Bodybuilding.net - Bodybuilding Forum

Twiz,

Look into getting a welder to build you adjustable self spotting stands like the ones I sent a link to. Not only will they help with bench press, but they will also allow you to move them away from the bench and squat safely. They might cost a bit more in materials, but they would be very functional and you would get more bang for your buck.

That my friend is a VERY good idea. I have no way of doing squats right now, if I could get this thing made i can actually start growing like i want to be.

You are the man Andrew

__________________
It's not revenge...It's PUNISHMENT

I'm at least 3/4 "the man."

A few things to make sure of. Ensure that they are adjustable in height. Get some idea of about how high they need to be to catch a bottomed out squat and a bottomed out bench. That would be your range of height adjustments, maybe in 1" increments just in case you want to work on some height variations for either lift.

For the sake of portability, I would have the supports built in two pieces. IronMind uses a cross bar run through the bottom front of the stands to allow greater stability and to keep the stands square while allowing some variations in width. It is a cool idea, but not necessary IMO. Just make sure the base is unobtrusive with where you will actually be standing and is wide enough to keep the unit from tipping.

Since you won't have uprights for the bar in a squat, I would suggest you get a box and start your squats from the bottom up position. You should be able to get down on the box, do a mini good morning to get the bar into position and then start squattin'!

Forgive my ignorance but what are good mornings?
Sorry up until I joined this site, I wasn't really hardcore into lifting weights just more of a "I don't want to get too fat thing" Then I quit smoking and stopped eating a lot of fast foods. Now i'm slowly building momentum.

Search it on youtube. Its tough to explain.

Twiz,

Check it...

No worries about not being hard core and into the lingo. Hang around long enough we will make a gym rat out of you ;)

You can also do them standing up.

BTW, just so you know... don't start that heavy. ahahha

IronWorker

I use safety bars to, just a quick question pitysister when you bench do you allow the barbell to touch the bars before you push up? or do you stop just before the barbell touches the bars before pushing up?

with my back arched it hits my chest first...but if it didn't...it gets close enough

With the height of my bench and the closest safe height I can get with my safety bars, with my back arched the bar is about 1/2 an inch from my chest when it touches the safety bars.
I know this is not ideal but if I fail on a rep I can rest the bar on the safety bars and pull myself from underneath.