Hi everyone, if you're seeing this video for the first time, the pre-order website is up and running at www.knurledgrips.com/ There you can see and pre-order Grip Kits for quite a few models of Powerblock dumbbells. As always, thank you for your support!
Wow! I have been wanting to change the grips on my power blocks for quite a while, and not only do you offer a lot of variety in sizes, but your prices are extremely reasonable! Thank you so much for offering this!
I need to start checking RUclips more regularly for comments. I hope you were able to find something that met your preferences. None of this would be possible without the support of folks like you. Cheers, Joe
this is so cool, I love my powerblocks but hate the handles. Im prolly goin to be getting a pair of these. Also I just changed careers and went back to school and earned my Machining cert and have just been offered my first job. Such an awesome skill, wish i wouldve got into it sooner.
Hot damn, man! Congratulations! Very cool. I love collaborating with machinists. The creativity in problem solving.. Wishing you all the best at your first new job in the field. Dude, if you work it right, you could possibly end of getting permission to use equipment after hours. Two of the guys at the local shop here in town do personal projects after hours with the owner's blessing. Everything from tube bumpers and traction bars, to roll cages and utility trailers. I smell some DIY fitness mods in your future. Rock on man.
Great solution and as a Tool & Die maker, you have covered this video well. They look nice. One question, I have the "Sport 50 pound set. On the website it would be nice to see all the models and then a link to the grips that fit that model. I am a little confused at which one to purchase for the Sport model I have. Thanks and once again great product and tutorial.
Thanks, Kirk. I've had a site redesign sitting in the hopper since about this time last year waiting for me to get back to it. Model-based is exactly the approach I plan to take. I agree with your insight 100%. Most newer Powerblocks use the same grip, which is what I refer to as my "Type A". Types A, B and C are just the naming convention I began using to differentiate between older Powerblocks (Type C), newer ones (Type A), and the Elite USA (Type B). Technically, there are at least 2 other types that I do not currently support. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I appreciate it. Cheers, Joe
Just got the 30mm grips ordered for my Sport EXP dumbbells. I can't wait for them to get here and put them to use! I traded my Iron Masters for Powerblocks because I needed something quicker in terms of changing the weight, but I have really been missing the knurled handle that the Iron Masters had. I can't wait to have the quick changing aspect of the Powerblocks with knurled handles.
Hiya Jordan, thanks for your pre-order, and for sharing more info about the switch you decided to make. I expect to have the grip shipment in my hands within the next 2-3 weeks. Very excited to get these babies out the door to all of you! Cheers, Joe
Hi, Art. Agreed. I did use timestamps in one of my grip installation videos in the description section, but I need to be more consistent with using them in my videos in general. Especially these lengthy videos. When I can find the time, I'll comb through a few of the most popular lengthy videos and add some timestamps. And down the road I may experiment with a shorter format dedicated to one model at a time along the lines of what I did with some of my Bowflex videos. Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it! Cheers, Joe
Thank you Landon! By the way, you'll be happy to hear that manufacturing just wrapped up. They began packing up the crates yesterday. The next step will be securing a spot on a cargo ship--hopefully one departing before the end of the month--and delivering those crates to the port to be loaded. When I post my monthly pew-order update to my websites during the first week of September, I hope to report that the ship is on the water and headed to NY. As of now, assuming no delays, that would mean arrival here some time in the second half of October. Stay tuned!
Hi Landon: do you use both the USA elites and personal trainers together? I have the personal trainers which I like for 5-50lbs in increments of 5lbs. I have Ironmasters for heavier weight but it does take time to switch the weights. Thanks!
Had PowerBlocks since the early 90s and I always wondered why they didn't provide machined handles like these. I'll be ordering a pair once I upgrade my current set later this year. Great job!
Awesome Marquis, and I can totally relate. My first pair was back around 2000 and the OEM grip didn't make sense to me. I fully expect that PB will end up introducing knurled grips standard, or possibly even as an option at some point. Time will tell, but to me this is a fleeting niche on the OEM side. If they do introduce anything down the road, my guess would be chrome-plated cheaper steel.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Yes, but you're showing how one change brings about a significant interaction improvement to this popular DB. Hail to the machinists! And thanks for including installation instructions.
Hiya Thomas. Definitely an easy installation. The only mild challenge for some folks may be making sure all 3-to-6 crossbars/tubes line up before tightening the end bolt. More info coming very soon now that I have the latest cost data.
Awesome! Thank you for participating in this. Virtually nobody in the Powerblock community knows I exist or that I've been working on these. I just haven't had the bandwidth to get the word out with everything else I'm doing. So I'm glad you found out, and that you're taking part in it. Thanks man!
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Ive been spreading the word to everyone who will listen because I really do believe these will be a game changer for the powerblock community. To my surprise, there have been quite a bit of discussion stirred up on facebook home gym, home gym discord, and reddit about these handles. I think anytime the topic of powerblock handle replacements come up, your link appears from other users. Your work is getting out there!
@SoDoSoPa That's wild. Thank you for doing that. Feedback for my Bowflex knurled grips and other mods for the past year has been overwhelming positive. Now I'm hoping to do the same with Powerblocks. And I have more than just grips planned. You'll hear more about my other Powerblock mods later this year when I have something worth showing folks. Thanks again! None of what I do today would be possible without the enthusiasm and support of folks like you.
Awesome man. Glad you like them. I'm a little behind schedule on the pre-order campaign thanks to some manufacturing/freight cost increases that I've been working to offset as much as I can. You'll definitely see an announcement very soon. Also have my new 30mm (1.2") and 40mm (1.6") USA Elite handle samples headed my way from the manufacturer for a video later this month. Stay tuned!
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC logistics are a nightmare for basically everyone now lol. Hell yeah! I am a patient man, I like my powerblocks with the rubber handles already, but knurled steel handles will just be icing on the cake haha.
