The smith machine

**Chemical King** · 02-21-2005, 08:00 AM

I just wanted to know if anyone had any idea how heavythe bar was on a smith machine. The bar for the weight is about 20lb I think, but the bar brace that supports that also carries a bit weight, anyone got any ideas ?

**Kärnfysikern** · 02-21-2005, 08:06 AM

I have heard anything betwen 15kg-25kg(33-55ibs). But all smiths arent alike either.

**Chemical King** · 02-21-2005, 08:18 AM

i thought it was around the 25lb myself. I only ask cos I havnt always got a spotter and cant manage big weight on an incline safely

**BDTR** · 02-21-2005, 08:18 AM

When you let go of the bar at my gym with its saftey hooks off, it just floats because of its supports. I consider it no weight at all.

**Chemical King** · 02-21-2005, 08:20 AM

I disagree with you there bdtr cos I can easily bench around 75lb normaly, but with the smith bar i cant do it, but we may have different types or sumit like that

**BDTR** · 02-21-2005, 08:22 AM

You bench 75 lbs or is that a typo? I'll put it this way, on a flat bench freebar i hit 5 45 lbers on each end and a 25 on each end. On the smith flat bench press I can hit 6 plates on each end. Not only is the bar lighter in my gym, but the motion is a lot easier as it requires no stabilizer muscles, just up and down.

Originally Posted by Chemical King

I disagree with you there bdtr cos I can easily bench around 75lb normaly, but with the smith bar i cant do it, but we may have different types or sumit like that

**AVAGO** · 02-21-2005, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by Chemical King
I disagree with you there bdtr cos I can easily bench around 75lb normaly, but with the smith bar i cant do it, but we may have different types or sumit like that

Is it an olympic bar you use to bench ?

**Chemical King** · 02-21-2005, 08:27 AM

no thats not a typo dude, im still a pretty small guy compared to some bros on here but compared to last year ive come on quite a bit but only started frr weights about 4 month ago, so u cud say im a biginner

**BDTR** · 02-21-2005, 08:28 AM

I read a thread where you said you started a cycle.

**Chemical King** · 02-21-2005, 08:30 AM

yeah thats right its a deca /sust combo. But i have been at it since last Jan as a religion and before that i did it as a hobbie so i feel im ready to make the move to do a cycle. Especially after all the sh1t i have learned off you guys

**BDTR** · 02-21-2005, 08:32 AM

MY 1st INJETIONS bro you said you did your first injection in 2004, and did two dbol cycles prior and you're only benching 75lbs? This isn't a flame, but what were you doing before? Something seems fishy here.

**Chemical King** · 02-21-2005, 08:34 AM

I dont really class that as a cycle cos I wasn't that well educated as I am now and russhed into it all after reading about the good results you guys get. My diet was crap as well. So thats why I class this as my 1st real cycle

**BDTR** · 02-21-2005, 08:35 AM

You should probably train naturally before hitting up juice man...

**Juggernaut** · 02-21-2005, 08:37 AM

The smith machine bar may add a few pounds to the lift but I never count it due to the fact it's counter balanced. I just count plates.

**Monkeytown** · 02-21-2005, 08:37 AM

I think the bar on a smith machine weighs about 25lbs. It has counterweights in the machine that help to carry some of the load. I love when guys are lifting on the smith machine and think they are so strong. I feel like telling them to lift the same amount with freeweights.

Chemical King - I don't know that you should be doing a cycle. Doesn't sound like you have a solid base to build on. If you start gaining strength your tendons will not be develpoped well enough to carry the loads and this could cause injury. JMHO, some other guys here may have different or better advice for you.

**Juggernaut** · 02-21-2005, 08:38 AM

Oh and one other thing....want to get big then you'll have to do exactly what BDTR, Diesel and many others on this board already know........EAT BIG! When you think you're full from eatting a meal then you need to eat that much more before getting up from the table.

**palme** · 02-21-2005, 08:40 AM

It should be 20kg like a normal bar. But depends on how its balanced.

**Chemical King** · 02-21-2005, 08:41 AM

I used to have a crap diet and a crap base to work on but now feel like my diet is in check and i have a good base to work with. I'l have to set my webcam up in next day or so and post a pic

**Chemical King** · 02-21-2005, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by palme

It should be 20kg like a normal bar. But depends on how its balanced.

Thats what I think cos the support bar is attatched to the main lifting bar only, without any other means of support

**Monkeytown** · 02-21-2005, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by Chemical King

Thats what I think cos the support bar is attatched to the main lifting bar only, without any other means of support

OIC. I used to work out at the Y and they have a smith machine like that. The one at the gym I work out at now has a smith machine with counterweights on it, so I think it is less than the 45lb. barbell.

**ReX357** · 02-21-2005, 09:14 AM

Yo bro you should forget about the juice. 75 lbs? Don't wanna flame but the only persons I see benching that small are girls. Some girls at my gym bench more than that! The fact that your diet is in check doesn't make you ready for a cycle bro. Your age either. (Altho you should wait at least to be 21 yrs old, don't know how old you are). You gotta gain what you can gain naturally. You gotta eat monstruous amounts of food. If I were you, I wouldn't consider juice for 5 years. See where you can get in 5 years. Then talk about it again.

Just my 0.02

**Kärnfysikern** · 02-21-2005, 09:18 AM

I am stronger with freeweights then in the smith. My gym has 2 different smitsh. One has a heavy ass bar and the other has a big bar but somehow the supporters makes the negative part of the motion easier(you can put the bar with no weights at the top of the smith and then drop it and it will take several seconds before it reaches the floor). That to me is idiotic and counterproductive.
Find a smith that has none of that crap and just make sure you get stronger in it....

