Yet Another Pull-up Bar

[Nia Kelley]

Hi everyone,

My boyfriend & I decided to use ideas from this forum and build our own pull-up bar. The entire project was under $45, and it was a fairly straightforward project to undertake. Here is the block diagram that I created, a parts list, and pictures of the final product. Many thanks for the ideas & inspiration! Now I'm really rockin' on my pull-ups. Details are also on my blog:



Here's our Home Depot shopping list for the bar:

Qty Descr Total Price
---- --------------------------------------- ------------
1 2x6 Piece of wood $3.98
1 8-pc drill bit set $4.97
2 3/4" galvanized 90-degree elbows $2.00
2 3/4" galvanized flages $6.54
1 3/8" drill bit adaptor $2.48
4 Wood Lag Screws $3.92
2 3/4 x 18 Black Pipe $6.86
1 3/4 x 48 Black Pipe $5.98
8 3/8 x 31 Lag Screws $2.70
----------
$39.43 + tax

[Nia Kelley]

I missed the edit window, but I wanted to add pictures of how I use my Iron Woody band to do assisted pullups.

Iron Woody Band


Doing assisted pull-up with the band

[Jeremy Stecker]

Whoa, nice work. I'm getting ready to build one myself, how does this one hold up with kipping? I was thinking of shortening the vertical bars to give it a little more strength.

I have a perfect beam going thru the middle of my garage I've been wanting to attach it to.

[Nia Kelley]

Hi Jeremy,

I haven't had any problems kipping with this setup. I have plenty of room to do full ROM pullups (assisted for now) and any kipping that I require. We stress tested this bar by having both my boyfriend (200 lbs) and his brother (250 lbs) dead hang for a few minutes and then do some pullups simultaneously. We didn't have any issues at all. I use the bar regularly (couple of times per week), and it's a great setup.

Hope this helps in some way,
fitgirl-atx

[Mary Ann Rigney]

Nia - Sweet bar!

Jeremy - Are you thinking of just attaching to one beam (so the bar would run parallel to the beam)? Be careful attaching a bar parallel to a beam...it's better to attach the bar perpendicular to the direction of the beams. The first one I put up in my garage was parallel to and attached to only one beam. I had to add some extra supports up in the attic to keep the truss from swaying back and forth when my boyfriend did kipping pull-ups (he's 205 lbs). Just a thought....good luck!

[Gary Wimsett]

Looks very nice. I'm thinking I might try this set-up but with 1" piping. And I'll take Mary Ann's advice re: screwing into two perp. supports. Just for some clarification:

1. What would I want to get to attach the 2X6 to the ceiling?
2. What do I need to attach my 1 " flanges to the 2X6?

Thanks for any tips.

Gary

[Gary Wimsett]

And all of the ends on the black pipe need to be threaded, correct?

[Mary Ann Rigney]

Gary - I have 1" pipe and it fits my grip better than 3/4". Yes, all ends need to be threaded. To attach the 2x6 to the ceiling I used 2.5 or 3" long 3/8" hex head screws (I can't remember which)...just make sure they are long enough to get through the 2x6, through any drywall on the ceiling, and into the truss (2x10 in your attic or wherever you are putting it). I also recommend wood washers. Then, use countersunk fully threaded screws for the flanges. Again, I can't remember the size, but you can take your flange to the hardware store and find the size that fits in the fastener hole nicely. 2" long should be plenty. I'm not sure how Nia did it (maybe she can pipe in here), but the first bar I installed I attached the 2x6 to the ceiling and then the pipe assembly to the 2x6. The second bar I put up (which is a double bar...has two 36" pipes and a tee in the middle) I attached the pipe assembly to the 2x6 and then the 2x6+pipe assembly to the ceiling (yeah...it was heavy!). Not sure which way I would recommend. Either way, make sure you get someone to help you. Better yet, get two people.

Nia - What order did you put your up?

[Beau Bray]

My homemade pull-up bar is almost exactly the same. Only difference is that I used 12" vertical bars, and 1 inch diameter bars. Very nice!

[Brian White]

Nice setup, I used the same measurements as Beau but otherwise identical. I put the pipe assembly together first, and checked it for level on the floor, then mounted the 2x6 on the ceiling, THEN mounted the bar assembly, found it a lot lighter and easier to maneuver each piece when standing on a ladder. I have no problem with kipping pullups or using rings (I weigh 225), it's solid!