Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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06-10-06 08:27 PM - Post#210398
I've been wanting to add to my grip training toys lately, the logical aftermath of spending too much time with my nose buried in the IronMind catalog. I was especially enamoured of the "One Wicked Wrist Roller" (hmmmm, wonder why?) and the straps for strap holds with the grippers. IronMind stuff good...but them wantum much wampum. Fire up the Yamaha and head to the local ACE hardware store. Lemme see...5 foot of poly rope, 2 foot of nylon strapping, a carabiner clip, four feet of leftover 1 1/2 PVC thick wall tubing and one radiator worm gear clamp. Total bill of materials - $8.17. Ride Yamaha home with smug grin on face, concealed by full face helmet. After dismounting bike and emptying saddle bags, take PVC tubing and cut one piece 23 1/2 inch long. Dress ends so they're smooth. Slide PVC pipe over rack bar in power rack, set at shoulder height. Take rope and attach carabiner clip on one end, tie a knot in the other. Fit worm gear clamp to pipe loosely and thread knotted end of rope between clamp and pipe. Tighten 'er down. Pass carabiner clip through an appropriate amount of Olympic plates and clip the rope to itself to secure the plates. Voila! Instant "Frugal" wrist roller. Take stapping...amd loop through a plate. Even up the ends and pinch between the handles of CoC gripper. Voila, yet again! Instant strap holds. IronMind asking price - pair of straps (why a pair?) - $19.95 One Wicked Wrist Roller - $50 plus...call everything $75 plus with shipping. Wicked Frugal Wrist Roller and Strap - $8.17 Don't ya just love it when a plan comes together? Wicked
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Pete-LV
Total Posts: 2003
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Wicked, you are without a doubt the che...er, frugalest strengthologist I've ever heard tell of. Don't let the Gov hear about this, he may want to enlist you in his cabinet as the Minister of chea...er, Frugality in and fo' da State o' Florida!! Well planned and well done in my book Laddie! ;>) Pete the Faciltitator of Frugality, State of (Yeehaa!) Nevada
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Fit in Pink
Total Posts: 1133
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Me wantum see picture of Wicked's latest homemade toy!!! :>}}}
| Slow and steady wins the race. (From the "Tortoise and the Hare") |
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Sweatn
Total Posts: 9275
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Fire up the camera Wicked, need picture.
What we've got here is... failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach.
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Greg
Total Posts: 352
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That sounds about like what I did. I got some 2" pipe from work, used some old yellow rope from the garage, tied it around and used athletic tape to secure it, then with a big Ironmind carabiner and loading pin to hold plates I took the end off of my bar slid it over the bar, then set it at shoulder height. I actually used it tonite and I thought about you and the fact that Ironmind named their wrist roller wicked, and wondered if you had one. All this while also thinking I would tell Matt Cannon that he could make himself one this way. You could kinda say the three of us guys had a good workout in my garage tonite. You did well on the grip training Willie, oh! I just use an old lifting strap for strapholds. Greg
| Strength is not gained overnight; it is cultivated over time. |
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bulch
Total Posts: 4276
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Quote:
Fit in Pink said:
Me wantum see picture of Wicked's latest homemade toy!!! :>}}}
Me too, Me too!!
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Forsberg
Total Posts: 143
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I go to a multi million dollar expenso gym because it's pretty much all that's available around here. The wrist roller-Homemade. PVC and rope. I use it often and it works well!
| A candle loses nothing of itself in lighting another candle--Thomas Jefferson |
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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There was just a touch more than mere frugality involved in my choices. The choice of PVC tubing rather than aluminum or steel was both a matter of cost and also surface texture. IronMind's roller is KNURLED, which actually helps you to use the thing. In my mind, a smooth roller makes the movement harder (and with less weight) since you have to use a tighter grip to avoid slipping. PVC is also easier to cut to size and smooth.
Originally I thought that the larger inside diameter of the tubing would be a problem with sloppy fit on the power rack 1 inch bar...this hasn't proven to be the case. The weight pulls down on the whole thing, maintaining contact with the bar and the smooth texture of the PVC acts like a bushing, making everything slide smoothly. (A happy accident, that one!) The use of the hose clamp to secure the rope was so that I didn't have to drill a hole in the tubing, making a potential weak spot. Also, the knot on the inside of the tubing "might" have interfered with smooth operation, making the rolling motion harder and uneven.
With everything mounted just below shoulder level, it allows you to use a LOT more weight than if you were just using the roller by itself, either with arms out in front or by standing on a bench and letting your arms hang down. It also adds strength to the set up, since the hollow tubing is supported and prevented from flexing or breaking by the solid bar functioning as an axle.
IronMind says their rope is rated to a 1000 pound breaking strength...can you say overkill? My rope was something on the order of thrirty five cents a foot, cheap enough to buy, cheap enough to replace. I don't know what its breaking strength is, probably somewhere around 300 lbs or so. That's much more than I'll be using anytime soon! I don't use a loading pin, since that eats up a bit of space, making it necessary to either mount the roller higher or do more runs up and down. The use of a loading pin is a bit more convenient, I'll concede.
Greg is right...the reason why they're called "strap holds" is that they originally used lifting straps (handy and convenient.) IronMind sells them by the pair (I assume to work both hands at once? However, they sell the grippers by the single unit...hmmmmm.) Since I don't use straps, I had to buy some strapping...mine is a bit thinner and therefore, harder to use. I suppose I could have taken a strip from the waistband of an old pair of worn out jeans...hmmmm, wonder why I didn't do that?
After my workout last night, I'm very pleased with my efforts. The roller worked far better than I thought it would.