Great question. Thanks for asking. Currently, I don't. But if I begin hearing from enough folks who really want something more in the 25-28mm range (the range between women's and men's Olympic bar diameters), I'd definitely produce some grips less than 30mm. In fact, I'm watching my current sales closely to see which diameters are most popular on which PB models to better understand where to apply my limited resources later this year in another production run. I'm hearing some interest in a 35mm (1-3/8") diameter as well. But in order to make these affordably (for you) and profitably (for both the manufacturer and me), there needs to be enough interest and volume. By the way, there's a way to very roughly estimate the "ideal" diameter for your peak grip strength. Just a rough estimate. I demonstrate that here: ruclips.net/video/slzDNZr5Es0/видео.html And from my personal experience, I'm comfortable with just about any grips from -5mm to +10mm away from my "ideal". So 25-ish mm (1") on up to 40ish (1.6") works well for me. If you know of others who are also interested in smaller diameter grips for PBs, I'd love to hear from them too. They can let me know at joe@averagejoeinnovations.com and I will add you all to a list and let you know when there's enough people to place an order. I hope you found this helpful, and I hope you have a great week! Cheers
Hi Mike, Although you could try it, I would definitely not recommend it. The Powerblocks with no upper support bars have metal plates attached to the plastic ends to reinforce them. I suspect that those reinforcement plates provide the rigidity lost by removing the upper supports. You can see one example of the embedded metal reinforcement at 8:37
@@macweber You could definitely give that a try. My biggest concern would be the impact on the plastic over time. Already, these molded plastic bodies twist and warp under certain conditions (e.g. over-tightening the grip bolts). Yesterday I submitted a prototype model to my manufacturer of an alternative support bracket that preserves the rigid structure of the handle while creating a more open style similar to the Pro Series.. More about that in a few weeks when I iron out some of the details.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC would love to see that. With quote of few Rexan’s still out there I’m sure there would be a market for a handle / support plate combo.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLCHi, anymore info on these prototypes/updates and what powerblocks versions they will work with? Is the goal to be able to convert elite usa / elite exp to an open cage?
I love this, I am buying the 175 Powerblocks. Do u like them, I asked powerblock they say this would void warranty and I’m not too distant future there gonna come out with a knurl handle option
Hiya Alex, awesome man! As far as I am aware the Commercial Pro Series (up to 90) are available with knurled handles though I've not yet seen the latest version in person so I have no opinion about the knurl itself. I believe Coop over at GGR mentioned something about the Pro Series knurl in one of his videos...though I forget if he liked it or thought it wasn't aggressive enough. To be fair, knurl feel is subjective anyway. It makes no sense to me that PB didn't make that grip available on most of its product line-up from the start. It's the same grip on many of their models. I can swap my Elite EXP grip into my 167.5 handle with no changes--they are identical. So I definitely would not be surprised to see PB offer knurled grips in the near future. They should just ditch the rubber/foam grips entirely and introduce knurl across the entire line-up. It remains to be seen if they'll offer more than one diameter. My advice to PB would be to offer 2 to 4 grip size options. The 167.5/175 handles are huge (taller and wider) compared to all of the other models. In any exercise where you wish to bring your hands as deep/close as possible to your body, say a press or a row, you'll lose a couple inches of travel. Meaning you cannot physically bring your hands quite as close to your body as you can with their regular models. Depending on how you plan to use the dumbbells, this may not be a concern for you. Note that the Commercial Pro warranty is not 5 yrs like the pro-sumer models - it's just 1 yr. Strangely, their Commercial Pro warranty says (direct quote from the user manual) "applies only where the PowerBlock product is used exclusively for commercial use". I find it strange that a dumbbell model allegedly made for the rigors of commercial use/abuse would not only come with a much shorter warranty, but limit coverage to commercial use only. I sincerely hope PB isn't enforcing that nonsense if customers buy a pair for home use. If you are interested in a warranty, regardless its length, make sure you buy only from PB or a PB authorized dealer. Otherwise there's no warranty from PB. I won't get into how goofy it is that removing a couple allen bolts would void a warranty. As a gearhead who has wrenched on cars for decades, I wish every mod was so easy. But, and to me this is a significant but, if you aren't dropping PBs or storing/using them in adverse conditions (e.g. leaving them out in the hot sun all day), the warranty won't matter. You could easily use them for decades with few, if any, issues. One final thought. Personally I prefer the non-urethane covered models. They're a little more compact. And non-urethane models all have welded joints, not bolts through urethane ears. If a joint ever breaks (where the plates connect to the cross bars) it's an easy weld fix. If I recall correctly the urethane issues are what prompted a class action lawsuit against PB in 2017. For the life of me I could not find info about whether that case is ongoing or if it settled out of court. Hope you found this helpful. Any other Qs, feel free to shoot me an email.
Hi Oscaria, Sport EXPs typically measure approximately 129mm (~5") end to end. That is the overall length including the lugs on each end. More information is available here: knurledgrips.com
Hi since you suggested loctite, do tou recommend the blue or red(permanent) to use on the new screw threads? Permanent worries me a bit if I ever want to change sizes in the future. Thanksn
Hi Lawrence, sorry about the late reply. I didn't realize your comment was "held for review" due to "blocked words". Lol. I have no idea why it was blocked. Maybe the system didn't like "screw" which would be damn funny. In any case, I use red mostly and blue when I'm out of red. Don't be swayed by the "permanent" claim. It isn't. It'll hold well and you'll be able to disassemble again if necessary. A drop or two is plenty. Cheers, Joe
Speaking of the metal bumpers on the adderweights…it’s be nice if the adderweights and inside of the cyliders were cooated or tighter to minimize noise/movement.
