Chin-ups are strength exercises which are designed to develop the muscles in your back and arms. This exercise is done by gripping a bar and lifting your body weight against gravity. Because your body acts as the weight and gravity is the resistance, chin-ups are some of the easiest exercises to do. With a chin-up bar, they can be done anywhere. If you are interested in doing these exercises at your home, consider building your own outdoor chin-up bar.
Step 1
Choose the location of your chin-up bar. This location should be away from structures and should have at least 8 feet of vertical room. Make sure the ground is flat and even.
Step 2
Measure 4 inches from one end of the pieces of 4-by-4 and make marks. Drill a 2- to 3-inch hole into the wood with the 3/4-inch bit at each of these marks.
Step 3
Place one end of the 5-foot bar into one of the holes you drilled and hammer it into place so it is securely in the wood. Place the other end of the pole into the hole on the second piece of 4-by-4 and hammer the entire thing together. You should now have a 5 foot long pole wedged in between two 10-foot pieces of 4-by-4.
Step 4
Dig holes in the ground that are 5 feet apart and at least 18 inches deep. These holes will be for the 4-by-4 bases of the chin-up bar.
Step 5
Mix together the instant concrete and water in a wheelbarrow with a shovel until it achieves the consistency of thick mud. Each brand of concrete will require a different amount of water to achieve this consistency, so follow the directions on the packet.
Step 6
Place the ends of the 4-by-4 farthest away from the iron pole into the holes you dug. Fill the holes with concrete until the level of the wet concrete is even with the top of the ground. Adjust the position of the 4-by-4s until they are perfectly vertical. Use a level to check and make minute adjustments to find the perfect position.
Step 7
Allow the cement at least 24 hours to dry before attempting to use your chin-up bar.
Tips and Warnings
- Since this requires placing the pieces of wood in the holes and then poring concrete, you may want to get someone to help you. This person can hold the wood straight as you pour in the concrete to get the best possible positioning.
Things You'll Need
- Two pieces of 4-by-4, 10 feet long
- One 3/4-inch wide iron pipe, 5 feet long
- Post hole digger
- Instant cement mixture
- Water
- Wheelbarrow
- Shovel
- Drill with 3/4 inch bit
- Hammer
- Level
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
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