Bent my Barbell

Mike Gray · 05-09-2007, 08:09 AM

Sheesh.

I lost my balance on a squat attempt (~280lbs)for today's CFT and got stuck with my rump on my plyo box. The only thing left to do was to dump it backwards. It landed on the box with a sort of "whoomp!" noise and stayed there - bent down at both ends.

Here's the picture (completely safe!):
http://picasaweb.google.com/mikesusa...77669453933970

Is it normal for bars to do this? And: is there anything good to do do with bent barbells??

Peace,

Mike

(Message edited by mikesusangray on May 09, 2007)

Anthony Bainbridge · 05-09-2007, 08:15 AM

Yeah, if you drop a bar and the plates don't make first contact, there's a good chance it's going to bend.

You can still use it, but it will be less efficient, especially if it rolls in your hands.

Bent bars are the suck!

Paul Findley · 05-09-2007, 08:35 AM

Wow!

Glad to hear you were not injured.

Franklin Shogie · 05-09-2007, 10:11 AM

it now kind of looks like a "Buffalo Bar" from IronMind. w/f safe link.

Mike Gray · 05-09-2007, 12:40 PM

Ah ... there we go - I now have a buffalo bar! Or at least the poor man's version thereof ... But I might as well try doing a few squats with it!

BTW, I bought a new bar at lunch to finish my CFT ...

And I leaned that it isn't a good idea to rush a heavy lifting WOD. I had to get to work and was trying to get up the weights waaay too fast. I can be happy that the worst thing that happened was a bend in a $35 barbell.

Rene Renteria · 05-09-2007, 12:49 PM

Are they supposed to bend even when loaded like that? Consider a better bar. Check out C. Burgener abusing this bar with some heavy high pulls (w/f s):

http://www.mikesgym.org/gallery/vide...bn%20pulls.mov

Strong dude.

Glenn Pendlay · 05-09-2007, 03:54 PM

I believe that bar Casey is using in that video is a Pendlay bar, but not sure. Just called him to see for sure, but unfortunately got his answering machine! I hope it is, as standing up to that kind of abuse would be great advertising!

Seriously though, NO bar, mine included, can be expected to be dropped across an object in the middle of the bar and stay straight.

I have seen several high quality bars dropped across pins in a power rack with significant weights, something that SHOULD bend most bars, yet stay straight. I have an Ivanko powerlifting bar that has had that happen to it on a couple of occasions, and is still arrow straight, which is far and above the abuse that a bar should be expected to handle. This is a testament to the quality of the Ivanko bar, it is tops in its field and for its purpose. But dropping a bar across a narrow object in the middle of the bar puts far more stress on the bar than even dropping on pins in a power rack. NOTHING is going to stand up to that for long!

Glenn Pendlay · 05-09-2007, 04:05 PM

Casey just called me back... hate to say it but in fairness I must, not a Pendlay bar but an old York bar from the 1970's...

I have said I think on this forum and to many, many people in private conversation that these old, plain steel, brown and rusty York olympic bars from the late 60's and 1970's are great bars!!! I have several of them myself. They are available every now and then from gyms going out of business or garage sales or such, for paltry sums of money.

I had a guy call me a while back that was trying to decide between buying one of my new bars or just getting this "old, rusted and brown" bar from a friend for $25. I asked him to describe the bar, and it turned out it was an old York similar to the ones I have. I told him that he had no business spending $300+ dollars with me when he had access to this older bar for $25. I explained to him how to take it apart and oil and polish the bushings, and now he has a very nice and functional bar for almost nothing... One that will take the kind of abuse you saw Casey dishing out in the video!

Kurt Holm · 05-09-2007, 05:49 PM

Glenn, you are a great guy!

I have a Chapman Womens bar, an Eleiko Training bar and a Pendlay Youth bar (and some generic stuff as well).

My next bar will be a Pendlay!