Sorry about the late reply. I've not been on RUclips for the past few months. You could try epoxying a rubber fender washer at each end of the adder weights to dampen their impact as they slip back and forth in their tubes. I would not recommend coating the inside of the tubes, unless you can find a hard plastic self-lubricating coating to allow the weights to slide freely. Otherwise, inserting and removing the adders would be a nightmare with a rubber coating. Cheers, Joe
Hi Jaleesa. You could definitely create a 3D model and print it, but I would not trust it, even at 100% infill. That's something someone would need to attempt with various plastics to see how they hold up versus OEM. There's a noticeable difference in shear/tensile strength between parts printed in layers and those molded as a single piece. If Powerblock was more in tune with its markets, they'd have begun producing color versions long ago.I have no doubts at all that there's a market for a color palette beyond white, black and grey. Grip wise, I received maybe 1 or 2 inquiries about grips for the 24 and 32. If there was significantly more demand, I'd definitely design grips for those too. At some point down the road, that could very well end up happening. There are some interesting DIY knurled grip how-tos online where they modify existing knurled bars, but those people either own or have access to the equipment necessary to cut, mill, drill and tap steel. I just saw an email come through from you, so I will switch over to email and answer your others questions there. Cheers, Joe
@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC thanks so much! Please disregard the email i sent because I was really interested in your perspective. I just would be so much happier to use equipment I had more option to select from even if it's as miniscule as color. Best
These are beautiful. I have not yet bought powerblocks (I can’t decide whether to choose which model!), but I’m noting myself your page! By the way, which model is your favourite?
Hi Stian, it's a great question. I only own a few of the many similar models available, so I cannot speak from personal experience about all models. But the entire line of Powerblock models generally come in a combination of 4 flavors: 1) with our without adder weights 2) expandable or non-expandable 3) with or without upper reinforcing bars...the "hand cage" (e.g., Elite EXP versus Pro EXP) 4) with or without a urethane coating So here are my thoughts on my PBs going back to my very first pair a couple decades ago... I'm generally not a fan of the clunky adder weight mechanism which adds several steps to changing weights in increments < 5lbs. I made a recent video in which I talk about using your own DIY magnetic adder weights to change weight much more quickly and in smaller increments. I leave the adder weights out for a better balanced handle unless I am making a video that involves them. It really depends on your regimen and your willingness to use them. I tend to like the models that don't surround my hands in a cage (no upper tubes/bars). There's more freedom of movement/grip. The various Pro models. But this is a nit-picking and probably mostly psychological on my part. Unless you know for sure that you'll never want/need more than, say, 50lbs, the expandable versions are the way to go. They leave your options open for later growth with expansion kits. Although I've never owned a plastic coated PB model, I've had the opportunity to try a couple. They're a little quieter but they more bulky too thanks to all that extra thickness of plastic on all of the plates. I'm perfectly ok with the non-urethane models which are just more compact overall. Frankly, the noisiest part of PBs is the adder weights in my opinion. The click click sound as they shift in their metal tubes. Remove the adder weights, or use a pair that doesn't have adder weights and the remaining noise is very minor, in my opinion. Of the few I own, I wish I had gone with Pro EXP rather than Pro "sport" 50 which max at 50lbs. That would have been my favorite mix of everything I mentioned above. Still, I like the feel best overall, especially now with my grips. The USA Elite and Elite EXP are basically the same, but the Elite EXP adder weight locking mechanism cannot be accidentally left in the open position. Anyone with USA Elite, Pro Rexan and similar models knows what happens if you pull the handle from the weight stack with the locking mechanism accidentally in the open position. Hopefully PB will adopt the other locking mechanism on its US-made dumbbells. I hope you found this helpful, and I hope you have a great week. Cheers, Joe
Awesome, Kelly! Pre-ordering will finally kick-off this week. Stay tuned. I will announce here on RUclips, as well as on my Facebook page, Instagram and such.
Hey hey C, 30mm is closest in thickness to a typical barbell which is 28 (Olympic) and 29 (power lifter). 35mm is closest in thickness to the grips on a typical commercial dumbbell, especially 30-40+ lb dumbbells. Lighter dumbbells tend to have thinner grips. Your U90s very likely have the rubber covered grip that curves from about 32mm at the ends to 38mm in the center. So a 35mm would be the closest feel.
Hi Joe, I'm just about ready to send in a pre-order (have Pro EXPs), but stuck deciding between 30mm and waiting for a potential 35mm. What would you say are the biggest factors one should consider with different diameters?
Hey Hey, although this really boils down to personal preferences and goals, here's how I look at it...if you prefer the feel of an Olympic barbell thickness, then 30 is definitely the way to go. In contrast, 35-40mm (often around 36-38mm) is more similar to the thicker grips used on quite a few rack dumbbells out there. I briefly touch on grip diameter versus grip strength in this video about "fat" grips: ruclips.net/video/slzDNZr5Es0/видео.html In a nutshell, there's a range of diameters within which our grip is at its strongest based on the size of our hands. If your hands are average size like mine, anything in the 30-40mm range should feel comfortable as they're all within or close to that range. One other thing to consider is how you use the dumbbells most often. With presses I find I can go a little more thick on diameters comfortably...in fact a larger diameter feels a little bit better because it spreads out the force across my palms. But curls feel better to me using a smaller diameter grip....feels like I have better control over the dumbbell through the range of motion. Hope this helped. Shoot me an email if you have more questions.
Hi, Sultan. Given the nature of machining and knurling, the resulting knurl varies over the course of a production run. When I receive a shipment of my grips I hand sort them based on their knurling to provide pairs that are similar in feel. I wouldn't call any of mine passive. I'd say they' range from "medium" volcano-ish on up to "aggressive" mountain-ish. For any customers who express a preference, I do my best to ship pairs that are in the ballpark. It's worth noting that coated and uncoated knurl feels different. So even among the various Ohio bars, if you try a few of them out you'll feel the variation between cerakote, e-coat, oxide and uncoated. Mine are uncoated 316 SS.