**Chemical King** · 02-21-2005, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by ReX357

Yo bro you should forget about the juice. 75 lbs? Don't wanna flame but the only persons I see benching that small are girls. Some girls at my gym bench more than that! The fact that your diet is in check doesn't make you ready for a cycle bro. Your age either. (Altho you should wait at least to be 21 yrs old, don't know how old you are). You gotta gain what you can gain naturally. You gotta eat monstruous amounts of food. If I were you, I wouldn't consider juice for 5 years. See where you can get in 5 years. Then talk about it again.

Just my 0.02

Im 25 bro. Thanks for your 2 cents in this but since I have already had my first shot and frontloaded my dianobol dont u think it would be better to see the cycle threw

**Kärnfysikern** · 02-21-2005, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by Chemical King

Im 25 bro. Thanks for your 2 cents in this but since I have already had my first shot and frontloaded my dianobol dont u think it would be better to see the cycle threw

no it wouldnt, get of everything before you get shut down and then grow naturaly. You can easily get a 220 bench in 2-2,5 years if you put in some effort.

**Monkeytown** · 02-21-2005, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by johan

no it wouldnt, get of everything before you get shut down and then grow naturaly. You can easily get a 220 bench in 2-2,5 years if you put in some effort.

Agreed. Stop before your body shuts down test production. Eat, Lift and Sleep for a few years.

**BDTR** · 02-21-2005, 10:05 AM

Hold on bro.. are you benching 75 lbs TOTAL including the bar, or 75 lbs on each end, or maybe 75 lbs TOTAL in plates + the 45 lb bar.

**Monkeytown** · 02-21-2005, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by bdtr

Hold on bro.. are you benching 75 lbs TOTAL including the bar, or 75 lbs on each end, or maybe 75 lbs TOTAL in plates + the 45 lb bar.

Good question, I assumed 75lbs. total. Actually I think even with 75lbs. on each end, that's only 195lbs., he shouldn't be juicing.

**BDTR** · 02-21-2005, 10:14 AM

Yes, but 195 is a lot better than 75.

**Monkeytown** · 02-21-2005, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by bdtr

Yes, but 195 is a lot better than 75.

Oh yeah, I hear ya. I'm not sure I would post it if I only did 75lbs. total?

**Benches505** · 02-21-2005, 10:17 AM

I don't count the bar as anything on the smith machines since they do glide and you can glide it up and down with zero force.

Best thing for you to do to build strength is to get off the smith machine and either go to regular free weights or dumbells. I only use the smith machine for military presses when my partner skips out on me for shoulder day. It does a lot more harm than good in the long run. Go light with the free weights until you can manage more.

**Monkeytown** · 02-21-2005, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Benches505

I don't count the bar as anything on the smith machines since they do glide and you can glide it up and down with zero force.

Best thing for you to do to build strength is to get off the smith machine and either go to regular free weights or dumbells. I only use the smith machine for military presses when my partner skips out on me for shoulder day. It does a lot more harm than good in the long run. Go light with the free weights until you can manage more.

I hear ya. When I worked out at the Y all they had was a smith machine, no squat rack. I hated it. I actually kinda enjoy doing squats now with free weights. It's kinda like a "hurt-so-good" thing. I'm sure you guys know what I mean.

**Kärnfysikern** · 02-21-2005, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Monkeytown

I hear ya. When I worked out at the Y all they had was a smith machine, no squat rack. I hated it. I actually kinda enjoy doing squats now with free weights. It's kinda like a "hurt-so-good" thing. I'm sure you guys know what I mean.

free weight squats=good pain

smith squats=bad, stiff, joint ****ed upp pain

**Monkeytown** · 02-21-2005, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by johan

free weight squats=good pain

smith squats=bad, stiff, joint ****ed upp pain

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!!

I did squats on Sat. and am stiff as hell today. I love it.

**sp9** · 02-21-2005, 10:53 AM

Mine is a 55lb bar, no counter balance. That's the bar+ the linear bearings.

**Commando_Barbi** · 02-21-2005, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by bdtr

Yes, but 195 is a lot better than 75.

I Bench 195.

As far as the smith machine goes.....because of travel.....I've hit up a lot of different gyms and every **** smith machine is different. The one in my gym is set at 25 lbs. I've been on some that were 0ish. You should probably check with the gym staff and see what your specific machine is set at. Ours has a small sticker on it that tells what it is set at....check and see if yours does.

Chemical....you should listen to the guys. They know what they are talking about. You CAN do it naturally....why not save the rest of the gear for a later cycle. When I started lifting......I struggled with the olympic bar...now as I said above ...... I can bench 195. And that is NATTY.

**Jantzen4k** · 02-21-2005, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by bdtr

When you let go of the bar at my gym with its saftey hooks off, it just floats because of its supports. I consider it no weight at all.

makes sense to me!

**Commando_Barbi** · 02-21-2005, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Jantzen4k

makes sense to me!

You let go of mine and it smashes to the ground!!

**BDTR** · 02-21-2005, 07:07 PM

****, what happened to Chemical King? I wanted to find out the answer.

**Juggernaut** · 02-21-2005, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by bdtr

****, what happened to Chemical King? I wanted to find out the answer.

might have to bump it a couple a times to get his attention. Not being nasty.....just curious as well.

**p0werlift** · 02-21-2005, 07:59 PM

smith machine bars=15 lbs. this is for most regulated smith's that are in LA fitness/worlds/golds/powerhouse etc, and it also says it most of the time above the warning sign.