How Are Bumper Plates Made?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Bumper Plates, or just ‘bumpers’, are weight plates designed for 50mm (Olympic) barbells which you will find at all gyms, and are comprised of

an iron or steel core and thick rubber protective coating

.

How do you make a homemade bumper plate?

Do bumper plates have metal inside?

Those are bumper plates.

Elite-quality bumper plates or training plates are comprised of a steel core with a thick rubber protective coating

. The latter allows you to drop the weights from overhead without having to worry about breaking the weight.

What rubber are bumper plates made from?

Technical Details
Moulded


High Density Crumb Rubber

How are Olympic bumper plates made?

Are rubber plates better than metal?


Rubber is much quieter when in use and when dropped

The fourth difference between rubber and iron plates is that rubber plates are much quieter on the bar, and if you’re lifting in a garage gym (or even a commercial gym), this is huge because you won’t hear the iron clatter when you’re moving weight.

Is it easier to deadlift with bumper plates?

I hate to be the one to burst your bumper plate bubble, but

deadlifting with bumpers is significantly easier when compared to iron plates

. This doesn’t mean that your coveted PR no longer stands. It just means that you have introduced another variable to consider when measuring your strength.

Are bumper plates rubber?

Bumper plates are

high density rubber weights

— usually with a steel inner core — that fit on standard 2-inch (5-cm) barbells. They’re especially useful for workouts like CrossFit or Olympic lifting, as they won’t damage your floor when dropped from a distance.

Why are free weights so expensive?

Dumbbells are expensive because

they’re so heavy and drive up shipping costs

. They’re also limited in supply which makes the price soar when demand for them increases. There are a few ways you can make buying dumbbells cheaper like looking for used sets and buying them after the holidays.

Are concrete weights worth it?

Concrete weights sound cool, but

they really aren’t cost effective

. if you watch Craigslist or other local sales sites you can usually pick up used weights for under 50 cents a pound. Unless you can get free concrete, you really aren’t you going to be able to beat that.

How are crumb rubber plates made?

USA Made Recycled Crumb Rubber Bumper Plate Sets – Black crumb rubber bumper plates are produced from

recycled crumb rubber heated to a high temperature and vulcanized

to produce an extremely durable bumper plate that demonstrates a high tensile strength and tear resistance.

What is the difference between weight plates and bumper plates?

Unlike standard weight plates, where each unique weight is also a different diameter,

bumper plates are all the same diameter

. Instead of varying in physical size (45 lbs. being the largest and then working down from there), they vary in thickness and construction.

Can you bench with bumper plates?

To progress your bench press, you’ll want to have a variety of weights on hand.

Bumper plates are also a nice addition to your setup as they won’t cause too much damage to your floors if you drop them compared to traditional iron weights

.

Can you squat with bumper plates?

CrossFitters. If you do your CrossFit workouts at home, you’ll also benefit from bumper plates. You can do high-rep deadlifts, cleans, snatches, jerks, thrusters, and

overhead squats

without having to set the bar down gently under fatigue.

Can bumper plates break?


Without proper force reduction and minimizing vibration, bumper plates will eventually fail

. The constant impact of bumper plates with a hard surface will cause failure ultimately, resulting in broken plates. Most weight room floors that we have inspected use a simple 3/8′′ or 8mm recycled rubber for their flooring.

What is the difference between bumper plates and Olympic plates?


Bumper Plates are larger than an Olympic plate, and they are all the same size in diameter

. Bumper plates come in 5lb, 10lb, 25lb, 35lb, 45lb, and a 55lb. They are all the same diameter but obviously a different width.

How thick are bumper plates?

Weight 10 Lb 25 Lb Diameter 17 7/16” 17 3⁄4” Thickness

1”


2 1⁄8”

What are Olympic plates made of?

Olympic weight plates are typically made of

cast iron

, and can be either round or octagonal. Some Olympic weights, known as bumper plates, are coated with rubber to protect both the weight plates and the gym floor, if a loaded barbell is dropped.

What are 45lb plates made of?

These weight plates are actually

composed entirely of rubber

. They are used for overhead lifting competitions and allow the lifter to drop them from a height without causing damage to the floor.

Are crumb rubber bumper plates good?

Crumb rubber bumpers

bounce high, offer decent bend, and usually have a rough look

. These are ideal for lifting outside or when there’s no mat or platform under the athlete. The other type employs a hard rubber, which doesn’t bounce, as much as make a thud when dropped.

Do bumper plates rust?

Bumper plates are designed to withstand impact from Olympic lifts and as a result, they take the most beating in-home gym setups. To properly maintain a bumper plate is not difficult though. Bumper plates are relatively easy to clean and

resistant to rust

for the most part.

Are crumb bumper plates good?

Crumb bumper plates are made out of softer rubber compared to regular bumper plates. This means

crumb plates are even more durable than regular bumpers

and offer an amazing bounce.

Can you mix iron and bumper plates?


You can mix bumper plates with iron plates without worrying about damaging your plates or barbell

. However, this works as long as you add iron plates with the same weight or less to the bumper plates. Mixing bumper plates helps to protect your floor and barbell from damage.

Why are metal plates heavier?

This is because

the iron in the weight reacts with oxygen and water, which increases the weight of the plates on a molecular level

. When speaking of dumbbells, those that are made of rubber can have a very different weight distribution than the more traditional dumbbells that use iron plates.

Why do kilo plates feel heavier?

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.