Hi Xai, I don't currently. Do you mean something similar to what PB has done with other models like the Pro Series? powerblock.com/product/pro-series-kettlebell-handle/ Or rather than a dedicated PB kettle handle, do you mean something that can fasten to the existing dumbbell handle when you want to convert it into a kettlebell? Along the lines of these... www.amazon.com/Yes4All-Kettle-Version-Dumbbell-Workout/dp/B085FY4QBY?th=1 www.amazon.com/Original-KETTLE-GRYP-Kettlebells-Adjustable/dp/B074V1FMDT
Hi CGM, if you head on over to my FAQ knurledgrips.com/#faq and scroll down to about the 7th question you'll be able to read about the knurling and see a couple photos of the first samples (same as in the video above). If you have any other questions after you check that out, give me a holler at joe@averagejoeinnovations.com
Just seeing this now, Steve, Any mom and pop hardware store will sell singles. M6 1.0 maybe 15-20mm thread length. Just the screw is stripped or the thread in the grip as well?
Hiya, Sam. Sorry about the delayed reply. I was away on a trip for 5 weeks overseas with limited internet access. I'm back in the States now and playing catch up with filling orders and answering questions. All of the latest grip pricing and info can be found on my website: knurledgrips.com You'll need my "Type B" grips which are designed to fit the Elite USA model (grey plastic). Cheers.
I just pre ordered my pair and I cant wait to get them. They will help me have more control and a better grip then the rubber non straight handle on my powerblocks. Even with gloves on, my hand slides down them.
HI Greg, Pre-ordering will finally kick-off this week after I lock my manufacturing costs. I will announce here on RUclips, as well as on my Facebook page, Instagram and such. Home stretch.
Hi Karim, all the ones I have seen so far use that style of grip, yes. Though if you want to be 100% certain, you can loosen the hex bolt on one side of your handle and check. Most often it's a 5mm Allen wrench, occasionally 4.5 mm or 4.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Hi. thank you very much for the answer. If I have the money, I think in December, where I get an extra pay on my monthly money, I will demand grips for my powerblocks. Sorry if I did some mistakes in writting, I am not a native speaker.
@@nichts_als_die_Wahrheit My pleasure. No worries, and no apology necessary. I understood everything you wrote. Any other questions, feel free to send me an email: joe@averagejoeinnovations.com And in the meantime, I hope you and your family enjoy the remainder of the year. Cheers.
Definitely! The grip I refer to as "Type A" is compatible with most of the new Pro models. Older ones, especially decades old, tend to be my Type C grip.
Are you (or anyone else reading this) able to send me a pair of the original grips from the USA Elite? model, I guess...round end not hex. How much? I'm restoring a pair and the handle rubber is destroyed.
Hi AA, I don't have any spares that I'm not currently using in product development, sorry. Would you be open to the idea of just wrapping the steel core in a nice barbell tape? If so, try something like this: www.amazon.com/dp/B072QYQN7B You might even like the feel better than the OEM foam rubber. And you're correct, the steel core of the Elite USA is round on its ends. Technically, older foam-covered Powerblock grips from models other than the Elite USA would fit too if you cut the length down several millimeters. But that's quite the effort without the right equipment. I hope you find what you need. Cheers, Joe
The small handles of the elite use dig into my hands and hurt them. That’s why I can’t use a less than 28mm barbell squat or bench historically at the gym bc it would always dig in and cause pain whereas the thicker bars were money! Now have to decide if 40mm or 30mm will be best.
To this day, I still don't get the 28mm standard for barbells. It really makes no sense to me. Maybe professional dead lifters could explain the advantages of such a narrow bar in their sport. If we look at a graph of a person's grip strength as a function of grip thickness, it's a bell curve with maximum strength in a specific range of thicknesses. Anything above or below that results in decreased grip strength. So we should steer clear of grips/bars that are either too narrow or too thick for our specific hands unless we're purposely trying to work on grip strength. For day-to-day lifting, especially any pressing movements, thicker feels better. It distributes the load more evenly across our palms, which is why we won't feel thicker grips dig in as much as the 28s. I should mention that I have 35mms now too for a nice trade-off of performance for both pressing and pulling movements. Cheers, Joe
Hi everyone, if you're seeing this video for the first time, the pre-order website is up and running at www.knurledgrips.com/ There you can see and pre-order Grip Kits for quite a few models of Powerblock dumbbells. As always, thank you for your support!
Wow! I have been wanting to change the grips on my power blocks for quite a while, and not only do you offer a lot of variety in sizes, but your prices are extremely reasonable! Thank you so much for offering this!
I need to start checking RUclips more regularly for comments. I hope you were able to find something that met your preferences. None of this would be possible without the support of folks like you. Cheers, Joe
this is so cool, I love my powerblocks but hate the handles. Im prolly goin to be getting a pair of these. Also I just changed careers and went back to school and earned my Machining cert and have just been offered my first job. Such an awesome skill, wish i wouldve got into it sooner.
Hot damn, man! Congratulations! Very cool. I love collaborating with machinists. The creativity in problem solving.. Wishing you all the best at your first new job in the field. Dude, if you work it right, you could possibly end of getting permission to use equipment after hours. Two of the guys at the local shop here in town do personal projects after hours with the owner's blessing. Everything from tube bumpers and traction bars, to roll cages and utility trailers. I smell some DIY fitness mods in your future. Rock on man.
Just ordered my handles
Love what you do. Not enough people appreciate it!
