DIY Anti-Slip Paint for a Stronger Grip

In a recent project, I assembled a pair of homemade thick bar handles for thick bar weight training. Thick bar training challenges the forearms much more than the regular 1-inch bar.

The homemade thick bar grips are mainly made of PVC pipes and, unfortunately, have a smooth outer surface.

The slick surface on the improvised fat bar grips poses a safety risk when the poundage increase. This is unlike the surface of the regular 1-inch thick barbell and dumbbell bars where the knurling provides traction for better gripping capability.

Homemade Thick Bar Handles for Barbell and Dumbbells - Part 2

(This is the continuation of Part 1)

  1. Position the interior lining (EVA floor tile piece) on top of the thick bar handle (half of the PVC pipe) with the rough side facing up.

  2. Push the interior lining down inside the thick bar handle. Position the lining so it's centered in the thick bar handle half. The concave shape of the thick bar handle compresses the lining and keeps it in place without the need for glue.

  3. With a pair of heavy duty scissors, cut off excess lining material that protrudes from the edges of the thick bar handle.

    The photo below shows the interior lining inside the thick bar handles. The inside lining is held in place by compression and no glue was used.

Homemade Thick Bar Handles for Barbell and Dumbbells

Many powerlifters, strongmen and bodybuilders acknowledge the value of thick bar training. Thick bar training challenges the hand and forearm muscles much more significantly than regular bar training.

So, why aren't many weight trainers using them?