How to Make Your Own Home Made Pull Up Bar for P90X
So if you are looking to build your own pull up bar for P90X you are going to need a few things. I built my own pull up bar when I started P90X and you can to if you choose. It works great and I put it in the basement and it is attached to the beams down there. I am still looking for some sort of padding to put around to make it a littler easier on the hands. Right now there is just 2 layers of hockey tape around it and it is still a little tough.
Here’s what you need. I went to Home Depot but Lowes or any hardware store will do just fine.
1 – 2×6 Piece of wood
2 – 3/4 galvanized 90 degree elbows
2 – 3/4 galvanized flanges
2 – 3/4 x 12 in black pipe(could use 18in depending on what height you need)
1 – 3/4 x 48in black pipe
8 – lag screws
10 – lag screws 1/4 x3 1/2
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My total was about $42 bucks for the supplies listed above. If you are lucky you will already have some of these things in the basement.
I attached the flanges to the 2 x 6 piece of wood which I cut down to about 4.5 ft. Attached the 12in black pipe to the 48 in black pipe with the 90 degree elbows. Attached that to the flanges. Then screw the wood to the beams. That’s it. You might want to tighten up the flanges first and then attach them to the wood to keep it tight. I actually thought about using an ace bandage to wrap the bar just to give it a little more cushion. I have looked for the traditional padding that usually come on pull up bars but I can’t find it.
Of course you can always do it the easy way and just buy you pull up bar from Beachbody and it easy attaches about any door. I have also seen some bars that just attach right to the basement beams as well. It is up to you which option works best for you based on how much space you have.
UPDATE: I used 2 ace bandages and wrapped the whole bar with two layers and then put some black hockey tape over that. Perfect. Just as good as the cushions on a traditional bar.
UPDATE 2-25-16: Just wanted to let you know that this pull up bar has held up very well for being home made and is now 6 years old. I have also moved it 3 times to 3 different houses and installed it into the basement joists of each house.
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YOU MAY TRY GLOVED TO HELP YOUR HANDS OUT WHEN DOING PULL-UPS. I FOUND SOME NICE GLOVES AT ADVANCED AUTO PARTS.
Is it rock solid? We are looking at it for crossfit and the kipping pull-ups put some front-back swinging stresses on it. Perhaps some steel plates above the flanges to keep the wood from getting dug into…
Thanks in advance.
@Mark Hi Mark. Yes, the bar is pretty solid. If you are going to be swinging then the steel plates would definitely help. You can only fit one person at a time on this bar with these sizes.
Thanks for the article! I may be building one like this tonight! 🙂
We have a 1″ version of this one up. I don’t think that 2×6 is going to get dug into… those flanges are pretty wide and flat. It feels rock solid. I like it so far.
Get some grip tape used for tennis racket handles, and wrap it around your bar or some extra cushion. Or use an ace bandage to do the wrap.
Jeff,
This seems like an easy to make design. I’ve seen some pretty complicated ones, but as long as it can hold your weight this will do the job just fine. And I’m not planning on pairing up on the bar with anyone else.
This should suffice, nicely.
-Mitchell
on the items needed list it says
8-Lag Screws
but with no measurements so i was confused on that part?
@Jake Those lag screws just need to be between 1 1/2 and 2 inches. They are what hold the flanges to the 2 x 6 piece of wood.
Why did you not just buy a pull up bar? I know that there are some that cost much less than the 42 that you spent.
@Samantha I built it because I wanted the bar in my basement and not on the door frame upstairs. I work out most times in the basement.
In your opinion, do you think this design will hold me at 227lbs?
@Dave I have 15 lag screws (3 in each joist) and mine has held at least 300 lbs on it.
Thank you, good information, it’s very cool to have a horizontal bar at home and do it in the morning