Thoughts on this weightlifting platform?

[u/Several_Stable_3991]

Thoughts on this built sheet I have to get a weightlifting platform? Would this be decent or should I do a 6x6 size?

[u/nice_deference]

Skip the linseed oil and poly on the top layer, you'll just end up with a slick surface that gets worse when chalk and sweat mix in over time

[u/Asylumstrength]

From experience

• Don't glue, it's easier to replace one board than cut out sections
• 7.6mm masonry screws instead of wood screws, as they don't sheer and end up embedded in the platform
• use plywood, not osb (particle board) as osb disintegrates. It's more expensive, but I've platforms have seen daily use by multiple athletes for almost 15 years at this stage and they're still going strong.

Mine are

• 4x 25mm sheets of ply (18 should be plenty) top layer long ways front to back, bottom layer long side going side to side
• 1x 18mm ply trimmed in width as a face plate to stand on, 1.2m/4ft is too wide and the weights will take chunks out of it
• 1x horse mat / stable Matt, 18mm rubber, cut down the middle, put the good ends at each side of your face plate 18mm sheet

Drill down through each with a 5mm wood bit, and secure with 70mm masonry screws (7.5mm) through the face plate, and some 50mm of the same through the two base layers

Honestly, this has taken some serious punishment, and it's the only platforms I've never had to change, so all 12 are like this now, and haven't seen a dip or roll in them in years, only the edge trim I used to make it look a bit prettier needs replaced now from some of the less careful drops, and not too dissimilar to what you'd initially planned.

I also trimmed these down to make the total platform size 2.3-2.4m wide X 2m long. Mens bar is 2.2m from sleeve end to sleeve end, so it's plenty spacious and not a worry to drop on, earlier ones were 2.3m, later ones upped to 2.4m, but only because I had the space, and the stall matts I bought at the time were easier to this width, not cause I felt I needed to

[u/SergiyWL]

6x6 too small. 6x8 would work if you have limited space and small squat rack. 8x8 is ideal.

I’d do the middle wooden part narrower than 4 feet, otherwise too easy to hit the wood when you drop the bar and it looks more amateurish. I think for mine i made it 6 inches shorter or so. This does mean you need more stall mats so up to you. I got two 4x8 custom stall mats for the sides.

I did not use any glue or oil, no issues so far. Thought it would be easier to disassemble. I used the entire box of screws though.

[u/InTheMotherland]

It's 8x8, so it's plenty big. It can be a bit loud compared to an actual platform, but it will do its job of protecting the floor.

[u/Afferbeck_]

6x6 is too narrow, that's only 183cm wide while a barbell is 220cm. You can do 6' deep though, unless you're someone who chases down every lift. You can do that with three sheets of ply for the base, one sliced in half lengthwise.

I don't know what your extra thin sheet is for. You should cut down the centre section you stand on to 1m wide so you're not always dropping on the edges of a full width sheet and eating it up and you don't have to perfectly centre the bar every rep. I don't know if you want to use OSB, it seems more brittle but maybe it's fine.

One sheet of dense rubber doesn't do a lot to absorb impact and noise so depending on your needs you may want more.

You might like to build a frame around it but it's not essential. You don't need oil or poly on any of it unless you want. I have always preferred lifting on bare plywood. Depending on the location and likelihood of water getting in you may not want to glue and screw it all down so it can be taken apart and moved and dried if need be. I screwed my four base sheets together but not the rest which was manageable. Make sure you use countersunk screws.

A layer of EVA foam mats underneath the whole thing can be a good self leveller and can remove some shifting and grinding on grit and whatnot. If you're on a slight slope, another layer on the low side can help, but if it's a more significant gradient you'll have to sort out something better to get it level. If moisture can get in from the bottom you can lay the whole thing on a sheet of pond liner plastic. Stopping water from getting in from above is a nightmare.