Build a Lifting Platform - Part 2 (Questions & Answers)

[@jimmynguyen5387]

Thanks for the heads-up. We have the Titan T-3 rack, a knockoff of the Rogue so it has the 42in inside as well. Great information and good video series. Much appreciated.

[@TestifySC]

You're very welcome, and I hope the construction goes well.

[@alexmoore5970]

This is excellent content, I never would of considered putting sand in my ploy, thank you.

[@TestifySC]

You are very welcome - glad to help! It has really worked out very well.

[@alexmoore5970]

@@TestifySC just googled something. Apparently if someone already made the platform and would like to NOT redo their poly urethane. They could speak it with "krylon 3400 clear non skid aerosol coating". Just and FYI for however made the mistake I made.

[@TestifySC]

We haven't ever used that, but it certainly sounds promising.

[@JWLLMZ]

How to do you prevent the wood under the rack from separating from the deadlift platform? Did you use some sort of bracket or do they seem to just stay in place and joined together?

[@TestifySC]

Both the deadlift platform (i.e., 4' x 8' platform) and full-size platforms (i.e., 8' x 8' platforms) are pretty heavy and stay in place without any brackets. With that said, if you wanted, you could attach the two together quite easily using the top piece of MDF or plywood. Simply use 1 full size piece of plywood or MDF as the top layer of the section inside your rack as well as the middle of the top layer of your deadlift platform. This is what we did in our garage at home, and you can see that setup pretty well in this video: EASY BARBELL RESTORATION - Rusty Barbell Transformation kzbin.info/www/bejne/apjclIGfrr6kd7c

[@ericj4094]

I know this is an old video, but can I make a "deadlift platform" that's just 2 sheets of wood screwed and glued together if I'm lazy? Will deadlifts destroy the wood (or the concrete floor in my basement underneath it)?

[@TestifySC]

In general, I would recommend rubber on top, whether that’s rubber with wood in the middle like we have or entirely rubber on top. That being said, if you’re using bumper plates, two sheets of wood would probably be fine. With metal plates, they’re going to chew up your platform pretty quickly. A reasonable way to think of it is that the platform protects your floor and your equipment, and the rubber protects your platform.

[@ericj4094]

@@TestifySC Well then its time to learn how to build things! If you don't mind answering, do the mats have any give to them? I'm hoping that they are firm because I don't want the platform to artificially make deadlifts easier off the floor.

[@TestifySC]

The mats are not rigid, but they don't compress noticeably. They certainly won't make your deadlift any easier :-)

[@ericj4094]

@@TestifySC Would it be okay to make the top all-rubber (instead of wood in the middle) so I can use it for more than only deadlifts? Again, I am maybe overly concerned about it having a little too much give. I think I've seen people in powerlifting deadlift on all rubber mat platforms so it might be fine but I'm not sure.

[@TestifySC]

Yep, you can certainly make the top layer entirely out of the standard three-quarter inch thick rubber horse stall that. That will be no problem at all.