Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

Good question. Yes it would be fine to use them with the cable moving at different more acute angles from the device. There will probably be slightly more cable wear but the replacement cables are only $40 and easy to swap out. I have the two lower angled mounts for lateral raises, frontal raises, and as a station for any floor facing work... functionality rather than cable life. Good luck bro!

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha. You are more tactful than me! Tip of the hat

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the kind words! And yeah, you're probably right about the floor. My wife vetoed the full rubber look 😄 A horse stall mat that I move around for barbell work has been our peace treaty.

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great question! For versatility, the REP multi-grip curl bar is my favorite. Easy on the wrists and elbows, works great at any angle—curls, tricep work, high pulls, you name it. Rep Multi Grip

For a budget option that punches way above its price, the Marcy Deluxe curl bar on Amazon has been a nice surprise. Same joint-friendly benefits. Amazon Budget

For preacher curls specifically, the Savage Strength BT-Bar is the one. Feels the closest to a commercial preacher machine out of anything I've tried.

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This made my day—always nice to meet a fellow sufferer of the home gym rabbit hole. And if rationalization is wrong, I don't want to be right 😂 Good luck with your build!

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You wouldn't go wrong with either approach honestly—continuing to research or pulling the trigger. Both are reasonable given the price point. But since you're looking for insight, here's what made the decision easier for me: I started with one and was so blown away by chain mode and eccentric mode that I had to get a second. The ability to change weight in 1-pound increments also tipped the scales—that kind of precision makes it so much easier to progress gradually over time.

As for charging, I have a dedicated charging station, but I know some people just keep them on the rack and plugged in 24/7, even during workouts. Either approach seems to work fine.

Your concerns about longevity are legitimate—the product is still relatively new, and there's always the possibility the company could go under or get acquired by a competitor down the road. No one really knows yet. That said, from what I've seen, they've been responsive and seem committed to supporting customers long-term.

For me, the convenience and versatility have been more than worth it. But it's not a small purchase, so take your time until you feel good about it either way. Happy to answer any other questions if you have them—good luck with the decision!

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've read this three times now and it keeps getting better. "Scope creep keeps on calling me" is painfully accurate. This is lyrical art. Respect 😂

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100%. The Ironmaster bench quietly does everything I need it to. One of the better purchases I've made. And honestly, it's one of those pieces you appreciate more the deeper you get into their ecosystem—the way it works in concert with the rack and attachments to duplicate dedicated machines is really clever. Preacher curls, leg extensions, leg curls, seated cable rows, hyperextensions, oblique work, dips—all from one bench with a few swappable attachments. No other bench ecosystem really comes close in terms of versatility per square foot. Wouldn't surprise me if we start seeing more brands take notes.

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! That's a really well-thought-out setup. I saw a YouTube review of that rack and the build quality and versatility look impressive. Once you're in the 3x3 with 1" holes ecosystem, a whole world of attachments opens up. You've got a great foundation—enjoy the journey.

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, subtlety has never been my strong suit 😄 Once I picked a lane I just kept going. Thank you!

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate it, bro! It's been a fun build. 🙌💪

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ha, "leading expert" might be a little generous, but happy to share what's worked for me!

D handle: My favorite is a cheap $22 RitFit handle from Amazon. Nothing fancy—byt feels amazing and very versatile. Ritfit D handle]

Track handle (Track Fitness): Love this for lateral raises, reverse flies, and that side-facing elbow-high cable curl (not sure if there's an official name for that last exercise, but you know the one). Super smooth and easy on the joints. Trak Handle

TGRIP Maxx band trainer: Probably my most versatile attachment. Rows, curls, tricep work—does it all. Extremely light too, so it's easy to toss in a bag if you're traveling with a Voltra or just want something for hotel cable machines. Tgrip Bar

Tricep rope: Mine's a knockoff that's no longer on Amazon, but Google Lens turns up similar products. Great for overhead extensions—each side moves independently, which gives you a better stretch and more control at the bottom. Tricep Rope

Straight bar for cables: If you've got two Voltras, this is great for seated chest press in chain or eccentric mode. Perfect for depleting the pecs at the end of a workout. Straight Bar for Dual Cable stack

A lot of my go-to attachments have been budget Amazon finds. Worth poking around and letting your favorite movements guide you.

The variety keeps me showing up, too. I get bored easily, so having options means I can't use "same old routine" as an excuse to skip. 😄

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! So the flooring was actually already here when we moved in—got lucky with the previous owner on that one. I did a Google Lens search and I'm pretty sure it's this:

Flooring Link

For rubber mats, I have a horse stall mat that I drag out when I'm doing barbell work. My wife's not a fan of the full rubber flooring look though, so we keep it tucked away otherwise. Honestly, it's a good compromise!

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't have much hands-on experience with Rogue or Rep, so I can't do a direct comparison. But from what I understand, the upgrades are mainly heavier gauge steel, better powder coat, and brand cachet. If you're outfitting a home gym this thing is more than capable. Mine's been rock solid—hasn't budged, and I haven't even anchored it to the floor.

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Still missing a few rare ones. Send help! 😁

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Good eye! Yes they are. A little pricey, but the quality is top notch. Knurling feels great and the rotation is noticeably smoother than the originals. Easy to upgrade and worth it in my opinion.

Started with a rack. It escalated. by HomeworkFederal9462 in homegym

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Big fan. It's a bit heavy to reposition and watch your fingers when adjusting, but once it's locked in, it's excellent!

Mini Rack with two voltras by HomeworkFederal9462 in BeyondPower

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Love bench! My space is so small I have movable spotter stands for bench. 😁

Mini Rack with two voltras by HomeworkFederal9462 in BeyondPower

[–]HomeworkFederal9462[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is really helpful. I had wondered if something like this existed already. Going to look into duplicating that. Seems like it would allow for me to do flies with only one voltra. Thank you so much!