Introduction: How to Make Calisthenics Wood Parallettes Bars (Push Up/Dip/L Sit Handles)
In this guide, I'll share three methods for building your own wooden calisthenics parallettes bars (used for push-ups, dips, L-sits, etc.):
- Using metal pipes
- Stacking 2x4 lumber
- A more advanced design
I'll cover the difficulty level, pros and cons, and the cost of each method, so you can decide which one best suits your needs.
Supplies
The following materials are needed if you like to make your own metal pipe bars:
- Pipe nipple (determine the length based on your needs)
- 90 degree elbow fitting
- Cap fitting
- Tee fitting
The following tools are needed if you like to make your own wooden bars:
- Clamp
- Jig Saw
Dimension
You can customize the dimensions of the bars based on your needs, but for my design, I have two sizes, high & low profiles, and their sizes are:
- High profile: 16'' (L) x 10'' (W) x 12'' (H)
- Low profile: 16'' (L) x 6'' (W) x 6'' (H)
Step 1: Method 1: Using Metal Pipes
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Cost: Expensive
This is the easiest method of the three I'll discuss, but it is also the most expensive. Metal pipes can be quite pricey, but their advantage is that they are virtually unbreakable and have a cool, industrial look.
Use the diagram for the needed components to construct your own push-up bars.
Tip:
1. Before building the push-up bars with metal pipes, decide on the pipe diameter that suits you best. I found that a 1/2-inch pipe doesn't provide a comfortable grip, so I opted for a 3/4-inch pipe for a better grip. Keep in mind that thicker pipes are more expensive as well.
2. To gather the materials, check Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, where people sometimes sell them at very low prices.
Step 2: Method 2: Stacking 2x4 Lumber
- Difficulty Level: Medium
- Cost: Cheap
This is a very simple version of wooden push-up bars. You just cut 2x4 lumber to the desired length and then use glue and screws to stack the pieces on top of each other. The only detail worth mentioning is the two top bars. After cutting the lumber to the desired thickness with a table saw, you can use a sander or a trim router to round off the sharp edges. You don't need to make the bars into perfect cylinders (like dowels); you just need to shape them enough to provide a good grip.
See this section of the video to see the making in action.
Step 3: Method 3: Advanced Wooden Bars
- Difficulty Level: Difficult
- Cost: Cheap
This is a more advanced version of the wooden bars. It looks better but requires more tools and careful design to build.
Again, the key detail is the two top bars. I made a 'dowel-making jig' (see this Instructable) to create perfect dowels. I also used a hole saw to cut holes in the wood. Depending on your needs, you could choose to buy ready-made dowels instead of making them yourself.
See this section of the video to see the making in action.
Step 4: Summary
I found that custom-made push-up bars have more flexibility in the sense that I can easily adjust the width and height of the bars.
- For the metal ones, though more expensive, they are virtually unbreakable, and they have a cool , industrial looking.
- For wooden ones, the cost is very cheap, I get to design a cool look for them, and they can last virtually forever.
I hope this guide provides some helpful information to you. Thanks for following along!