Homemade Sit-Up Benches

You don't need an expensive gym to get fit.

Exercise is medicine. Physical activity burns calories and builds muscle, which both help keep weight in check. Strong muscles also help prevent injury, and the heart and lungs are strengthened through a consistent exercise regimen. A gym membership can be expensive, but luckily good exercise habits can be started at home. Your stomach muscles don't know if you are working out on an expensive sit-up bench or one that is made at home.

Things You'll Need

• Electrical metallic tubing with 1 inch diameter: two 5-foot pieces, one 16-inch piece
• Safety glasses
• Conduit bender
• Tape
• Drill
• Drill bit, 1/4 inch
• 8 Carriage bolts, 1/4 inch x 2 inch
• Wood 1x12, 20 inches
• Drill bit, 3/4 inch
• Polyethylene pipe insulation
• Glue
• Carpet piece, scrap
• Staple gun

Instructions

1. Mark the electrical tubing. Measure 17 inches from one end of the tubing and 12 inches from the other.

2. Put on the safety glasses. Place the 17 inch mark against the lip of the conduit bender. Hold the bottom portion of the bender in place with your foot and apply pressure to the upper part of the tube. Bend the tubing to a 70 degree arc. Watch the conduit bender carefully so that you do not bend the tubing too far. Repeat for the second tube. Make sure both tubes match.

3. Turn the tubing around and place the 12 inch mark against the conduit bender. Bend the tubing at the 12 inch mark to a 50 degree arc. Repeat with the second tube so that both sides match.

4. Stand the two pieces together on the floor. Tape the two 17 inch legs so that they are parallel and together. The 12 inch legs must be spread 12 inches apart.

5. Drill two 1/4 inch holes through the longer, parallel legs. Each hole should be 4 inches from the top and bottom. Place a carriage bolt in each hole and tighten with the nut.

6. Place the 12 x 20 inch wood on the top of the bench. Make sure that it is far enough forward that there are at least 4 inches of overhang on each side of the legs.

7. Drill four 1/4 inch holes through the wood and the metal tubing. Drill a 3/4 inch hole partially through the wood on top to countersink the head of the carriage bolt. Bolt the wood to the base and make sure that the heads of the bolts are flush with the top of the seat.

8. Bolt the 16-inch tubing to the 17-inch parallel legs about 8 inches from the bottom. Drill through both the 16-inch tubes and the legs. Secure with the bolts and nuts.

9. Cut two 6 inch pieces of pipe insulation. Spread glue on both ends of the 16-inch tubing and slide the pipe insulation on either side.

10. Glue the carpet scrap to the top of the wooden seat. If there is enough carpet, fold the edges around the wood and fasten it to the underside with the staple gun.

Tips & Warnings

• Splay the lower legs of the bench slightly for a more secure feel.

• Use caution when drilling metal. Always wear safety glasses. Clean up the area and dispose of metal shavings promptly.

References

• Ross Training: Homemade Incline Sit-up Bench
• Readers Digest: How to Build a Situp Bench
• Mother Earth News: Gym Dandies