looking for thick tape

S

SkinnyJoe

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..to reduce the gap between weight plates and the dumbbell bar.

Any suggestions?

thanks.

(I have been using small sticks wedged in there, but it's annoying, especially when changing weights)
 
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gorilla brand duct tape, mil surp 100mph tape, or gaffer's tape
 
Those are good, thick tapes. I have all three. The Gorilla is probably the easiest to find in hardware stores.

However, a metal sleeve would probably require less maintenance. If you could get a piece of tubing slightly larger than the bar then hacksaw a slit down the side to permit it to contract tightly around the bar, you wouldn't have to change tape as it wore out.

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK2 said:
Those are good, thick tapes. I have all three. The Gorilla is probably the easiest to find in hardware stores.

However, a metal sleeve would probably require less maintenance. If you could get a piece of tubing slightly larger than the bar then hacksaw a slit down the side to permit it to contract tightly around the bar, you wouldn't have to change tape as it wore out.

DancesWithKnives
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:thumbup: Excellent idea.

I have also used small sections of an old leather belt, placed (glued) eccentricaly inside the plate hole.
 
Keep in mind that the gap is there so that you can slip the plates onto and off of the bar easily. We don't exactly want a press-fit here. I'm not exactly sure what's annoying about the gap?
 
Gollnick said:
Keep in mind that the gap is there so that you can slip the plates onto and off of the bar easily. We don't exactly want a press-fit here. I'm not exactly sure what's annoying about the gap?
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Kinda unnerving (distracting) when the weights are over your head. :D:D

Yes, I agree about the necessity of the gap. But it's just too generous, probably because the components are made in places where quality of fit is not paramount.
 
SkinnyJoe said:
Kinda unnerving (distracting) when the weights are over your head. :D:D
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Assuming you've put the collar on correctly, the plates aren't going to fall off. And I assume you're not lifing weights over your head without a spotter, of course.

Yes, I agree about the necessity of the gap. But it's just too generous, probably because the components are made in places where quality of fit is not paramount.
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There is a necessary tradeoff between precision and cost. Allowing a bit more variation allows for lower cost. Also, the looser the fit, the easier it is to get the plates on and off the bar.

Put the collar on nice and tight and things shouldn't rattle around too much. Just get used to what rattle there is.
 
I always liked using these spring clamps to secure the plates.

net2fitness_2089_35342994.jpg
 
gaffers tape, but why not just put the sticky foam on there? like for sealing around doors and windows?
 
Yes, I favor the spring collars too (over the threaded ones) as they don't come off, and are simpler than collars with screws (Bulldog?). I use standard (approx. 1 inch hole) dumbbells only (safer than barbell). As I have 6 dumbbell bars and 320+ lbs of plates, I can get any weight that I can lift, in fact much more. So, I don't do a whole lot of plate changing, maybe once in several weeks, when I need to adjust the weight (up or down) based on repetitions or correction of form.

For some reason the metric plates have a bigger gap, when used with the standard American dumbbell bar.
 
I've been lifting for many years. There shouldn't be a gap a noticeable one anyways? I was just looking at my weights I see no gap. They come off and on easily. FWIW I never look at my weights anyway when I'm pressing?? But you probably have a large gap using metric with standard ? I wouldn't worry if they are secure.
 
Oh, now I get it! You're using metric plates with 2 inch (50mm) holes on a 1 inch dumbbell handle? Are some of your plates metric and some 1 inch? You can get adapters so you can use both kinds of plates on the same handle, even mix them at the same time.
 
Cougar Allen said:
Oh, now I get it! You're using metric plates with 2 inch (50mm) holes on a 1 inch dumbbell handle? Are some of your plates metric and some 1 inch? You can get adapters so you can use both kinds of plates on the same handle, even mix them at the same time.
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I have to assume that was sarcasm. :D:D

No, the hole on my "regular" standard plates where the mass is expressed in lbs, is 27.5 mm, according to my rather primitive measurement (ruler as opposed to a caliper) and 29.5 mm on standard plates where the mass is expressed in kg. I have far more of the former kind.

You are thinking Olympic plates, I assume.
 
Hmm ... so you don't have any metric plates (called Olympic plates in the US). I guess what you have is some with machined holes, which fit the handle pretty well, and some of the cheaper plates with the holes cast in. That kind usually has bigger holes, and they're not as smooth. Most people can stand it, though....
 
Pretty sure they are all made in China, with the cheapest methods possible (as opposed to the Ivanko and whatnot..)

Anyway, I see mostly Weider plates (both shiny and black ones), the metric ones are Hak Sung (all shiny), there are some Gold's Gym, some All American Ways to Health, some with no name, and some with no name from Wal Mart (that dull, gray color).

Smallest one is a 1 lb, the largest one 15 kg.

When I go to a Play it Again Sports and see the hard to find 1lb, I always get them. I also have a tendency to get the shiny plates, whether I need them or not. Kinda like women and shoes. :D:D
 
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