A standard barbell is smaller and lighter than an Olympic barbell. Commercial fitness centers and gyms usually have Olympic barbells and weight plates. Standard barbells and weight plates are found in home gyms. You use standard weight plates with a standard bar and Oklympic weight plates with an Olympic bar.
Standard Barbell
Unlike an Olympic barbell, standard barbells do not have universal specifications. An Olympic barbell is 7 feet long and weighs 45 lbs. A standard barbell is shorter, usually 5 or 6 feet long, and lighter, weighing between 20 and 30 lbs. The center of an Olympic barbell is 1 1/16 or 1 1/8 inch thick, and the end sleeves are 2 inches thick. The entire length of a standard barbell is 1-inch thick.
The Weights
Standard weight plates have a 1-inch center hole so they only fit on a standard barbell. They are available in 1.25-, 2.5-, 5-, 7.5-, 10-, 12.5-, 20-, 25- and 50-lb. plates. Olympic weight plates have a 2-inch center hole. They are available in 2.5-, 5-, 25-, 35-, 45- and 100-lb. plates.
Using Olympic Weights
Olympic plates will fit on a standard barbell. However, because the center hole is twice as big as the barbell, the plates will slide around a lot. You can purchase an Olympic adapter sleeve. This is a 2-inch sleeve that slides over the end of the barbell so you can use Olympic weight plates on a standard bar. These adapter sleeves range in price from $15 to $30, as of February 2011.
Considerations
Although you can use Olympic weight plates on a standard bar relatively safely with an adapter sleeve, you need to keep in mind the weight limit of the bar. Olympic bars are made to handle heavier loads than a standard bar. The weight capacity varies among brands and models, but in general, Olympic bars have a weight capacity between 800 and 1,500 lbs. A typical standard bar has a weight limit between 110 and 200 lbs.
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