Okay, let’s talk about this little project I tackled recently – building some dumbbell holders for my bench press setup at home.
Why I Even Bothered
So, doing dumbbell bench presses, right? Great exercise. But getting heavy dumbbells into position when you’re lying on the bench? Not so great. Kicking them up works okay for lighter weights, but when things get serious, it’s awkward, kinda risky for the shoulders, and just drains energy before the set even starts. Asking someone to hand them over isn’t always an option if you train alone like I often do. I figured there had to be a better way, something like those fancy racks have, but just for dumbbells and a flat bench.
Getting Started – The Idea and Materials
I looked around online a bit, saw some complicated stuff, some expensive stuff. Nah. I wanted something simple, something I could knock together myself. The basic idea was just two sturdy stands, one for each side of the bench, tall enough so I could just roll the dumbbells off them into the starting position.
I rummaged through my garage and found some leftover wood. Here’s roughly what I used:
- Some chunky 2×4 pieces for the main uprights and base supports.
- A piece of thicker plywood for the bases to make them stable.
- Another bit of plywood for the top part where the dumbbells would actually sit.
- Wood screws, definitely needed those.
- An old bit of rubber matting I had lying around for padding.
Tools were basic stuff: a saw, drill, measuring tape, pencil, and a screwdriver bit for the drill.
Putting It Together – The Process
First thing, I measured the height. I sat on the bench, held my arms out like I was starting the press, and figured out how high the holders needed to be. Wanted the dumbbells just slightly above my starting hand position so I could easily grab them.
Then I started cutting. Measure twice, cut once, right? Well, mostly. Cut the 2x4s for the upright posts based on my height measurement. Cut some shorter 2×4 pieces and the plywood squares for the bases. Needed a wide-ish base so they wouldn’t tip over easily when loaded.
Assembly was pretty straightforward. I screwed the upright 2×4 post smack bang in the middle of each plywood base. Then I added the shorter 2×4 pieces around the bottom of the post, attaching them to both the post and the plywood base, kinda like little feet sticking out for extra stability. Made sure everything was square-ish and solid.
Next up was the top part – the actual holder. I cut two small rectangular pieces of plywood. Then I cut two smaller strips of wood to act as edges or ‘lips’ on the front and back of these rectangles. The idea was to create a shallow channel so the dumbbell handle wouldn’t just roll off easily. Screwed these edge pieces onto the rectangular tops.
Then I attached these top holder parts securely to the top of the upright posts. Had to make sure they were level. This part was key – getting the height just right and making sure they were sturdy enough.
Finally, I cut up that old rubber mat and glued pieces onto the top holder surfaces. Didn’t want the metal dumbbells clanging directly on the wood or getting scratched up, plus it adds a bit of grip.
Made one, checked it felt solid, then just copied the process for the second one. Took me maybe an afternoon, taking my time.
The Test Run and Result
Alright, moment of truth. I slid the bench between the two new stands. Placed a pair of reasonably heavy dumbbells onto the holders. They sat nicely in the padded grooves. I lay down on the bench, got into position. Reached up slightly, grabbed the handles, gave a little nudge, and rolled them right off the holders into my starting press position. Perfect!
Doing the set felt normal, but the setup was way less hassle. Racking them back was also easier – just lifted them back onto the holders at the end of the set. No awkward kicking, no near misses dropping them.
Honestly, it made a huge difference. Feels much safer, especially as I try to push heavier weights. They aren’t the prettiest things in the world, just plain wood and rubber, but they do the job exactly like I wanted. Simple, effective, and basically free since I used leftover materials. Pretty happy with how this little DIY project turned out. Makes the whole dumbbell pressing experience way smoother.
