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Pinch blocks

Original Post
joe trabucco · · Boulder, co · Joined Feb 2017 · Points: 0

With the exception of making your own, can anyone recommend pre-made ones (besides tension)?

Thanks 

Jon Frisby · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 280

Rogue and Lattice make some pricy options. What's your aversion to homemade?

Joel May · · Denver, CO · Joined Apr 2019 · Points: 20

Lattice makes a pretty popular one. Check out EpicTV if they can’t ship to the states right now. Awesome Woodys also has what looks to be a pretty good one, but if you order from them I’d encourage you to go with express shipping. I had a hangboard ship from them with normal shipping on 3/27 and it’s still not here yet (no fault of Awesome Woodys, I believe it’s stuck at U.S. customs). 

joe trabucco · · Boulder, co · Joined Feb 2017 · Points: 0
Jon Frisby wrote: Rogue and Lattice make some pricy options. What's your aversion to homemade?

None.  Just wondering what else is out there

D Elliot · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2017 · Points: 0
Joe Trabucco wrote:

None.  Just wondering what else is out there

After looking at other pre-made options, couldn’t beat going to Home Depot, buying the fence-topper tapered squares and cones, and sanding/planing them down to different shapes, shoving an eye screw in em and having a whole lineup of options for like $20. 

Jon Frisby · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 280
This is a 3x3 block that I sanded the edges off and grooved out a thumb slot and finger blocker for a shallow narrow alternative pinch
joe trabucco · · Boulder, co · Joined Feb 2017 · Points: 0
Jon Frisby wrote:
This is a 3x3 block that I sanded the edges off and grooved out a thing slot and finger blocker for a shallow narrow alternative pinch

Sick dude!!

Ross Goldberg · · El Segundo · Joined Oct 2017 · Points: 203
I've been using the old disk brakes off of a Ford D60 axle. About a small-medium pinch, weighs in at some amount of mass with the bonus of low friction.
Shaun Gregory · · Front range · Joined May 2016 · Points: 325

Made these for free from scrap wood 2 days ago at HD. Took a couple of hours to make and was super easy.

Bill Czajkowski · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 21

Cut a 1"x4" into square pieces (i.e. 4" lengths). Drill a hole through all in the same place, run a cord through them. Adjustable width, no hardware required.

Daniel Winder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 101

I have the Royal Edge blocks. Basically just a block of wood. They probably would work great if I could just bring myself to actually use them..

joe trabucco · · Boulder, co · Joined Feb 2017 · Points: 0

I love the DIY ideas.  The reason that I asked for premade solutions is because not everyone has power tools.  If you factor in the cost to acquire the power tools, it totally makes sense to buy premade.  I wish I could tho!

I ended up buying “the pinch” from frictitious climbing located into FOCO Colorado.   I did see the royal edge ones and may get those at a later date.  

Michael Brady · · Wenatchee, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 1,392

I made one of these:
https://www.armassassinstrengthshop.com/products/thumb-blaster-1
....and never looked back. So much more efficient, IMO, as it doesnt allow you to take weight with your fore fingers. If you can weld you can make a very clean model for like $6. Im sure you could fasten the tube to the plate with bolts but it would be flexy. At any rate get/make the smaller size.....like 1.25". My early attempts were on larger diameter tube. They worked as intended but it tended to "hang" on the flesh just inside the crease of the joint. Not only did it hurt but it felt like aid. I would just get your hands on different diameter pipe and see what size fits you. The also sell hubs on that site. If you have a jigsaw they would be dead simple to make as well.

Also  on the site are these:
https://www.armassassinstrengthshop.com/products/axle-wrench
They are awesome for developing wrist strength!! These are even easier to replicate than the thumb blaster. I used 2" PVC, 8mm cord, and an eyebolt to make em.  You can use them in a few different ways but I use them in the same way (ergonomically) that you use pinch blocks. When you lift it tries to open your wrist.

Ned Plimpton · · Salt Lake City · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 116

Already mentioned but:

Royal Edge climbing

I've got their narrow and wide blocks in poplar and think they're great.  Reasonably priced, too.

Pierre Proulx · · Montreal, Quebec, CA · Joined Mar 2019 · Points: 10

Made these this week-end. Took me about 2h from start to finish for all 4 blocs. These are from 2x4 and the last one on the right has a 2-3/4 x 3/4’’ piece on top to form a crimp pinch

Kerwin Loukusa · · Leavenworth, WA · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 168


This is a very simple pinch block you can make with only a drill. 
Pierre Proulx · · Montreal, Quebec, CA · Joined Mar 2019 · Points: 10

Just out of curiosity, what exercise are you using when training with pinch blocks?  

I use the one on Crimpd, which is (10 sec ON / 30 sec OFF) x 2 for 6 sets, with 90 sec between sets. Too soon to draw conclusion in terms of results, as I've only been doing this for 2 weeks, though it does seems that the sets are becoming easier and should be able to add weight shortly, which is encouraging.

Any other repeater protocoles out there that you have experienced good results with?

Bill Czajkowski · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 21
Kerwin Loukusa wrote:

This is a very simple pinch block you can make with only a drill. 

...and a saw, or after you find a short piece of 2x4.

Ben Ha · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Oct 2016 · Points: 0
Bill Czajkowski wrote:

...and a saw, or after you find a short piece of 2x4.

If you are using a longer piece of 2x4 you can just girth hitch a sling xD 

mat · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 4
Pierre Proulx wrote: Just out of curiosity, what exercise are you using when training with pinch blocks?  

I use the one on Crimpd, which is (10 sec ON / 30 sec OFF) x 2 for 6 sets, with 3 min between sets. Too soon to draw conclusion in terms of results, as I've only been doing this for 2 weeks, though it does seems that the sets are becoming easier and should be able to add weight shortly, which is encouraging.

Any other repeater protocoles out there that you have experienced good results with?

Here is another option:

https://trainingforclimbing.com/pinch-grip-repeater-training-for-climbers/


I have not tried either routine.
Ross Goldberg · · El Segundo · Joined Oct 2017 · Points: 203
Pierre Proulx wrote: Just out of curiosity, what exercise are you using when training with pinch blocks?  

I use the one on Crimpd, which is (10 sec ON / 30 sec OFF) x 2 for 6 sets, with 3 min between sets. Too soon to draw conclusion in terms of results, as I've only been doing this for 2 weeks, though it does seems that the sets are becoming easier and should be able to add weight shortly, which is encouraging.

Any other repeater protocoles out there that you have experienced good results with?

I do 7s on/3s off in sets of 7 with a 3 minute rest between sets. Definitely have started to see results in the past month but I am unsure if I am doing the most "efficient" workout persay. 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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