Paul Findley · 05-09-2007, 07:26 PM

Glenn,
We emailed a while back, that bar in Denver craigslist was in fact a rusty York for $10. I told my buddy about our conversations since he lives much closer, he scored it. Thanks!
Paul

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05-09-2007, 08:09 AM	#1
Mike Gray Member Profile: Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Zurich ZH Posts: 306	Sheesh. I lost my balance on a squat attempt (~280lbs)for today's CFT and got stuck with my rump on my plyo box. The only thing left to do was to dump it backwards. It landed on the box with a sort of "whoomp!" noise and stayed there - bent down at both ends. Here's the picture (completely safe!): http://picasaweb.google.com/mikesusa...77669453933970 Is it normal for bars to do this? And: is there anything good to do do with bent barbells?? Peace, Mike (Message edited by mikesusangray on May 09, 2007)

05-09-2007, 08:15 AM	#2
Anthony Bainbridge Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fredericton New Brunswick Posts: 3,886	Yeah, if you drop a bar and the plates don't make first contact, there's a good chance it's going to bend. You can still use it, but it will be less efficient, especially if it rolls in your hands. Bent bars are the suck!

05-09-2007, 08:35 AM	#3
Paul Findley Member Profile: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Longmont CO Posts: 1,257	Wow! Glad to hear you were not injured.

05-09-2007, 10:11 AM	#4
Franklin Shogie Member Profile: Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tijuana Baja California Posts: 339	it now kind of looks like a "Buffalo Bar" from IronMind. w/f safe link.

05-09-2007, 12:40 PM	#5
Mike Gray Member Profile: Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Zurich ZH Posts: 306	Ah ... there we go - I now have a buffalo bar! Or at least the poor man's version thereof ... But I might as well try doing a few squats with it! BTW, I bought a new bar at lunch to finish my CFT ... And I leaned that it isn't a good idea to rush a heavy lifting WOD. I had to get to work and was trying to get up the weights waaay too fast. I can be happy that the worst thing that happened was a bend in a $35 barbell.

05-09-2007, 12:49 PM	#6
Rene Renteria Member Profile: Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco CA Posts: 364	Are they supposed to bend even when loaded like that? Consider a better bar. Check out C. Burgener abusing this bar with some heavy high pulls (w/f s): http://www.mikesgym.org/gallery/vide...bn%20pulls.mov Strong dude.

05-09-2007, 03:54 PM	#7
Glenn Pendlay Member Profile: Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: wichita falls texas Posts: 684	I believe that bar Casey is using in that video is a Pendlay bar, but not sure. Just called him to see for sure, but unfortunately got his answering machine! I hope it is, as standing up to that kind of abuse would be great advertising! Seriously though, NO bar, mine included, can be expected to be dropped across an object in the middle of the bar and stay straight. I have seen several high quality bars dropped across pins in a power rack with significant weights, something that SHOULD bend most bars, yet stay straight. I have an Ivanko powerlifting bar that has had that happen to it on a couple of occasions, and is still arrow straight, which is far and above the abuse that a bar should be expected to handle. This is a testament to the quality of the Ivanko bar, it is tops in its field and for its purpose. But dropping a bar across a narrow object in the middle of the bar puts far more stress on the bar than even dropping on pins in a power rack. NOTHING is going to stand up to that for long!

05-09-2007, 04:05 PM	#8
Glenn Pendlay Member Profile: Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: wichita falls texas Posts: 684	Casey just called me back... hate to say it but in fairness I must, not a Pendlay bar but an old York bar from the 1970's... I have said I think on this forum and to many, many people in private conversation that these old, plain steel, brown and rusty York olympic bars from the late 60's and 1970's are great bars!!! I have several of them myself. They are available every now and then from gyms going out of business or garage sales or such, for paltry sums of money. I had a guy call me a while back that was trying to decide between buying one of my new bars or just getting this "old, rusted and brown" bar from a friend for $25. I asked him to describe the bar, and it turned out it was an old York similar to the ones I have. I told him that he had no business spending $300+ dollars with me when he had access to this older bar for $25. I explained to him how to take it apart and oil and polish the bushings, and now he has a very nice and functional bar for almost nothing... One that will take the kind of abuse you saw Casey dishing out in the video!

05-09-2007, 05:49 PM	#9
Kurt Holm Member Profile: Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tenafly NJ Posts: 133	Glenn, you are a great guy! I have a Chapman Womens bar, an Eleiko Training bar and a Pendlay Youth bar (and some generic stuff as well). My next bar will be a Pendlay!

05-09-2007, 07:26 PM	#10
Paul Findley Member Profile: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Longmont CO Posts: 1,257	Glenn, We emailed a while back, that bar in Denver craigslist was in fact a rusty York for $10. I told my buddy about our conversations since he lives much closer, he scored it. Thanks! Paul