And I did all of those.
But you cant squat without a rack.
In the end, I didnt believe it until I tried it myself.
The stands are sturdy, and they were quick and cheap to make.
Read the instructions
There are several sets of plans out there, but theyre all very similar.
(Ill link a few:one,two,three.)
Its good to read through more than one and note the slight variations in materials and design choices.
Some of the plans include a second, lower rack so you could also use them for bench presses.
Then, you set that post into a bucket, and fill that bucket with concrete.
If not, you may be able to acquire or improvise what you need.
The materials themselves will probably cost under $50 in total.
Know how to use squat stands safely
This is not a power rack.
These do not have safeties.
This means that if youre squatting and you cant complete the rep, you have to drop it.
If youre lifting near your limit, know how to safely bail.
Do you still want a pair of squat stands for lighter lifts?
Make it shorter than you think you need.
Make the stand to fit the shorter person.
Have a friend make a pencil mark on the wall, and measure that height.
Then I would say: subtract at least two inches.
Thats the measurement you should use for the board the bar will rest on.
(Dont slam it down; you might knock the things over.)
Youll probably want to buy ones that are eight feet long, although your options may vary.
Plan out how youd like them cut.
Once youre home, double-check the measurements, because you dont want your squat stands to be uneven.
Secure the pieces of wood together according to the instructions youre following.
I used deck screws.
Something like Quikrete is ideal here, because its just one bag you mix with water.
(If you bought plain old cement instead, youd have to mix it with sand and gravel.)
Do not buy the fast-setting stuff unless you know youll be able to mix it quickly.
(I promise Quikrete is not paying me for any of this.)
Mixing concrete is dusty business, so wear a mask.
It can irritate your skin too, so wear gloves.
And for the love of God:follow the directions.
The ones on the bag, not whatever you read online.
Too much water can make concrete weak, for example; measure it.
That said, mixing concrete isnt hard, and youcando it.
I found that one 60-pound bag almost perfectly filled each of my buckets.
It is absolutely worth four dollars to verify that your squat stands are straight.
Congratulations, youre now ready to squat!
And its time for you to learn that these things are real dang heavy.
They are not easy to move.
Do not plan on moving them in and out of your workout space every day.
So youll need to find them a home.
ensure that wherever you put them is level.
you’re able to use your post level again for this, if you like.
ensure to set the stands up at the same width as a typical squat rack.
Thats a good thing.
If you put the stands too close together, all bets are off.
Now, finally, you might enjoy!
Load up the weight and have fun finally doing some nice heavy squats.
I cannot tell you mathematically what that limit is.
Stay safe out there.
