Mountain Project Logo

Homemade Blank Slate Trainer

Original Post
blokedals · · Kennesaw, GA · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 20

Alright here's what I did. I have 4 Corner Braces 4", 4- 2" bolts (with washers and nuts) to attach the 4 corner braces to the "J-Bar" of the Iron Gym Pull Up Bar, one up and one down on each bar (after I removed the foam on the handle and rubber ends). I cut a 2"x12" piece of wood 30" and spray painted it with Black Lacquer. The "J-Bar" pipe is so thin you can use any drill bit big enough to fit the bolt through the corner braces (make sure the bolts don't wiggle back and forth because that's what keeps the board steady, also to make it hold I put Super Glue on the threads of the bolt). When attaching the corner braces to the J-bar make sure the edge of the brace lines up with the end of the bar so the wood lies flat. I attached the wood through the corner braces with 8- 1.5" Wood Screws. MAKE SURE EVERY DRILL HOLE IS LEVEL! All this cost around $40 compared to $130 plus shipping of $20 and only took 20mins.

I have yet to receive my Revolution Grillito board but just from hanging on the wood the board is steady and does not flex. It only comes down a little bit (~2cm) but that’s because of the foam on the cross beam. When I first start hanging on the board I hear a creaking noise. I don’t know where it was coming from but the wood is not splitting and the door frame seems fine.

If anyone wants pictures tell me and I will post them. If anyone wants to know how the Grillito is I will tell you what I think.

-Just so you know they say the weight limit on the iron gym pull up bar is 300 lbs.

frig0018 · · Plymouth, MN · Joined May 2012 · Points: 0

pictures? also, what is the "j-bar"?

Forthright · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 110
blokedals wrote: If anyone wants pictures tell me and I will post them. If anyone wants to know how the Grillito is I will tell you what I think. -Just so you know they say the weight limit on the iron gym pull up bar is 300 lbs.
Yes please. Been thinking about trying to do a DIY blank slate but been too caught up in school
Travis Dustin · · Mexico Maine · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 1,665

post some pics! I've been thinking of doing this too.

NYClimber · · New York · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 85

I have one of the Factory Made Blank Slates and I love that! It is rock solid (no pun intended! lol) and works like a charm (see pics).
I train on my 2 days per week and love it!

Works perfectly since I rent - even tho my landlord said he didn't mind if I screwed my Metolius traning board directing into the studs (too bad I found THAT out 3 mos too late! LOL).

But in any-case - they are quality made and work exactly as advertised!

Training Board set up

Brad Caldwell · · Deep in the Jocassee Gorges · Joined May 2010 · Points: 1,400

There was another very similar thread about 2-3 months ago, describing a few folks experiences with home made blank slate contraptions. Can't find it right off hand, but those interested in DIYing it should check that info out to avoid some possible pitfalls. I like the idea of the Blank Slate...I used a similar idea years back by just screwing a T-nutted 2x10 above an 8 foot wide doorway. I had a Simulator in the middle and around 20 holds surrounding it to play with. Eventually I 2x10ed the sides and underneath the doorway to have my own mini gym.

blokedals · · Kennesaw, GA · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 20

I call the bar that hooks around to the top of the door frame the "j-bar".

-I took the pull up bar to Home Depot and walked around talking to employees about the best way to connect the board. We talked about lag shield anchors (5/8" x 3") with lag screws (1/2" x 4") and concrete sleeve bolts.

At the end I decided that this (corner braces) would be the easiest and most secure way because there would be more surface area connecting the board.

Thanks to Tim F. for helping me out. Here is the original page I first started looking at, but it was a little confusing to me so I broke every step down as much a possible.

mountainproject.com/v/train…

I wanted to get the Corner Braces perfectly straight up and down but my drill holes through the "J-bar" were off center. Doesn't seem to effect anything.

Homemade Blank Slate

Corner braces attached to "j-bar"

Eamon Doyle · · Sierra Madre, CA · Joined Nov 2011 · Points: 5

I would consider adding a gusset or brace to those L brackets. Plumber's tape in tension would probably do the trick. I'd imagine that, depending on your weight, there's a reasonable chance they'll start to bend without some sort of support.

