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Written by: Kyle Divine
Introduction
This week we are tackling wall-mounted weight storage. In this tutorial, I’ll show you a few options you can try with simple tools and little or no woodworking experience.
Video Instructions: Outlines each option in a video format.
Option 1: This first option is super easy, takes 20-30 minutes, costs about $60 in materials, and requires only a cordless drill.
Option 2: This second one is slightly more complicated, takes 30-40 minutes, costs about $18 in materials, and requires basic tools.
Option 3: This third option is about the same difficulty as #2, takes 35-45 minutes, costs about $21 in materials, and requires basic tools.
Option 4: This is super easy, takes 30-40 minutes, costs about $75 in materials, and requires only a cordless drill.
*If you decide to not DIY this project some other options to consider are the Wall Mounted 4-Peg Option from Titan, a beefy option from PRX (Use code GGE5OFF for 5% off), or a Bar and Bumper Plate Tree if the wall isn’t the best option for you. In addition, make sure to check out the Home Gym Guide for more tips!
Video Instructions
Option 1
This first option is super easy, takes 20-30 minutes, costs about $60 in materials, and requires only a cordless drill.
| Tools | Link #1 | Link #2 |
| Dewalt cordless drill | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Combination square | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 1/4 inch drill bit | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Socket adapter for drill | Amazon | |
| 7/16 socket | Amazon |
| Materials | Link #1 | Link #2 |
| 1 – 6ft 2×4 | Home Depot | |
| 4 – 12” long 1” steel pipe | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 4 – 1” floor flange | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 4 – 1 inch cap | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 16 – #14 screws 1 ½” long | Amazon | |
| 3 – 4” lag screws | Home Depot | |
| 3 – ¼” washers | Home Depot | |
| Black spray paint | Amazon | Home Depot |
I’m using a 6 ft 2×4, So there’s no need to cut it. I lay the bumper plates on the 2×4 to mark where the weight pins need to go.
If you don’t have access to weights, don’t worry, here are the measurements.
I use a combination square to mark the center
I lay the flange down, then use my drill to mark where the pilot holes need to go. Pilot holes are important before the screws go in, they keep the wood from splitting.
I like to use super thick #14 screws that are 1 1/2 long. They’re strong and should have no problem holding the weight. Repeat this process for the rest of the flanges.
I screw the caps on to the 12” pipes and screw the pipes into the flanges.
I throw a bit of black spray paint on and let it dry.
Before mounting, I drill holes for the lag screws – one in the middle, one on the bottom, and one on the top.
I use 4 inch lag screws to attach it to the wall.
Now it is ready to hold some weight.
Option 2
This one is slightly more complicated, takes 30-40 minutes, costs about $18 in materials, and requires basic tools.
| Tool | Link #1 | Link #2 |
| Dewalt sliding mitre saw | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Dewalt cordless drill | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Drill press | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Router and table (optional) | Amazon | |
| Combination square | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 1.75 inch forstner bit | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 1 inch forstner bit | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 1/4 inch drill bit | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Socket adapter for drill | Amazon | |
| 7/16 socket | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Materials | Link 1 | Link 2 |
| 1 – 6ft 2×4 | Home Depot | |
| 1 – 1.75 inch round dowel (or 1.5 inch dowel if you can’t find 1.75) | Home Depot | |
| 4 – 2” lag screws | Home Depot | Amazon |
| 3 – 4” lag screws | Home Depot | |
| 7 – ¼” washers | Home Depot | |
| Black spray paint | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Titebond III wood glue | Amazon | Home Depot |
The second option is less expensive but a little more work. The main difference is using wood dowels instead of metal pipes to hold the weights.
I cut the 48” dowel into four 11 inch pieces.
I go over the ends with a round over bit on my router to get rid of sharp edges. If you don’t have a router, you can use sandpaper to soften the edges.
Spacing will be the same as the other design. Here’s a refresher if you forgot to write the measurements down.
