How to build a simple outdoor pull up bar?

Hi guys, I'm first time user here.

During the lock down my local gym was closed and so as the playground. Therefore I would like to ask about building a simple pull up bar for outdoor use. It looks pretty simple and I think I can do it myself however I'm not sure if I can get all the materials at Bunnings?

Basically I will need:

2 x 2.7-3 metre wooden post

1 x 2 metre solid steel bar (34-35mm diameter)

Concrete mix

Can you guys let me know if I can have the posts and solid steel bar at Bunnings at these specs? and is there anything else I need to notice before building one? Thanks a lot for your help and stay safe everyone.

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Comments

Jason

Hi @kylevuong and a warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop Community. It's fantastic to have you join us and we're confident that you'll get plenty of helpful information, advice and inspiration for all your projects from our clever and creative members.

Let me tag a few helpful members in @JDE, @Aussie-Garden, @ProjectPete and @DIYology to see how they might go about tackling this interesting D.I.Y. project.

I'm sure @MitchellMc will also be keen to help with product suggestions when he is back on the site on Friday. Thanks for your patience in the meantime.

Jason

lombardj

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/10069#Comment_10069

Was there any further updates to this? I'm also keen to find out more... Thanks

MitchellMc

Hi @kylevuong,

I seem to have missed your question and I sincerely apologise for the delay in my reply,

I've had a look at our range and unfortunately, we do not stock solid steel bar. We do have ARC 2.4m 32NB Galvanised Steel Pipe but it is hollow. This might be suitable if your intended width was around the one-meter mark, though I could see it flexing over larger distances.

We have the 88 x 88mm 3.0m Premium Wrapped Pine Treated F7 KD H4 DAR and concrete mix available.

Please let me know if you need further assistance or had questions.

Mitchell

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @lombardj. It's great to have you join us and many thanks for your question.

I've now updated the discussion with my response to @kylevuong. As mentioned we do not carry solid steel bar in those thicknesses. An alternative would be to use the hollow bar but consideration would need to be given as to how flexible it is.

We look forward to hearing about the projects you have going on around your house and garden and would encourage you to let us know anytime you need assistance or have something to share. I trust you'll find loads of inspiration within the community as our creative members are posting their projects here every day.

Please let me know if you need further assistance or had any questions.

Mitchell

Rancy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/10490#Comment_10490

Hi Michelle, I also would like to build pull up bar at the backyard. Is there anyone, who can visit site to see how to install it. So that I can organise to cover with concrete on the floor to make it stronger.I have attached the sample picture FYI. Sarayu

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/69632#Comment_69632

Hi @Rancy,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. We're so pleased to have you join us and trust that you'll get loads of helpful advice and inspiration from all our clever and creative Workshop community members. Please don't hesitate to post anytime you need a hand.

Apologies that this post got caught in our automatic spam filter. Please note I've removed your phone number from your post to protect your privacy.

Workshop is primarily a D.I.Y. community and our members share advice and experience about how to build things themselves. We'd love to help you achieve this project build. Let me tag our resident Bunnings D.I.Y. expert @EricL who should be able to assist when he is back on the site on Friday. (His colleague @MitchellMc who has assisted others in this discussion is currently on leave following the birth of his son.)

If you believe that the project is beyond your capabilities and want to find a tradesperson to tackle the build for you, we would recommend trying a site like Airtasker or Homepages instead.

All the best,

Jason

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/69632#Comment_69632

Hello @Rancy

Thank you for sharing your question about how to install your pull-up bar.

If your pull-up bar is brand new did it come with instructions? It will probably have recommendations of how big and deep to dig for the post. If it didn't, it might have an indicator on the side of the post on far it must be buried. However, if they didn't come with any instructions or markers, I suggest engaging the services of a handy person to help you install it. My colleague @Jason suggestion of Airtasker or Hipages is a good place to start.

If you need more assistance or advice, please let us know.

Eric

markh1

Was also interested in doing this. See the timber posts and concrete are available but the steel bars are still absent. Threaded at both ends is even harder to find.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/21421#Comment_21421

Hello @markh1

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Thank you for joining the discussion.

Are you looking for a particular size of the pipe? I usually recommend using Brasshards 25 x 1200mm Galvanised Pipe for pull-up bars.

You can get it longer, but I don't recommend going any further as they will start to bow past 1200mm. I suggest putting Brasshards 25mm Galvanised End Cap on both ends to prevent the pipe from sliding out.

This type of pipe is usually located in the plumbing aisle inside the store.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/73440#Comment_73440

Hi @markh1

"Threaded at both ends is even harder to find."

When I was undertaking the Charles Atlas body-building course (😉) I found the best diameter for a chin-up (they call them pull-ups now?) bar was the same as a barbell - around 25 mm. This reduced hand fatigue around the bar.

My suggestion then is - if they still make the bars with the large threads on the ends - is to drill appropriately sized holes into the timber (and I think you need lengths > 3m to avoid knee flexion) and insert the barbell into each piece hard against the collar and 'lock' into place. This will also give you the exact spacing dimension to dig the holes. With a piece of scrap wood cut to the same dimension as the 'between the collars' measurement and held in place with a cheap sash cramp - we can hold everything in place and in alignment when inserted into the dug holes. And with strategic bracing we can keep the whole apparatus in a perfectly vertical position while the concrete dries.

The 'ribbing' on the barbell will also give you a better grip - as opposed to shiny painted or galvanised bars.

