cheaper version of platemates

[hippahips]

I'm outgrowing my 15-lb. dumbbells but going directly to those 20-pounders seems too much of a stretch. I thought of buying platemates but the prices turned me off. I'd rather buy two more Cathe DVD's than plunk down about $100 for 2 pairs of 5/8-pounders and 2 pairs of 1.5-pounders. So I did this: I went to a fitness specialty store and got four 1.25-lb barbell plates for about $2.50 total. Then I went to Home Depot and got four shallow pot magnets with a 20-lb. pull. Cost me about $5 each. I also got this product called Future Glue. It's like Super Glue but stronger. All I did was glue the back of the magnet to the center of the barbell plate.

So now, when I do dumbbell presses and flyes for my chest workout, I can put one plate on both sides of my 15-lb. dumbbells to make them 17.5 lbs. I can lower to 16.25 when 17.5 becomes tough. I just move my grip to the heavier side of the dumbbell to balance the weight on my hands. I also make sure not to bang the dumbbells together.

The entire project cost me about $25. It works only on hex dumbbells. The magnets slide off the plastic-coated ones.

Pinky

 

[kathryn]

What a great and creative way to find an alternative for Platemates!

 

[cathe4me2]

Pinky you are a genius!
I'm going to try out your invention this week. Maybe you should patent your idea. ;-)
I'm with you. Jumping from 15 to 20#'s seems like a long way up. }(

 

[Soosan]

What a great idea! Thanks so much for sharing! I've been looking everywhere for Platemates and have only found them online so far. They ARE expensive (plus you would have to pay for shipping), but I felt the investment would be worth it, especially for shoulder work.

You're gonna save me a bundle!

 

[clareMc]

Pinky:

this is a fabulous idea and thank you for posting it! This could save $100!!!!!!!!

What a whizz you are!

Clare

 

[hippahips]

Thanks everyone, for your kind words and e-mails.:7

I just want to add that when I tried to get into the right position when doing deadlifts yesterday using my cheap version of platemates, I noticed that if I brought my dumbbells too close together (about 3 inches apart), the plates would slip off. I think this is because the repelling sides of two magnets were facing each other and causing each other to fall.

Also, I need .5-lb. weights for tricep and shoulder work but the lightest plates are 1.25 lbs. Well, I found in my garage a pair of adjustable 2.5-lb. ankle weights a friend gave me a long time ago. (I have never used them as I already have a pair of 10-lb. ankle weights.) Each 2.5-lb. ankle weight has 5 plastic packets of ground steel that weigh .5 lbs. each. So this is my next project: I'm getting a pack of magnets again from Home Depot, this time the big pack that costs only about $7 and glue 3 or 4 magnets on four packets to add 1 lb. to each of my dumbbells. I don't think I'll need the strong pot magnet as these .5-lb. weights are very light. I've seen these adjustable ankle weights (made by Altus) on clearance at our neighborhood Target for $6.99. They originally cost $9.99. So if you do this project, it'll cost you approximately $15-$18 with sales tax.

Again, I know this will only work with hex dumbbells.

I hope the makers of platemates won't hate me. I'm just another suburban mom trying to save as many $$$ as I can. Please keep me posted on how these projects work out for you.


Pinky