it's a little too loose without anything. I replaced it with a few sheets of paper towels and that seemed to be a good middle ground.
Hiya, Harwood. Excellent point that I don't believe I mentioned in my installation videos. The molded plastic bodies of Powerblocks aren't perfectly identical. They can vary by as little as a fraction of a millimeter.
In your case, it sounds like the hexagonal recess in the molded plastic was ever-so-slightly deeper than usual and drew the grip in more tightly against the washer and adder weight mechanism. Shimming as you did was exactly the way to handle it.
I do have some custom 0.25 and 0.5mm plastic shims here, but even 0.25mm is sometimes too much. Just a piece of paper or two is often plenty. Office paper is around 0.05-0.10mm thick.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. Cheers, Joe
Came here looking for this info
Thanks
Thought I did something wrong.
Loving the handles!
Fantastic content 👌 👏 👍
You're too kind, Mr. S Thank you.
Just got mine today, thanks!
Awesome! I hope you're happy with your investment, man.
I just saw that Powerblock is now selling a knurling kit. Were you aware of that?
Heya J, yep. After what felt like the world's longest-running rumor, PB announced optional grips for the Elite USA. I was disappointed on many levels.
First, a vast majority of PB owners have been talking about their preference for knurled grips for ages. What does PB do after 3 decades? They announce optional knurled grips for one model that isn't compatible with any others. And they're still only optional rather than standard on the Elite USA. Why in the world make your customers buy the grips separately? They even went so far as to announce that you could buy a knurled grip-equipped version of the Elite USA handle....separately. Talk about a slap in the face. They should just standardize on knurled grips across the entire product line-up.
Second, they either deliberately or unintentionally omitted any mention of the type of steel used. Big difference between stainless and regular steel in terms of cost, aesthetics and maintenance. It's why cheap steels are coated/plated to keep them from rusting. Plating also alters the bite/feel of the knurl. If they're using SS, great. If they aren't, they should just state it up front.
Third, I found it strange that their marketing team does not appear to know the thickness of its own product. They advertise it as a 1" grip. 1" = 25.4mm 25mm is the standard thickness of a female Olympic barbell. The grip shown in their marketing photos is definitely not 1". I'd estimate that grip to be 30-32mm based on the photo. That's about 1.2" or slightly thicker than an Olympic powerlifter barbell (29mm). So either the photo is not the finished product, or the product description is incorrect.
Fourth is the knurl itself which appears to be just as passive as the one they've been shipping on one of their higher end Pro dumbbells. A common complaint has been that the knurled grip on those pricey Pros is just too passive. To be fair, quite a few of these adjustable dumbbell manufacturers have (in my opinion) played it safe with knurling. They could make some grips with a more aggressive knurl (as I have) for all the PB owners out there that prefer more "bite", but instead they deliver knurling that's so passive some people opt to just wrap it in tape for better grip.
Fifth is more a peeve of mine from an engineering and design perspective. It'll only really matter to people who value aesthetics. Powerblock, and others making aftermarket knurled grips take the cheap way out. They basically cut bar stock, knurl it, mill and tap the ends and call it a day. They do that because it's fast and cheap, but their prices do not reflect it. I took the time to make sure every one of the sizes that I designed blends into the OEM handle better than Powerblock's own grips. Side by side, there's no comparison. But then, I'm biased. :-)
And last, but not least, their pricing. Currently listed at $99 plus around $20 to ship to me here in NH. I'm just a one-man-band and I'm able to produce higher quality 316 stainless steel grips in 30mm with a better knurl for a better price. My pre-order 35s are (currently) $120 shipped in the States. And my 40s are currently $130. Powerblock has the scale and resources to produce knurled grips at costs far below anything a small biz like mine could achieve. Even more so if it turns out they aren't using a better material such as stainless. There's no good reason why their grips aren't more affordably priced, or why they aren't just standard on all of their dumbbells.
I know this is way more than a simple "yes" answer to your question, but I hope you and others find the additional context helpful.
[Disclaimer: the pricing above is as of the date of this comment. Those prices may change in the months ahead.]
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC I love and respect your passion for adjustable dumbbell handles 😁😆
So these work on my pro series powerblocks?
Hi. Yes, they should fit your Pro Series. I show what they look like on a pair of my Pro Series handles here: ua-cam.com/video/VN0Ko9K7fsg/v-deo.html and they've been confirmed on the newer Pro 100s too. They all fit my "Type A" grip. Cheers.
what’s the thin felt circles for?
Hia, Marucat, I think we already might have covered this in an email. So this reply is for anyone interested in an answer to your question. My grips all ship with hardware kits unique to the grip type. Type B grips for the Elite USA now ship with EPDM custom foam rubber washers that effectively mimic the role of the foam on the OEM grips. I still prefer cutting a slice of the OEM grip foam to make washers. But for folks who just don't want to do that, they can use the EPDM washers that come with their grip kit.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Thanks! I just installed your type C grips on my rexans and they feel incredible. Honestly like a whole new dumbbell. The perfect thickness and perfect knurling sharpness just right. Anyone reading this who haven’t tried, please do so. It will change how your powerblocks will feel :)
@@marucat2797 Awesome man! Super happy to hear that you like them. Thanks for letting me know!
Would 40mm be too thick for Type B power blocks?
Depends on your hand size. 40s push the available space inside that frame to its limit. People with thick hands may find the 40 to be on the snug side with their knuckles brushing against the adder tubes. In that case I would recommend pre-ordering my 35 mm Type B due out around April. And the 30s should fit all but the most massive hands.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Thanks for the quick reply! Will do.
In your installation video, I saw you could remove the other bars with foam. Do you think that would affect anything if removing those? I saw someone remove on an older model but don’t know if that’s the best thing to do
@@General505 No prob man. I'm taking a quick break and answering some YT messages before I get back to packing kits for shipment. Although the bars are removable, and there are even models without the upper bars, I would not recommend it. The ones without the upper bars, like a Sport 50, typically have steel reinforced plastic end caps.
I have been toying with some offset bar designs that install in the OEM openings but move the bars out away from our hands while maintaining the OEM structural integrity of the handle. If I end up making any, it'll be late next year.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Thanks for the input!
I just submitted a pre-order for the Type B 35mm handles.
Looking forward to it!
does it work on powerblock pro too ?
Definitely! The grip I refer to as "Type A" is compatible with most of the new Pro models. Older ones, especially decades old, tend to be my Type C grip.
Can I still order these?
Hi Frank, 40As are out of stock already, 30 and 40Bs are down to fewer than 10 pairs remaining of each. I totally underestimated how many people would be interested. So it depends on which model PB you own, and which grip size you want.
Another production run is already underway. I kicked it off a few days ago, but that cargo won't arrive here until around April. That order will include my new 35mm 1.4" grips too.
So as soon as I get myself through this crazy week filling the many remaining preorders, I'll kick off another preorder campaign for anyone who missed out and wants in on the next batch.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC okay thanks. I just watched this video again because I just picked up a pair of old PowerBlocks and I hate the foam handles so I'll be pre ordering a set. This video is extremely helpful!