Building a High Bar

[rainbowgirl28]

We want to build a high bar at the high school for doing bubkas, pullups, leg lifts, and such.

I am a dumb girl that knows nothing about construction, but the school wants me to give them plans.

Can anyone tell me how you go about building something like that, and include a list of materials that would be needed.

We would be installing it over grass, and we have access to wood chips to put underneath.

[souleman]

Becca, if you PM cdmilton and ask him to get you plans for the one they have at Armstrong HS, I think you would be very happy with it. It's very cool..........and functional. Later.......Mike

[mjaubbs40]

Mike, I think everyone would benefit from those plans. I'd like to put one in at my house to compliment the pit & other tools. Can cdmilton post the plans? Thanks, Mike

[drcurran]

When I was coaching I wanted to build just such a bar at our school. The thing that "scared be off" was the safety issue. If anyone builds one, and I'm sure it can be done, get it "approved" by someone "up the food chain" so that if there is an accident you don't take the "fall". In high school I had a regulation high bar collapse while I was on it (hanging by my knees) - I thought my Phys Ed teacher was going to have a stroke. Good luck and I also would like to see the plans.

Dan

[Rhino]

You're not a dumb girl!

I use a 3/4 inch galvanized pipe, but depending on the span, the weight of the athletes, and how much they crank on it, I think 1 inch would be better. A 40 to 48 inch span is I think plenty of room, but the gymnasts may argue that. Also, my daughters complain about the roughness of the galvanized pipe on their hands. It can be painted and made smoother or taped.

I would get 2 pressure-treated 4 X 6s 12 feet long and a 4' or 5' piece of 1" galvanized pipe. Bore 1 1/4 inch holes about 4" down from the tops of the posts (centered on the 6" face) to accept the pipe. Set the posts to such a depth that the bar will be about 8 feet high. With the pipe in place, mix a couple bags of ready mix concrete and pour it around the posts. After it hardens, fill the rest of the way with dirt and tamp.

To secure the bar and prevent it from turning, drill a 3/8 inch hole (centered on the 4" face) through the post until it goes all the way through the pipe. Then use a 1/4 X 5 galvanized lag screw through this hole. Do this on both posts.

Materials:

1 piece of 1 inch pipe 4 or 5 feet long
2 pressure-treated 4 X 6 posts 12 feet long
2 1/4 X 5 galvanized lag screws
2 bags readymix concrete

4 X 4s could be used instead of 4 X 6s (that's what I used), but if someone were to try giant circles they might flex more than you would want.

This is a simple design because I have a simple mind. Others might have a better idea.

[cdmilton]

Rhino, yours sounds very good and very easy to build. Ours was not very simple and not very easy to build. It is SOLID though.

First off, I don't have any plans. We kind of just built it. Nothing is anchored to the ground. As you can see we have two lower steel bars on opposite sides for doing Bubka's. We made them low enough so we can spot the beginners. In the center there is an actual gymnastics strap bar for swinging giants or whatever else. Last summer we built the large box with a lock to store all of our poles (holds 12 6" tubes total).

[rainbowgirl28]

CDMilton has a really cool design, but I don't have that much space to work with! Rhino's design sounds pretty straightforward. Let me know if anyone else has any feedback!

[superpipe]

I'm looking to build one myself at the high school I coach at. I was thinking of pretty much the same thing as Rhino's design. Definitely use 4x6's and not 4x4's. Also, if you want to make it solid, make sure you sink the 4x6's into the ground far enough to account for frost heaves depending on what part of the country you are in. I'm in Vermont, so I need to have my 4x6's at least 4' in the ground to prevent frost heaves from moving the posts. Don't forget you need about 6" of crushed rock in the bottom of your holes for drainage. 2 bags of concrete mix won't be enough. You wanna fill as much of the hole with cement as possible. This is what will make it solid. Just to clarify, here's my plan:

1. Dig 18" - 24" diameter 4'6" deep holes
2. Fill the first 6" with crushed rock
3. Set the 4x6 post in the hole
4. Fill the hole with concrete/ready mix up to 6" below the top of the hole
5. After the concrete sets ( 24 hours or so ), fill in the last 6" with dirt or your crash surface material.

I was thinking of installing the bar itself into the 4x6's and setting the whole unit into the ground, then pouring the concrete. Just have to be careful to keep it leveled correctly as the concrete sets.

Since I need to dig my holes so deep, I have to use 16' 4x6's