A FITNESS CENTER MADE OF WOOD
Even if you're not an accomplished carpenter, you can build a home gym for less than $200, including detailed diagram, materials list, building instructions.
Even if you're not an accomplished carpenter, you can
build a home gym. . .for less than $200!
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Fitness Center
by Carlos DeJesus
I'm an athlete — a competing bodybuilder
— and a few years ago I was faced with a
problem. In order to train for competition, I needed ready
access to bodybuilding equipment for six days a week. And
though I was working out at a nice spa that featured
quality equipment, I couldn't get enough time on the
machines. The establishment was always crowded, and it was
closed on weekends and holidays. As memberships increased,
so did interruptions. The whole situation soon became
annoying enough to send me in search of a solution.
A private gym seemed the perfect arrangement. Of course,
like most people, I couldn't afford to invest the $2,000
required to buy the heavy-duty equipment I needed.
I considered constructing my own metal gym, which would
have cost half as much as buying commercial equipment. But
even that plan demanded more cash than I could
afford.
A UNIQUE SOLUTION
After giving the problem a lot of thought, I decided to try
making my own fitness center out of wood . . . even though
I'd never seen any wooden gym equipment and wasn't much of
a carpenter! My first project was an adjustable bench. With
$15 worth of materials (including wood, screws, and glue),
my training partner, Rod Jackson, and I built the bench in
my living room . . . and were almost surprised when it
worked!
That success inspired me to draw up plans for building what
my wife calls my "wooden gym". It contains a total of eight
pieces, ranging from a pulley machine to a curling bench
for the arms, and machines to exercise the legs. Though
made of wood, the equipment that Rod and I built is
designed to function as the expensive metal machines do.
People are always amazed when they see the gym . . . and
some have traveled 250 miles just to take a look!
PROVEN SUCCESS
With the help of this equipment, I won the 1980 Virginia
State Physique Championships (Mr. Old Dominion) ... the
1981 United States Physique Championships (Mr. U.S.A.) . .
. and the 1981 North American Physique Championships (Mr.
North America) — all in little over a year!
Then, in 1982, Rod won the title of Mr. U.S.A., as well.
You can see, then, that the gym has worked quite well for
us!