Thank you thank you! 🙏 I hope you'll be pleased with your investment. I appreciate your business and support. Cheers, Joe
Hope youre still making these. I wanna get some next paycheck
Awesome! I'm definitely still making them. Some are in stock, and a fresh batch is already en route and expected to arrive by or before April. Cheers
Great solution and as a Tool & Die maker, you have covered this video well. They look nice. One question, I have the "Sport 50 pound set. On the website it would be nice to see all the models and then a link to the grips that fit that model. I am a little confused at which one to purchase for the Sport model I have. Thanks and once again great product and tutorial.
Thanks, Kirk. I've had a site redesign sitting in the hopper since about this time last year waiting for me to get back to it. Model-based is exactly the approach I plan to take. I agree with your insight 100%.
Most newer Powerblocks use the same grip, which is what I refer to as my "Type A". Types A, B and C are just the naming convention I began using to differentiate between older Powerblocks (Type C), newer ones (Type A), and the Elite USA (Type B). Technically, there are at least 2 other types that I do not currently support.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I appreciate it. Cheers, Joe
Just got the 30mm grips ordered for my Sport EXP dumbbells. I can't wait for them to get here and put them to use!
I traded my Iron Masters for Powerblocks because I needed something quicker in terms of changing the weight, but I have really been missing the knurled handle that the Iron Masters had. I can't wait to have the quick changing aspect of the Powerblocks with knurled handles.
Hiya Jordan, thanks for your pre-order, and for sharing more info about the switch you decided to make. I expect to have the grip shipment in my hands within the next 2-3 weeks. Very excited to get these babies out the door to all of you! Cheers, Joe
You should put timestamps in the description for each dumbbell or make separate videos for each style of dumbbell
Hi, Art. Agreed. I did use timestamps in one of my grip installation videos in the description section, but I need to be more consistent with using them in my videos in general. Especially these lengthy videos. When I can find the time, I'll comb through a few of the most popular lengthy videos and add some timestamps. And down the road I may experiment with a shorter format dedicated to one model at a time along the lines of what I did with some of my Bowflex videos. Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it! Cheers, Joe
Preordered mine for my USA Elites a month ago! Can't wait to see how they turn out. Might spring to upgrade my PB Classic Trainers.
Thank you Landon! By the way, you'll be happy to hear that manufacturing just wrapped up. They began packing up the crates yesterday. The next step will be securing a spot on a cargo ship--hopefully one departing before the end of the month--and delivering those crates to the port to be loaded. When I post my monthly pew-order update to my websites during the first week of September, I hope to report that the ship is on the water and headed to NY. As of now, assuming no delays, that would mean arrival here some time in the second half of October. Stay tuned!
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC awesome news! I ruptured my achilles so I'm eager to use these and my excuse to skip leg days 🤣
Hi Landon: do you use both the USA elites and personal trainers together? I have the personal trainers which I like for 5-50lbs in increments of 5lbs. I have Ironmasters for heavier weight but it does take time to switch the weights. Thanks!
Had PowerBlocks since the early 90s and I always wondered why they didn't provide machined handles like these. I'll be ordering a pair once I upgrade my current set later this year. Great job!
Awesome Marquis, and I can totally relate. My first pair was back around 2000 and the OEM grip didn't make sense to me. I fully expect that PB will end up introducing knurled grips standard, or possibly even as an option at some point. Time will tell, but to me this is a fleeting niche on the OEM side. If they do introduce anything down the road, my guess would be chrome-plated cheaper steel.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Yes, but you're showing how one change brings about a significant interaction improvement to this popular DB. Hail to the machinists! And thanks for including installation instructions.
I’m really excited for a pair of these. Install looked pretty straight forward, but thanks for the video to make it easier!
Hiya Thomas. Definitely an easy installation. The only mild challenge for some folks may be making sure all 3-to-6 crossbars/tubes line up before tightening the end bolt. More info coming very soon now that I have the latest cost data.
Just submitted my pre-order. Hope all goes well and these are successful!
Awesome! Thank you for participating in this. Virtually nobody in the Powerblock community knows I exist or that I've been working on these. I just haven't had the bandwidth to get the word out with everything else I'm doing. So I'm glad you found out, and that you're taking part in it. Thanks man!
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Ive been spreading the word to everyone who will listen because I really do believe these will be a game changer for the powerblock community. To my surprise, there have been quite a bit of discussion stirred up on facebook home gym, home gym discord, and reddit about these handles. I think anytime the topic of powerblock handle replacements come up, your link appears from other users. Your work is getting out there!
@SoDoSoPa That's wild. Thank you for doing that. Feedback for my Bowflex knurled grips and other mods for the past year has been overwhelming positive. Now I'm hoping to do the same with Powerblocks.
And I have more than just grips planned. You'll hear more about my other Powerblock mods later this year when I have something worth showing folks.
Thanks again! None of what I do today would be possible without the enthusiasm and support of folks like you.
I will preorder this so fast whenever you release preorders haha. So nice looking!
Awesome man. Glad you like them. I'm a little behind schedule on the pre-order campaign thanks to some manufacturing/freight cost increases that I've been working to offset as much as I can. You'll definitely see an announcement very soon. Also have my new 30mm (1.2") and 40mm (1.6") USA Elite handle samples headed my way from the manufacturer for a video later this month. Stay tuned!
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC logistics are a nightmare for basically everyone now lol. Hell yeah! I am a patient man, I like my powerblocks with the rubber handles already, but knurled steel handles will just be icing on the cake haha.
Do you happen to offer a grip kit that's smaller than the 30mm one for those of us with smaller hands?
Great question. Thanks for asking. Currently, I don't. But if I begin hearing from enough folks who really want something more in the 25-28mm range (the range between women's and men's Olympic bar diameters), I'd definitely produce some grips less than 30mm. In fact, I'm watching my current sales closely to see which diameters are most popular on which PB models to better understand where to apply my limited resources later this year in another production run. I'm hearing some interest in a 35mm (1-3/8") diameter as well. But in order to make these affordably (for you) and profitably (for both the manufacturer and me), there needs to be enough interest and volume.