Wicked
P.S. I'll see if I can't borrow a digital camera again and post some photo details of the set up.
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Rex Khan
Total Posts: 1125
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Quote:
Fit in Pink said:
Me wantum see picture of Wicked's latest homemade toy!!! :>}}}
2nding that! :)
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult. — E. B. White
Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it. - Mahatma Gandhi
To be stupid and selfish and to have good health are the three requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, the others are useless. -Gustave Flaubert |
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Fit in Pink
Total Posts: 1133
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Quote:
Wicked Willie said:
P.S. I'll see if I can't borrow a digital camera again and post some photo details of the set up.
You work on that, Wicked. Your fan club is anxiously awaiting "visuals." Glad you were pleased with the results. :>}
| Slow and steady wins the race. (From the "Tortoise and the Hare") |
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EdMaleRNMuscle67
Total Posts: 1230
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Congrats Wicked. You are the man. Looking forward to the pics.
| Getting stronger every day. |
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sam tsang
Total Posts: 2411
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Proud Willie, keep on rolling... Rolling ... rolling ...
That's wicked, dude.
Sam Tsang
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Greg
Total Posts: 352
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Willie, The Ironmind straps are different thicknesses. When Brookfield thought these up, I think he used part of an old leather dress belt. Greg
| Strength is not gained overnight; it is cultivated over time. |
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Richard Sanchez
Total Posts: 4023
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I have made several over the years. They are cheap, work the grip (forearms) enormously and are fun. Richard Sanchez
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Finally got some pictures of this critter:
Here's a shot of the whole set up.
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Here's a shot of it in use. (Model is just some street person that we found wandering around....)
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Close up (hopefully) of the hose clamp attachment for the rope...simple, huh? It should be reinforced with a couple of wraps of duct tape or it will eventually be cut by the hose clamp.
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Close up of the carabiner clip...first being used by itself, then by using a loading pin.
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Loading pin in use...although my carabiner clip is too small for the pin....
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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In use for the flexors...a thumb free grip makes it tougher. Grip and roll away from you with a full range of motion.
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Not much obvious difference in these two shots...but here it is being used for the extensors, by rolling toward me. These still work the flexors by gripping the pipe but by rolling down and toward the body, they also activate the extensors. Note that they are harder....
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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So far, this simple to make and use device has exceeded my expectations. It works much, much better than the old "piece of broomstick and rope" wrist roller of years ago. It really allows the use of heavy weights, since you aren't limited by your shoulder strength and leverage factors. Wicked
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Don W,
Total Posts: 912
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Quote:
Don W, said:
Can you patent it?
(Chuckle) No, it's been done before...a lot.
Wicked
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Don W,
Total Posts: 912
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Really? Shows how little I am aware of whats out there. I use the broomstick and nylon rope deal I put together. I use it on shoulder day so I can justify the shoulder drag while training forearms.
Too bad it is already patented.....You could have called it "Wicked Willie's Universal Forearm Blaster"
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brucedl
Total Posts: 2406
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Nice setup. Have you tried moving the pipe up higher by a couple holes and see how that feels? Could bring on a little more PAIN.
Bruce
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Don: Just for kicks...the old broomstick won't be obsoleted by this device, it just takes some creativity to use heavy weights. With your arms out straight, the leverage obviously limits you. If you let your arms hang down, the distance travelled is too short to be convenient. The fact that the broomstick is free to move is a good thing and allows more natural wrist motion. How to resolve the problem(s)? If you can stand on a bench, high box or better yet a flight of stairs with a railing...you can really make the old broomstick roller work to your advantage. Now, you can use a long rope and let your arms hang straight down. You can up the weight and really concentate on rolling. When I used to workout at a commerical gym, I would take their wrist roller up the stairs about 7 or 8 steps and lean over the rail slightly. Then I would get crankin'. Wicked
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Bruce: Haven't tried that yet, although I've thought about it. Somewhere down the road, I'm sure. Wicked
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Sweatn
Total Posts: 9275
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Hmmm..looks a bit too professional to me, going to give Wicked a bad name. Really, great job! Your going to have a painful good time now. Roll on.
What we've got here is... failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach.
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Don W,
Total Posts: 912
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I stand over the edge of my deck....Gives me an extra 5 feet.
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Quote:
Don W, said:
I stand over the edge of my deck....Gives me an extra 5 feet.
"Where there's a will, there's a mother of invention." Or something like that! (Wink)
Wicked
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Laree
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Ain't digital cameras fine?
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CB
Total Posts: 5666
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Red Green would be proud of ya. Way to go Bill.
CB ;-)
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Quote:
Laree said:
Ain't digital cameras fine?
Yup. Just another piece of technology for me to resist until it's replaced by something else. Borrowed a 5 mega-pixel to shoot those.
Wicked
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Quote:
CB said:
Red Green would be proud of ya. Way to go Bill.
CB ;-)
Since they don't find me handsome...they find me handy. But I can change if I have to...I guess.
Wicked
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Sweatn
Total Posts: 9275
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Quote:
Wicked Willie said:
Quote:
Don W, said:
I stand over the edge of my deck....Gives me an extra 5 feet.
"Where there's a will, there's a mother of invention." Or something like that! (Wink)
Wicked
Reminds me, I read several months ago, about some guy that wrist rolled from a 6th floor apartment building, all 6 floors. Ouch. Must have had some tough forearms. One good use for an apt. building.
What we've got here is... failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach.
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bulch
Total Posts: 4276
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Thanks for the pics Wicked. I was having trouble picturing the idea in my head. Looks a great way to train your grip. bulch :@)
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