Although "perfect" is a tall order for anything, even a simple pull-up bar, there is a right way and a wrong way to do anything. For pull-up bars, Today! Fitness and construction specialist Mike Byers agree the right way to do it is using 1 1/4-inch black nipple pipe. Mounted above your head in a doorway, it provides an ideal mounting with plenty of space to use it correctly.
Step 1
Locate a doorway in your home where you can mount a chin-up bar. Choose a doorway with at least 1 foot of ceiling clearance, preferably one that gets less daily use. Closet and garage doors are good examples.
Step 2
Measure the width of your doorway.
Step 3
Buy a length of black nipple pipe to match the width of your doorway. Most shops will cut the pipe for you on site. Ask that one end be threaded it it's not threaded already.
Step 4
Buy matching end caps for the pipe, one threaded and one unthreaded.
Step 5
Put on your safety goggles.
Step 6
Drill a hole through the center of each end cap using a drill bit the same diameter as the shafts of your wood screws.
Step 7
Use your jig saw to cut one half of the lip off your unthreaded end cap. Cut through the side of the lip, then along and around the bend in the cap. Take off your safety goggles once finished.
Step 8
Measure 6 inches from the top of your door jamb. Position the threaded end cap at that height, with its outside edge flush with the side of the jamb opposite the door. Screw it in place with a wood screw passed through the hole you drilled.
Step 9
Position the unthreaded end cap directly opposite and level with the cap you just mounted. Screw it in place with a wood screw passed through the hole you drilled, open side pointing up.
Step 10
Slide the threaded end of your pipe into the threaded end cap and screw in place. As you do this, the unthreaded end should fall into place in the unthreaded end cap.
Step 11
Use your pull-up bar facing the door. This will position your head so it can rise above the level of the door jamb. Facing the other direction risks a nasty bump on the head.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- 1 1/4-inch black nipple pipe
- 1 1/4-inch threaded pipe end cap
- 1 1/4-inch unthreaded pipe end cap
- Power drill
- Drill bit capable of piercing soft metal
- Jig saw
- Saw blade capable of piercing soft metal
- 2 wood screws, 3 inches
- Safety goggles
References
- Today! Fitness: Make Your Own Chin Up Bar
- Mike Byers; general contractor; Corvallis, Oregon
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