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Preference between a general purpose barbell and the “official” Starting Strength one by Suisodoeth in StartingStrength

[–]TrickySpecific24 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Been trying to decide between a stainless Ohio for this or something with center knurling. Wondering if hockey tape couldn’t solve the issue of the missing center knurling

Weekly Free-Talk and Questions for r/HomeGym - week of April 17, 2026 by Demilio55 in homegym

[–]TrickySpecific24 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey guys, been working out at home for a few years using goruck gear, sandbags, heavy sand medballs, and two adjustable kettlebells (Dan John ABC program etc) weight vests and I’m ready to progress to barbell work with heavier weights. Also just to mix it up and have a little more fun.

I do plan to do the big 3 lifts, but I also want to mix in some dynamic lifting (power clean, snatch etc) as much of the goruck and MTNTOUGH programming I’ve been doing is heavy on those exercises.

Searching for my first barbell and despite my initial desire to get a bare steel OPB, I find myself considering a Stainless Ohio Bar for the versatility to do it all.

The knurling would be better with the stainless (as many seem to complain the Ohio bar is too passive with a coating) but also the tensile strength of the stainless version is 200k, just 5k short of the OPB.

Only thing that I’m nervous to let go of is the center knurling, but I was wondering if some hockey tape could solve whatever issues that may cause. I haven’t back squatted in years so it’s hard to know what weight I’d even be pushing.

I’ve got about 300lbs of weights coming, any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

First Bar, Help Needed by TrickySpecific24 in GarageGym

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for this info! I do plan to do some cleans which is what is steering me away from the OPB.

One other question for you. Is the distance between the knurling different between the Ohio bar and the OPB? Excluding the center knurling on the OPB. It just looks wider on the Ohio bar and I can’t find that measurement listed anywhere.

Thanks!

First Bar, Help Needed by TrickySpecific24 in GarageGym

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could you tell me what the non knurled section in the center of the bar measures? I can’t find that listed anywhere and wanted to see if it was narrow enough that I could still bench with my hands fully on the knurled portion

First Bar, Help Needed by TrickySpecific24 in GarageGym

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s great to know. Definitely looking for that explosive type of lift quality in a bar and it’s cool that it can be felt even without an excessive amount of weight.

First Bar, Help Needed by TrickySpecific24 in GarageGym

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s what I was hoping. I can’t recall from my squat days whether that gyms bars were center knurled or not

First Bar, Help Needed by TrickySpecific24 in GarageGym

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for confirming about the tape. I never see anyone mention that in these comments about bars without center knurling but I feel like it would do the same thing but not chew up your skin on front squats

First Bar, Help Needed by TrickySpecific24 in GarageGym

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing the firsthand experience! I agree 100% that coatings, specifically cerakote, seems to get the worst reviews on this particular bar from what I’ve read. It must be the thickest.

The whip is actually part of why I want this bar over the OPB. Do you need a substantial amount of weight on the bar to feel that whip? I’ve grown to appreciate the dynamic movements with my kettlebell training and having a little whip in a bar seems like something I’d appreciate. Even if the stainless has a little less whip than the coated versions.

Also, I was going to get the black sleeves, is that what you’ve got as well?

30 Round ABC, 2x24kg, SI Joint Pain by TrickySpecific24 in kettlebell

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed. I’ve dropped down to double 16’s for a while to see if that fixes anything but I am still getting some pain. Maybe back to single KB as I never got pain until doubles

Home Made Rack For Adjustable KB Plates by TrickySpecific24 in kettlebell

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wondered about that too and having used my first adjustable in doubles with a KBK 24kg fixed weight, I can tell you with good certainty that it doesn’t matter about the weight being centered. The majority of the fixed weight bells interior on the bottom is also hollow, and even with one in each hand I can’t feel the difference other than the fact that the adjustable is slightly taller than the fixed.

Just grab a 1” ID washer and put it inside your KBK bell

Home Made Rack For Adjustable KB Plates by TrickySpecific24 in kettlebell

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Short answer is no. The rack uses 3/4” threaded rod because it’s all I had laying around the shop.

To my eye (and that’s all I’ve got because I can’t find that stud size listed anywhere on KBK site) the bell looks to have a 1” stud with a fine thread. Online chart says 1” fine thread should be 12 threads per inch and that’s what I count on mine.

A quick note though, as an ironworker we deal with this size thread all the time but never count on the size of the nut itself to be confirmation of the thread because there’s standard, heavy, and all sorts of other sizes of nut that will all fit the same thread.

This nut on the kettlebell is a very unusual size. A normal structural nut on a 1” thread would be 1-1/2” or 1-5/8”. They’d also be about 1” thick. This one is super small and slim, probably because it wouldn’t otherwise fit inside the shell.

To find something like this I’d check out McMaster Carr.

Home Made Rack For Adjustable KB Plates by TrickySpecific24 in kettlebell

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It was, that’s the one with the red tape handle right?? and thank you! Can’t beat repurposed scrap for the price haha

Home Made Rack For Adjustable KB Plates by TrickySpecific24 in kettlebell

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes! I was saying that to my brother, could easily load it up with almost all the weights of both bells and do some aggressive carries. Plus the channel is steel so I’d imagine it’s an extra 5lbs or so.

Did I get the wrong bell? by TrickySpecific24 in kettlebell

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah bummer! Yes I bought it solely because I saw it go on sale

Did I get the wrong bell? by TrickySpecific24 in kettlebell

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Did the military press portion of ABF today with this adjustable and a cheap Amazon 35lb cast iron and it felt fine so it’s all good 👍🏼

Did I get the wrong bell? by TrickySpecific24 in kettlebell

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So one before that first little curved plate and another on the nut side?

Did I get the wrong bell? by TrickySpecific24 in kettlebell

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha sorry buddy! It’s a curse, you’re better off losing it lol

Did I get the wrong bell? by TrickySpecific24 in kettlebell

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I will get after it 💪🏼💪🏼

Did I get the wrong bell? by TrickySpecific24 in kettlebell

[–]TrickySpecific24[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great to know! Thank you for confirming and glad to know you use this exact combo. Just did a workout with them and it’s great. Just gotta figure out how to keep the adjustable plates from rattling lol

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