By the way, there's a way to very roughly estimate the "ideal" diameter for your peak grip strength. Just a rough estimate. I demonstrate that here: ruclips.net/video/slzDNZr5Es0/видео.html And from my personal experience, I'm comfortable with just about any grips from -5mm to +10mm away from my "ideal". So 25-ish mm (1") on up to 40ish (1.6") works well for me.
If you know of others who are also interested in smaller diameter grips for PBs, I'd love to hear from them too. They can let me know at joe@averagejoeinnovations.com and I will add you all to a list and let you know when there's enough people to place an order.
I hope you found this helpful, and I hope you have a great week! Cheers
Good job 👏
Thanks Robert! More to come. I hope you'll stay tuned!
At the 17:40 mark, can yo leave off the top bars to make them more like the modern Powerblocks with no top bars?
Hi Mike, Although you could try it, I would definitely not recommend it. The Powerblocks with no upper support bars have metal plates attached to the plastic ends to reinforce them. I suspect that those reinforcement plates provide the rigidity lost by removing the upper supports.
You can see one example of the embedded metal reinforcement at 8:37
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC thanks. I might try taking off just the one by the palm side. It’s a tight fit with both bars.
@@macweber You could definitely give that a try. My biggest concern would be the impact on the plastic over time. Already, these molded plastic bodies twist and warp under certain conditions (e.g. over-tightening the grip bolts).
Yesterday I submitted a prototype model to my manufacturer of an alternative support bracket that preserves the rigid structure of the handle while creating a more open style similar to the Pro Series.. More about that in a few weeks when I iron out some of the details.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC would love to see that. With quote of few Rexan’s still out there I’m sure there would be a market for a handle / support plate combo.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLCHi, anymore info on these prototypes/updates and what powerblocks versions they will work with?
Is the goal to be able to convert elite usa / elite exp to an open cage?
I love this, I am buying the 175 Powerblocks. Do u like them, I asked powerblock they say this would void warranty and I’m not too distant future there gonna come out with a knurl handle option
Hiya Alex, awesome man!
As far as I am aware the Commercial Pro Series (up to 90) are available with knurled handles though I've not yet seen the latest version in person so I have no opinion about the knurl itself. I believe Coop over at GGR mentioned something about the Pro Series knurl in one of his videos...though I forget if he liked it or thought it wasn't aggressive enough. To be fair, knurl feel is subjective anyway.
It makes no sense to me that PB didn't make that grip available on most of its product line-up from the start. It's the same grip on many of their models. I can swap my Elite EXP grip into my 167.5 handle with no changes--they are identical. So I definitely would not be surprised to see PB offer knurled grips in the near future. They should just ditch the rubber/foam grips entirely and introduce knurl across the entire line-up. It remains to be seen if they'll offer more than one diameter. My advice to PB would be to offer 2 to 4 grip size options.
The 167.5/175 handles are huge (taller and wider) compared to all of the other models. In any exercise where you wish to bring your hands as deep/close as possible to your body, say a press or a row, you'll lose a couple inches of travel. Meaning you cannot physically bring your hands quite as close to your body as you can with their regular models. Depending on how you plan to use the dumbbells, this may not be a concern for you.
Note that the Commercial Pro warranty is not 5 yrs like the pro-sumer models - it's just 1 yr. Strangely, their Commercial Pro warranty says (direct quote from the user manual) "applies only where the PowerBlock product is used exclusively for commercial use". I find it strange that a dumbbell model allegedly made for the rigors of commercial use/abuse would not only come with a much shorter warranty, but limit coverage to commercial use only. I sincerely hope PB isn't enforcing that nonsense if customers buy a pair for home use. If you are interested in a warranty, regardless its length, make sure you buy only from PB or a PB authorized dealer. Otherwise there's no warranty from PB.
I won't get into how goofy it is that removing a couple allen bolts would void a warranty. As a gearhead who has wrenched on cars for decades, I wish every mod was so easy.
But, and to me this is a significant but, if you aren't dropping PBs or storing/using them in adverse conditions (e.g. leaving them out in the hot sun all day), the warranty won't matter. You could easily use them for decades with few, if any, issues.
One final thought. Personally I prefer the non-urethane covered models. They're a little more compact. And non-urethane models all have welded joints, not bolts through urethane ears. If a joint ever breaks (where the plates connect to the cross bars) it's an easy weld fix. If I recall correctly the urethane issues are what prompted a class action lawsuit against PB in 2017. For the life of me I could not find info about whether that case is ongoing or if it settled out of court.
Hope you found this helpful. Any other Qs, feel free to shoot me an email.
Hey great video! May I ask what’s the length of the grip/handle of a sport exp? Thank you!!
Hi Oscaria, Sport EXPs typically measure approximately 129mm (~5") end to end. That is the overall length including the lugs on each end. More information is available here: knurledgrips.com
Hi since you suggested loctite, do tou recommend the blue or red(permanent) to use on the new screw threads? Permanent worries me a bit if I ever want to change sizes in the future. Thanksn
Hi Lawrence, sorry about the late reply. I didn't realize your comment was "held for review" due to "blocked words". Lol. I have no idea why it was blocked. Maybe the system didn't like "screw" which would be damn funny. In any case, I use red mostly and blue when I'm out of red. Don't be swayed by the "permanent" claim. It isn't. It'll hold well and you'll be able to disassemble again if necessary. A drop or two is plenty. Cheers, Joe
Speaking of the metal bumpers on the adderweights…it’s be nice if the adderweights and inside of the cyliders were cooated or tighter to minimize noise/movement.