I could so 20 chin-ups years ago - now I can barely tie my shoelaces.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/100160#Comment_100160

Hi @Noyade

I believe I saw that ad at the back of a comic book along with a deal for a bullworker and the chest muscle expander. Thank you for the extra recommendations, I'm sure @markh1 will find it quite useful.

Eric

markh1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/100160#Comment_100160

I found just the bars outside of Bunnings with screw holders. But I'll grab the supports and concrete from Bunnings. The supports it's ok to pour liquid concrete around them? Will they soak up any of the water?

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/116924#Comment_116924

Hi Mark @markh1

I've only played with steel posts - but for me I would personally mix the concrete in a wheelbarrow from scratch and stay away from the 'instant' concrete. I believe the holes need to be deep and not too wide. A hand auger would be very useful - 200 mm diameter and I'd attempt the full length of it - approximately 800mm. So if you buy those 3m wood posts - you'll never be able to hang fully from the bar - you'll have to flex your legs to fit. For adherence to the concrete I'd place a few well entrenched coach screws into the wood at the bottom - before inserting into the holes.

Avoid digging a sort of shallow crater that you see at the end of uprooted street signs - easily uprooted by athletic individuals early on a Saturday morning.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/116924#Comment_116924

Hi @markh1

I totally agree with all of @Noyade's recommendations, he's also done a fantastic illustration of what would happen if you don't put the post deep enough. To get good drainage at the bottom of the post make sure to put drain gravel first then place the post on top before you drop the concrete in.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

markh1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/126570#Comment_126570

So if I'm getting the poles mentioned how deep should they be in the hole? Drilled screws into the poles is a great idea.

Was there math for this "% of height into ground"

Got 5 poles, not instant concrete from Bunnings.

Bought 3outdoor chinup bars long from southside fitness.

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/133032#Comment_133032

Hi Mark @markh1

I only based my comments above on what I'm able to do. I can manage a depth of 800 mm with my hand auger. I used that depth to support a two-post clothes line six metres apart and it's still standing after 18 years.

I believe it's better to dig too deep than too shallow. Also good advice for murderers.

Love to see how you go and what it looks like. Please keep us posted! 😁

markh1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136996#Comment_136996

Sounds great. I never get to dig holes sort of looking forward to it..

Total cost ATM

$850 (rounded up estimate).

90per wood beam x5

99 chin up bars X3

Concrete screws roughly guessed $50.

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139724#Comment_139724

Thanks @markh1

I am surprised at the cost - but I'm outta touch with the World. I think a pub meal over $20 is too much. Looking forward to the completed photos. 👍

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/133032#Comment_133032

Hi @markh1,

As a general rule of thumb, 1/3 of the height of the post should be in the ground. So a post that stands 1800mm above the ground should have 900mm in the ground. This rule is used for fence posts, so you could likely get away with less in the ground. If you'll be doing plenty of swinging on the bar, the deeper the foundation, the better.

A pincer post hole digger and/or a post hole digger will be needed.

Mitchell

markh1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136997#Comment_136997

Sounds right even with concrete supports?

Will photograph everything once I get it all together.

Poles arrived from southside fitness.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139725#Comment_139725

Placing 1/3 in the ground will ensure you have a solid post @markh1.

Is this going to be purely a pull-up bar? Kipping pull-ups or any swinging on the bar will constantly compress the soil on either side of the foundation. Once the soil becomes compressed, the pole will start to wobble. The more pole you have in the ground, the less likely the soil will overly compress. Instead of going so deep, the other option is to place angled supports at the base, which are driven into the ground.

Mitchell

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141590#Comment_141590

Hi @markh1

Just curious, and a bit late now - but did you at any point consider a foldable pull-up bar ? Maybe unstable on the lawn/backyard?

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142992#Comment_142992

Hi @Noyade

That's a very interesting suggestion, it would be quite handy if you were renting. You can simply take it apart and take it with you wherever you go. I suppose you just need to make sure that the area you are setting it up on is level.

Eric

markh1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142992#Comment_142992

I wanted to fill the house with monkey bars. But captain no fun stopped me.

KatieC

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143971#Comment_143971

Hahaha monkey bar house does sound like it would be awesome @markh1. Definitely looking forward to seeing your pull-up bar when completed.

Katie

markh1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/144733#Comment_144733

Waiting on Bunnings to deliver wood poles. Ordered Friday morning, got 12bolts to secure bars and 4 Frankenstein bolts for concrete footing.

2 bags of concrete.

markh1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/145287#Comment_145287

As promised some pics.

Each pole took 4 bags of concrete. We ...I dug both holes out for the starting supports. both 50cm's deep just shy of 1/3rd of the poles height. We drilled 4 pins into each pole at odd angles for extra foundational support. Both holes are overkill. I wasn't interested in doing the math. So overkill hopefully I'm dead before these need to be removed so my sons can have one last winge about me muahahaha.

Bagged all the dirt for the compost bin.Is a hole...?screw supports.Concrete got everywhere...Mixing Concrete on a Sunday like men.Foremen took there spots.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/145720#Comment_145720

Hello @markh1

Thank you so much for posting those photos of your pull-up bar assembly. That metal pull-up bar looks serious and those 90x90 posts should last you quite a while. If you paint the posts that will serve as the icing on the overkill cake.

We look forward to seeing your next project.

Eric

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/146056#Comment_146056

Well done sir! 😊

Happy bicep/tricep or whatever 'cep you're working on.

Thanks for the photos!

KatieC

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/145720#Comment_145720

Thank you for the photos @markh1! Your foremen look quite happy with your work. How long does it take for the concrete to be properly set? Would love to see a photo of the whole thing when you have a chance.

Katie

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