I’ll be drilling holes for the dowels, so I mark the center with my combination square.
I use my 1 3/4 forstner bit to drill the holes. You’ll only need to drill half way through the 2×4.
I use a 1/8 drill bit to drill through the center of that hole. This is for the lag screw and it helps guide the drill bit in the next step.
I flip the 2×4 over and drill shallow holes with my 1 inch forstner bit. This is for the lag screws and helps to ensure the weight storage sits flush against the wall.
Add wood glue before inserting the dowel. Then add a washer and 2 inch lag screw from the back.
Again, a quick spray with black spray paint and this thing is good to go.
Option 3
This third option is about the same difficulty as #2, takes 35-45 minutes, costs about $21 in materials, and requires basic tools.
| Tools | Link #1 | Link #2 |
| Dewalt sliding mitre saw | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Dewalt cordless drill | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Drill press | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Router and table (optional) | Amazon | |
| Combination square | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 1.75 inch forstner bit | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 1 inch forstner bit | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 1/4 inch drill bit | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Socket adapter for drill | Amazon | |
| 7/16 socket | Amazon |
| Materials | Link #1 | Link #2 |
| 1 – 6ft 2×4 | Home Depot | |
| 1 – 1.75 inch round dowel (or 1.5 inch dowel if you can’t find 1.75) | Home Depot | |
| 6 – 2” lag screws – 2 inch lag screws | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 3 – 4” lag screws | Home Depot | |
| 9 – ¼” washers | Home Depot | |
| Titebond III wood glue | Amazon | Home Depot |
Ok, this one is basically the same as option 2 but with weight peg spacing for a set of 255 pound iron weight plates.
You can lay weight plates on the 2×4 and mark where the pegs will go, or just use my measurements.
On this one, we need 6 weight pegs instead of 4. I cut the dowel into six 8 inch pieces.
I round the edges with my router.
I drill 1 3/4 inch holes on the front side and shallow 1 inch holes on the back.
Add wood glue before inserting the dowels. You can use a rubber mallet to tap them into place.
Flip it over and add a washer and lag screw to each one.
I don’t add paint to this one, I think it looks fine all-natural.
Allow the wood glue to dry for 8 hours before putting any weight on.
Option 4
This is super easy, takes 30-40 minutes, costs about $75 in materials, and requires only a cordless drill.
| Tools | Link #1 | Link #2 |
| Dewalt cordless drill | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Dewalt random orbit sander (optional) | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Combination square | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 1/4 inch drill bit | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Socket adapter for drill | Amazon | |
| 7/16 socket | Amazon |
| Materials | Link #1 | Link #2 |
| 1 – 6ft 2×4 | Home Depot | |
| 4 – 6” long 1” nipple | Home Depot | |
| 2 – 4” long 1” nipple | Home Depot | |
| 6 – 1” floor flange | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 6 – 1 inch cap | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 24 – #14 screws 1 ½” long | Amazon | |
| 3 – 4” lag screws | Home Depot | |
| 3 – ¼” washers | Home Depot | |
| Black spray paint | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Minwax Early American wood stain | Home Depot |
The first step is to sand the 2 x 4 to remove any blemishes and markings from the lumber yard.
Then I throw down my tarp and get out the Early American wood stain. It’s a medium brown color and is a nice contrast to the black metal pipe.
I spray a quick black coat on the pipe.
Measurements are the same as option 3, here they are again in case you need them.
I pre-drill before putting the screws in. After that the rest goes pretty quick.
I originally used 12 inch pipes for these but didn’t love how it looked. After swapping those out for shorter pipes, I’m happy with it.
Thanks Kyle – just did option #1. Super easy, exactly what I needed. So much simpler.
Thanks for this! My wife and I are planning to build storage for our basement gym (we’ll be splitting the weights on either side of the rack for ease of use, and to balance out the room a little better) – the step-by-step is just what we needed for planning.