Sorry about the late reply. I've not been on RUclips for the past few months. You could try epoxying a rubber fender washer at each end of the adder weights to dampen their impact as they slip back and forth in their tubes. I would not recommend coating the inside of the tubes, unless you can find a hard plastic self-lubricating coating to allow the weights to slide freely. Otherwise, inserting and removing the adders would be a nightmare with a rubber coating. Cheers, Joe
Is it possible to 3D print pink end caps for the powerblock sport 24 and put on a knurled handle too?
Thanks . Very cool
Hi Jaleesa. You could definitely create a 3D model and print it, but I would not trust it, even at 100% infill. That's something someone would need to attempt with various plastics to see how they hold up versus OEM. There's a noticeable difference in shear/tensile strength between parts printed in layers and those molded as a single piece. If Powerblock was more in tune with its markets, they'd have begun producing color versions long ago.I have no doubts at all that there's a market for a color palette beyond white, black and grey.
Grip wise, I received maybe 1 or 2 inquiries about grips for the 24 and 32. If there was significantly more demand, I'd definitely design grips for those too. At some point down the road, that could very well end up happening.
There are some interesting DIY knurled grip how-tos online where they modify existing knurled bars, but those people either own or have access to the equipment necessary to cut, mill, drill and tap steel. I just saw an email come through from you, so I will switch over to email and answer your others questions there. Cheers, Joe
@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC thanks so much! Please disregard the email i sent because I was really interested in your perspective. I just would be so much happier to use equipment I had more option to select from even if it's as miniscule as color.
Best
These are beautiful. I have not yet bought powerblocks (I can’t decide whether to choose which model!), but I’m noting myself your page!
By the way, which model is your favourite?
Hi Stian, it's a great question. I only own a few of the many similar models available, so I cannot speak from personal experience about all models. But the entire line of Powerblock models generally come in a combination of 4 flavors:
1) with our without adder weights
2) expandable or non-expandable
3) with or without upper reinforcing bars...the "hand cage" (e.g., Elite EXP versus Pro EXP)
4) with or without a urethane coating
So here are my thoughts on my PBs going back to my very first pair a couple decades ago...
I'm generally not a fan of the clunky adder weight mechanism which adds several steps to changing weights in increments < 5lbs. I made a recent video in which I talk about using your own DIY magnetic adder weights to change weight much more quickly and in smaller increments. I leave the adder weights out for a better balanced handle unless I am making a video that involves them. It really depends on your regimen and your willingness to use them.
I tend to like the models that don't surround my hands in a cage (no upper tubes/bars). There's more freedom of movement/grip. The various Pro models. But this is a nit-picking and probably mostly psychological on my part.
Unless you know for sure that you'll never want/need more than, say, 50lbs, the expandable versions are the way to go. They leave your options open for later growth with expansion kits.
Although I've never owned a plastic coated PB model, I've had the opportunity to try a couple. They're a little quieter but they more bulky too thanks to all that extra thickness of plastic on all of the plates. I'm perfectly ok with the non-urethane models which are just more compact overall. Frankly, the noisiest part of PBs is the adder weights in my opinion. The click click sound as they shift in their metal tubes. Remove the adder weights, or use a pair that doesn't have adder weights and the remaining noise is very minor, in my opinion.
Of the few I own, I wish I had gone with Pro EXP rather than Pro "sport" 50 which max at 50lbs. That would have been my favorite mix of everything I mentioned above. Still, I like the feel best overall, especially now with my grips.
The USA Elite and Elite EXP are basically the same, but the Elite EXP adder weight locking mechanism cannot be accidentally left in the open position. Anyone with USA Elite, Pro Rexan and similar models knows what happens if you pull the handle from the weight stack with the locking mechanism accidentally in the open position. Hopefully PB will adopt the other locking mechanism on its US-made dumbbells.
I hope you found this helpful, and I hope you have a great week.
Cheers,
Joe
Ooh I want these!!!
Awesome, Kelly! Pre-ordering will finally kick-off this week. Stay tuned. I will announce here on RUclips, as well as on my Facebook page, Instagram and such.
I have the U90s which would you recommend if i want a commerical gym feel?
Hey hey C, 30mm is closest in thickness to a typical barbell which is 28 (Olympic) and 29 (power lifter). 35mm is closest in thickness to the grips on a typical commercial dumbbell, especially 30-40+ lb dumbbells. Lighter dumbbells tend to have thinner grips.
Your U90s very likely have the rubber covered grip that curves from about 32mm at the ends to 38mm in the center. So a 35mm would be the closest feel.
Hi Joe, I'm just about ready to send in a pre-order (have Pro EXPs), but stuck deciding between 30mm and waiting for a potential 35mm. What would you say are the biggest factors one should consider with different diameters?
Hey Hey, although this really boils down to personal preferences and goals, here's how I look at it...if you prefer the feel of an Olympic barbell thickness, then 30 is definitely the way to go. In contrast, 35-40mm (often around 36-38mm) is more similar to the thicker grips used on quite a few rack dumbbells out there.
I briefly touch on grip diameter versus grip strength in this video about "fat" grips: ruclips.net/video/slzDNZr5Es0/видео.html In a nutshell, there's a range of diameters within which our grip is at its strongest based on the size of our hands. If your hands are average size like mine, anything in the 30-40mm range should feel comfortable as they're all within or close to that range.
One other thing to consider is how you use the dumbbells most often. With presses I find I can go a little more thick on diameters comfortably...in fact a larger diameter feels a little bit better because it spreads out the force across my palms. But curls feel better to me using a smaller diameter grip....feels like I have better control over the dumbbell through the range of motion. Hope this helped. Shoot me an email if you have more questions.
How aggressive is the knurling? I consider Ohio bar as passive to medium, and Ohio power bar perfect.
Hi, Sultan. Given the nature of machining and knurling, the resulting knurl varies over the course of a production run. When I receive a shipment of my grips I hand sort them based on their knurling to provide pairs that are similar in feel. I wouldn't call any of mine passive. I'd say they' range from "medium" volcano-ish on up to "aggressive" mountain-ish. For any customers who express a preference, I do my best to ship pairs that are in the ballpark.
