Make your own kettlebell

[kite]

Tweet5/8" x 10" hex bolt, 5/8" washer, 3/4" schedule 80 PVC, rubber disc, eye-nut, 5/8" split ring, exercise plates, 1" iron ring for stand

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TweetSlip washer, PVC sleeve, and rubber disc on bolt

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TweetStack plates on weight plates on pin

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TweetHold plates in place with eye-nut

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TweetSlip split ring onto eye nut

CAUTION: This kettlebell is NOT designed for throwing!

It could be modified to be safe enough to do so though

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TweetOr this design...........


This kettlebell weighs approximately 36 pounds, which is about one pood (16Kg or 35.2 pounds).
This design can be used as an adjustable kettlebell, allowing weights less than 35 lbs.

Parts:

1-1"x 6" steel nipple (handle, external diameter is 1 and 1/4")
2-1" 90 degree elbows (connect handle to vertical pieces)
2-1"x 4 1/2" steel nipple (vertical pieces), longer vertical pieces will allow the use of
larger, heavier plates
2-1" 'T's
1-1"x12' steel nipple (through plates)
2-1' end caps
6-5 pound standard barbell plates (make sure the 3/4" pipe goes through all of these, the hole in some of my 5 pound plates are too small to use)

[kite]

TweetThis is a modified version, (idea by John Rizzo) of my design. The bottom is narrower on this one, by about 2 1/2", making the required stance not as wide, and decreasing the chance of hitting the shins. The widest point is 10 and 1/2" at the unions. (The unions are the octagonal pieces that join the top and bottom together.) This design isn't practical as an adjustable kettlebell.

Parts:
1-1"x6" steel nipple (handle, external diameter is 1 and 1/4")
1-3/4"x6" steel nipple (through plates, external diameter is 1")
2-1" 90 degree elbows
2-1" to 3/4" reducing elbows
2-1" unions
4-1"xshort nipple (don't remember exactly what they call the length on these, it's not a numbered length, but it is the shortest nipple I could find)
6-5 pound standard barbell plates (make sure the 3/4" pipe goes through all of these, the hole in some of my 5 pound plates are too small to use)
This configuration gives a 2 and 1/2" space between the handle and the top of the plates. Make sure everything is tight. I used a wrench to get things tight. And I check everything for tightness before every workout with it. You might want to get all of the joints welded, or put some kind of lock tight on the joints. The plates are loose on mine and rattle, so I stuff a piece of foam rubber between them. Dragon Door kettlebells have a curved handle which keeps your hand in the same place. This handle is straight and my hand tends to slide to the side, and I have to re-adjust my grip. I plan on buying a DD kettlebell eventually (eventually I'd like to have a complete set or 2). This will do until I can afford it.

I'm not going to give detailed instructions on putting it together. You should be able to figure that out from the picture (the bottom picture), but put the top half together, including half of the 2 unions, put the bottom half together, including the other half of the unions, then attach the halves of the unions together.

I can't guarantee that this won't fly apart when you use it, all I know is that mine is solid. Don't use it around anyone or anything that you don't want to hit with it.

[a-bomb83]

Tweetinteresting. thats pretty cool.