Project by Kaizen DIY
Introduction
Hey everyone, welcome back to another sweet DIY tutorial. I am Kyle from Kaizen DIY Gym. In this article, I’ll be making a DIY Preacher Pad.
Ok, if you’ve been following along for a bit, you’ll likely remember that this was supposed to be a build-off between Matt Pendergraph and me. Well, things happened, and life got in the way. I made mine back in February; Matt couldn’t get his done. Fast forward six months, and I’ve decided to release my article anyway.
Now for your next question:
Why the Preacher Pad? I honestly think it is one of the most innovative home gym products I’ve seen. It is so simple and so effective. It’s a huge space saver compared to a dedicated preacher chair, and it is made in the USA of high-quality materials.
If, after checking out this article, you think the preacher pad looks fantastic and you want to buy one, consider using our affiliate link in the description of this video; enter in coupon code DIY10 to save 10% on your order. By doing that, you’ll be helping to support future DIY projects.
Before You Get Started
Some things you should know before I get started: This is less of a tutorial and more just going through my building process. I shot this video over a couple of weeks in between working on other projects, so it’s hard to say precisely how long my preacher pad took. It is made from scrap wood, so my cost was pretty low. I didn’t mark down my measurements; I was winging it as I usually do with my prototypes.
Video Instructions
Recommended Tools & Materials
| Tools | Link #1 | Link #2 |
| Dewalt sliding miter saw | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Dewalt cordless drill | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Rigid table saw | Amazon | |
| Dewalt impact driver | Amazon | |
| Dewalt 20v random orbit sander sander | Amazon | |
| Dewalt 20v Max XR Jigsaw | Amazon | |
| Cricut Explore 3 | Amazon | |
| Kreg K4 Pocket Hole Jig | Amazon | |
| Staple gun – Amazon link | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Wood Clamp set | Amazon | |
| Digital Angle Finder Ruler | Amazon | |
| Materials: | Link #1 | Link #2 |
| 6ft 2×4 | Home Depot | |
| ½ inch 2’x4′ plywood | Home Depot | |
| 1 inch thick upholstery foam | Amazon | Home Depot |
| 1 yard of black vinyl fabric | Amazon | |
| 1/4 inch prolonged t-nut $2 | Home Depot | |
| Black spray paint | Amazon | Home Depot |
| Heat Transfer Vinyl | Amazon |
Instructions
The first step in my process is measuring the Preacher Pad’s dimensions. I don’t need to make mine the same, but it helps me know where to start.
I need to make two of everything. I start by making the side triangles of my frame. The original preacher pad is made of high-density foam and covered with premium vinyl; mine will have a wood frame and be covered in places.
This process requires basic math and geometry knowledge to get the correct angles and stuff. I don’t aim for perfection; it’s good enough for me if it’s close.
As you can see from this, miscalculating is integral to my process.
I’m using four 2x4s to connect the two side triangles.
As it turns out, I didn’t need to cut the longer 2×4 pieces at an angle. I use my jigsaw to correct that mistake and cut them flush.
I go over it with a sander to help even everything out and get rid of any sharp points.
One thing that I love about doing a wood frame is that it leaves the center hollow, and a hollow center can be used as a storage bin. Once I figured this out, I knew a handle would be 100% necessary.
That’s right. I bet you didn’t know I could sew. I’m not very good at it, but I know enough to get the job done.
Once that is done, I start working on the pads.
I am making three pads, one for each side of the triangle. Each pad starts with cutting the plywood to size. I use my table saw to cut the other plywood pieces to size.
I am making removable pads for this. It is extra work, but I love the idea of being able to remove or replace the pads easily if I need to.
I clamp the plywood to the frame and drill a 3/8″ hole through both. I put four holes on the large pad and two holes on each of the smaller pads.
Prolonged t-nuts go in each of the holes, and you hammer them in. These allow you to bolt in through the 2×4
I designed this sweet logo and uploaded it to Cricut design space. It is definitely an unnecessary step, but I want to add a logo to the front pad. I’ll be utilizing my Cricut machine and my heat press for this.
If you’re unfamiliar with these, the Cricut is a machine that does precise cuts with a sharp blade. It can cut paper, vinyl, cardstock, and posterboard, and you use the designs from your computer. For this logo, I am using iron-on vinyl.
While that’s cutting, I measure out my fabric. I said leather earlier,r but it’s faux leather, much cheaper.
With such an intricate design, it takes a while to cut the design into the vinyl, and it takes even longer to separate the cutout pieces. This process is highly nerve-racking; if I mess up, I’ll need to start all over. At this point, I’ve already invested hours into this.
I must be cautious; I grab the tiny pieces with tweezers.
I try to center the logo on my fabric with no mistakes or turning back.
I use iron-on vinyl, but I use a heat press for this part. The heat press applies heat more consistently than an iron, which is much better for this type of stuff.
I take it out and remove the plastic; I am amazed at how well this turned out.
I spray paint the frame and the undersides of the plywood boards.
Once everything is dry, I start cutting out the foam for the pads.
The adhesive on the plywood helps the foam stick.
I double the foam on the big pad because it supports the elbows. I didn’t do that last time, and I’ve always regretted it.
I use a pneumatic stapler to fasten my fabric. Using suitable staples and having the correct air pressure is crucial.
After finishing this pad, I attach it to the frame with 1/4 inch bolts.
I repeat this process with the following two pads.
And boom, we are done!
Not only is it great for preacher curls, but I can put a bar inside and take it to the park!
So what do you think? Is it worth all the time and effort to build, or would this one be better just to buy? I want to thank AbMat for allowing me to do a DIY knockoff of one of their products. They indeed are a great company. If you value high-quality American-made products, check them out.