It's worth noting that coated and uncoated knurl feels different. So even among the various Ohio bars, if you try a few of them out you'll feel the variation between cerakote, e-coat, oxide and uncoated. Mine are uncoated 316 SS.
Hey average joe! I was just wondering do you customize powerblock elite exp 2020 handles turning them into a KETTLE BELL HANDLE? thanks!😊🙏🏼
Hi Xai, I don't currently. Do you mean something similar to what PB has done with other models like the Pro Series?
powerblock.com/product/pro-series-kettlebell-handle/
Or rather than a dedicated PB kettle handle, do you mean something that can fasten to the existing dumbbell handle when you want to convert it into a kettlebell? Along the lines of these...
www.amazon.com/Yes4All-Kettle-Version-Dumbbell-Workout/dp/B085FY4QBY?th=1
www.amazon.com/Original-KETTLE-GRYP-Kettlebells-Adjustable/dp/B074V1FMDT
hey there. i was wondering how does this knurling compare to the ones offered by baresteel and from powerblock directly. I am interested in buying.
Hi CGM, if you head on over to my FAQ knurledgrips.com/#faq and scroll down to about the 7th question you'll be able to read about the knurling and see a couple photos of the first samples (same as in the video above). If you have any other questions after you check that out, give me a holler at joe@averagejoeinnovations.com
What do you recommend to make sure the bolt doesn't loosen over time? Would Loctite Blue be sufficient?
Hey Hey, a drop or two of threadlock is plenty. Blue Loctite works just fine.
I stripped the hex screw on my exps. Any idea where to buy a replacement? Thanks!
Just seeing this now, Steve, Any mom and pop hardware store will sell singles. M6 1.0 maybe 15-20mm thread length.
Just the screw is stripped or the thread in the grip as well?
Just curious. Does the elite exp knurled handles is the same as the pro exp knurled handles?
That's correct, they're the same. At least I haven't encountered a Pro EXP that's different yet.
I've got the newer grey USA elite, how much are the grips?
Hiya, Sam. Sorry about the delayed reply. I was away on a trip for 5 weeks overseas with limited internet access. I'm back in the States now and playing catch up with filling orders and answering questions.
All of the latest grip pricing and info can be found on my website: knurledgrips.com You'll need my "Type B" grips which are designed to fit the Elite USA model (grey plastic). Cheers.
I just pre ordered my pair and I cant wait to get them. They will help me have more control and a better grip then the rubber non straight handle on my powerblocks. Even with gloves on, my hand slides down them.
Any info on pricing at this time?
HI Greg, Pre-ordering will finally kick-off this week after I lock my manufacturing costs. I will announce here on RUclips, as well as on my Facebook page, Instagram and such. Home stretch.
Hello there. Does the Powerblocks EXP 90 also has this hexagon thing?
Hi Karim, all the ones I have seen so far use that style of grip, yes. Though if you want to be 100% certain, you can loosen the hex bolt on one side of your handle and check. Most often it's a 5mm Allen wrench, occasionally 4.5 mm or 4.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Hi. thank you very much for the answer. If I have the money, I think in December, where I get an extra pay on my monthly money, I will demand grips for my powerblocks. Sorry if I did some mistakes in writting, I am not a native speaker.
@@nichts_als_die_Wahrheit My pleasure. No worries, and no apology necessary. I understood everything you wrote. Any other questions, feel free to send me an email: joe@averagejoeinnovations.com And in the meantime, I hope you and your family enjoy the remainder of the year. Cheers.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Thank you very much, I hope the same for you and your family.
does it work on powerblock pro too ?
Definitely! The grip I refer to as "Type A" is compatible with most of the new Pro models. Older ones, especially decades old, tend to be my Type C grip.
What tools will I need to install them
Definitely a 5mm allen/hex. Depending on the model, a 4mm allen/hex as well. Super easy process.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC thanks I plan on pre ordering tomorrow
@@Almightydu Any time, glad to help. And thank you!
Do you ship to Australia?
Hi Red, yes definitely. Quite a few customers in Australia and NZ over the past couple of years.
Are you (or anyone else reading this) able to send me a pair of the original grips from the USA Elite? model, I guess...round end not hex. How much?
I'm restoring a pair and the handle rubber is destroyed.
Hi AA, I don't have any spares that I'm not currently using in product development, sorry. Would you be open to the idea of just wrapping the steel core in a nice barbell tape? If so, try something like this: www.amazon.com/dp/B072QYQN7B You might even like the feel better than the OEM foam rubber. And you're correct, the steel core of the Elite USA is round on its ends. Technically, older foam-covered Powerblock grips from models other than the Elite USA would fit too if you cut the length down several millimeters. But that's quite the effort without the right equipment. I hope you find what you need. Cheers, Joe
The small handles of the elite use dig into my hands and hurt them. That’s why I can’t use a less than 28mm barbell squat or bench historically at the gym bc it would always dig in and cause pain whereas the thicker bars were money! Now have to decide if 40mm or 30mm will be best.
To this day, I still don't get the 28mm standard for barbells. It really makes no sense to me. Maybe professional dead lifters could explain the advantages of such a narrow bar in their sport.
If we look at a graph of a person's grip strength as a function of grip thickness, it's a bell curve with maximum strength in a specific range of thicknesses. Anything above or below that results in decreased grip strength. So we should steer clear of grips/bars that are either too narrow or too thick for our specific hands unless we're purposely trying to work on grip strength.
For day-to-day lifting, especially any pressing movements, thicker feels better. It distributes the load more evenly across our palms, which is why we won't feel thicker grips dig in as much as the 28s. I should mention that I have 35mms now too for a nice trade-off of performance for both pressing and pulling movements. Cheers, Joe