Also, replacing those carriage bolts with standard hex bolts and washers in the long run will reduce the chance of stress concentrations in the L brackets causing failure.

Otherwise, it looks like a pretty solid setup. I've been thinking about throwing one together myself.

Eamon

JustinJD. Day · · Denver · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 0

Just curious but about how much did the whole setup cost? It is a great idea and the pictures definitely help.
J

Lanky · · Tired · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 255

You could consider using shelf brackets (like these) instead of lower pair angle braces. The bar connecting the two legs of the bracket might provide additional stability.

Lanky · · Tired · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 255

BTW, here's the other thread discussing this.

blokedals · · Kennesaw, GA · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 20

I wanted to update everybody.

The board still creaks when I get on and move around. But everything is still in place (J bars, bolts, wood screws, hangboard).

I use it almost everyday and have realized the the foam on the cross beams were no longer pressing against the door frame and the metal bar and the foam aftermath was pressed into the frame leaving back marks and no paint.
SO I turned the foam around so the fresh side would be touching the frame and I duck taped it a good bit.

It seems to be doing fine.

Javier L · · Asheville, NC · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 636

you'll soon burn through that foam too. Use a shop towel and you'll be fine.

William Rhyne · · Casper, Wyoming · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 135

mine is digging into the molding trim around my door way. but that is probably cause i do lunges and bump like dyno moves. wish i would have used Javier's idea

Christopher Wong · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2008 · Points: 0

Hello Mountain Project Community-

Bringing this thread back! Although I've been out of climbing for a little...I was looking to get a simple pull up bar to maintain my upper body strength. Started doing some research online and stumbled on the Blank Slate that many of you have been talking about. I too noticed it's cost and was wondering about "homemade" options that could use something like Iron Gym as a base and then include a Metolious Project Board, Metolious Rock Rings or some other type of hangboards and holds.

What solutions have you all found/crafted?

Thanks,
Chris

Tom-onator · · trollfreesociety · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 790

Chris,
The following is the evolution of my garage hangboard.
Find a good piece of lumber, in my case I used a piece of glue-lam from a jobsite dumpster. I then bought a tube of PL-400 construction adhesive, some hardware, and gathered some shitty holds found strewn about the base of a local crag.
Rinse the dirt from said holds and board and place them about the board in a configuration suited to your strenghts/weaknesses.
Once you are happy with the arrangement the fun begins.
Apply generous amounts of adhesive to the backs of each clean and dry hold and place them on the clean and dry board.
Wait at least 1 week for the adhesive to fully cure. There will be softer spots where the glue is thickest around the edges of the stones and in voids on the rocks chosen.
I recommend using a pilot bit to pre-drill the holes for the eyelet lag screws to avoid splitting the wood when applying a hanger system.
For about $25 I came up with this

Shelf Road Simulator
Later on my wife bought me a few holds and some t-nuts so I mounted them to the backside of the board like this

Backside Holds
Which gave me 2 sides to train on

Underside looking up
The holes I had to make for the t-nuts allow me to train for ice season as well

Rebels on board
I've had this board for about 17 years now, tried drilling holes in the stones but that only weakened them.
I'm working on a similar free hanging board that will be made primarily of drilled holes for better tool placing exercises.

blokedals · · Kennesaw, GA · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 20

Good idea Tom, I have been wanting to incorporate real rock but didn't know how to start. I have extra room so I think I will attach a few crimps.

Hey Chris, just wanted to update you. Everything still works with my set up. But like what was said above, make sure you do what Javier said and wrap shop towels (small towels) around the bars that hit the frame, so they don't leave marks. The main cost in this setup is the Iron Gym which I got used at a thrift store. All and all it cost less than $50 without the hangboard.

Grillito Hangboard (don't really like it,wish I went with Slopeymon)

Christopher Wong · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2008 · Points: 0

Tom and blokedals, thanks for the recommendations! I will look into it!

Blokedals, so the step by step instructions above are still what you would recommend?

Thanks,
Chris

blokedals · · Kennesaw, GA · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 20

Yes

Sunshineshines100 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 5
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
Post a Reply to "Homemade Blank Slate Trainer"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.