Well this video ended up being significantly longer than I had planned, but hopefully you'll find it interesting/helpful even if you just skim through it. During the video I forgot to mention that I have no concern with ordinary day-to-day weight adjustment shearing off any parts as is the case with the Nuobell design. CORRECTIONS: At 8:30 I say "this is the only plate that has an insert". I should have said that the end plates are the only plates with inserts. At 42:50 I mention that they "don't have an inventory in the U.S.". I'm referring to a spare parts inventory, not the dumbbells.
JOE! You need to create an assembly steps PDF with link to a shortened/simplified video. I disassembled my AD80 to troubleshoot something and watched all (worthless) Snode official videos and manuals to no avail until I found this video. This would help SO MANY people! I really hope Snode takes your improvement suggestions and incorporates them into AD80v2.
Hey hey Mike. I could definitely do something like that. I'm wicked far behind (months behind) on publishing my new videos, but I'll pop that on the list for sure. I'm glad you finally found this video. May I ask, what ended up happening that caused you to need to troubleshoot the problem? I like to keep track of any issues people run into, especially if it's something that I've not yet experienced. Wishing you and your family Happy holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and all that good stuff!
I ordered a set of 80lb Nuobells Sunday night at 6pm. Making sure I made the right decision, I started researching and watching all of your videos. By 11pm, I made up my mind to request a refund for the pre ordered Nuobells. I redid a bunch of research today and it seems the AD80s could be argued as the best on the market.
Hi, Keith. I've been crazy busy lately but I'm taking a few minutes to catch up on RUclips comments. If you have some time to share your experience with the Snodes at a later date, I'd definitely like to hear what you think. From the delivery time frame to your first-hand experience versus what I mentioned in the videos. Thank you for checking out my videos too! I appreciate it. Rock on man.
Hi. Sorry about the delayed reply. I've been out of the country for the past couple weeks with intermittent Internet access. Awesome! Do you mean your own original dumbbell design? If so, I wish you the best with the project! Cheers, Joe
I understand this is a 10 month old video, but I found the mechanism interesting, so I'll leave this comment. The handle knurling is probably limited to their pressing process. The tube ultimately needs to be cold welded to the casted ends, and the least amount of material that needs to be formed the smaller the press is required or more assemblies can be formed in the same press. Unfortunately that means a less effective knurl, due to a lower gauge tube to start with. Excellent commentary.
Hiya, KentoVv. Older video, but I still appreciate your insight. Thanks for taking the time to post it. I know from experience with the knurling processes that we use in the manufacture of my custom grips that our options were limited by the grip wall thickness. The enormous pressure of some of the knurling equipment easily crushed the walls of lighter gauges. So we ended up going through the extra steps and cost of boring out solid billets to create tubes with no less than 5mm thick walls just to accommodate my knurl specs as well as the ~20mm center shaft of OEM Bowflex dumbbells. Snode, Trulap, Nuobell and other telescoping rod adjustable dumbbells are forced to use much thinner gauge tubing to accommodate those inner rods and, just as you described, it results in a less effective knurl. I suspect it's also why they use a higher TPI than I do. Thank you again for sharing your insight. Cheers, Joe
Heck, thanks Roy. I appreciate you watching my videos. Snode watched the video and replied with some answers for us. I'm going to make a quick recap video with their answers this week.. I hope you'll check it out.
Sweet! That's a damn good deal. If you have a minute or two after using the AD80s for a bit, I'd love to read what you think of them too. I'm in my own little bubble here, so it's always great to hear opinions other than my own. Cheers, and happy holidays!
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC They got in yesterday, under 5 days from when I ordered until they arrived at my door. Packaging was solid. Straightforward installation. I'm currently dealing with a herniated disc and sciatica, but I was still able to knock out various exercises. Dumbbell bench with 60s felt solid. Goblet squat with 40s felt solid. Knocked out some curls and shoulder press, also felt proportional. I love the knurling, nice aggressive texture. I've never dumped dumbbells on the ground even when DB benching 110lbs, but it's nice to know these are "drop proof"
This was a great tear down. Thanks for showing the internals. In definitely not getting that nuobells after your video on it. Now I’m torn between the ad80 and the powerblocks.
I'm glad you found it helpful, Veeps. For the time being, yes I'd stay away from Nuobell and wait for them to address the issues. I like my AD28, AD80 and my Powerblocks (I own several PB models). I wish you had some way to try them both out just to see which one best suits your style since you'd quickly experience the pros and cons of each.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC I think I’m leaning towards the powerblock for the expandability. Also the ad80 are on backorder for 6-8weeks. I feel the powerblocks might be slightly more durable with less moving parts.
The AD80s look mechanically simple, robust and easily repairable. All reasons why I purchased these adjustable dumbells over the Nuobells. *Currently, Snode is running a 20% off sale until May 10th. Also includes their new 1.25lb magnetic attachments that allow for smaller weight increments.
Oh man, I will have to ask Snode about the magnetic adders. Thank you for mentioning that, Noah. Definitely let me know what you think of them after using them a bit. Cheers, Joe
Excellent job on this video. The amount of detail that went into examining the internal components of this dumbbell is just unreal. I’m really considering these. I really hope the plastic gears don’t wear however. May have to wait for the Pépin Fast Dumbbells to make final verdict. Currently have the all metal powerblocks and ironmasters and love them both.
Hey Joe!! Hope you can get a hold of the Trulaps 92lb adjustable dumbbell and do a breakdown video. Would love to see how they compare to the Snode AD80. Thank you for your videos, they sure do help a lot!!!
Hi Ady, By now you may have seen the video I just posted. I finally got around to doing a tear down after a several month delay. The 8592 is likely nearly identical to the 8552 internally, with only one or two minor changes to the parts, and the addition of more plates and a longer base. I'd rank Snode and Trulap as about equal, from the construction and durability to the repair-ability and aesthetics. I don't think you could go wrong with either one, though you may not be fond of Snode's larger increments or Trulap's weird inconsistent increments. Cheers, Joe
Wow, Nej, you're the 3rd person this month to mention the Trulaps. I definitely hope to get my hands on one to do a tear down, but due to the high cost I'm hoping to get my hands on a broken handle at some point. That'll keep costs low, and it'll also give us at least one example of how they fail. Cheers.
Awesome! Thanks W. I appreciate it. I'm months behind on publishing new content, but I hope to post a few new vids once I catch up with my current backlog of orders. Rock on man. Cheers.
Do you have plans to do the Trulap 8552 (52lbs dumbbell) or the 8592 (92lbs dumbbell)? I am on the fence right now between the Snode AD80 and this Trulap 8592. I have found your videos very helpful and would love see what the inside of that Trulap looks and works like on the inside.
Hi, By now you may have seen the video I just posted. I finally got around to doing a Trulap 8552 tear down after a several month delay. The 8592 is likely nearly identical to the 8552 internally, with only one or two minor changes to the parts, and the addition of more plates and a longer base. I'd rank Snode and Trulap as about equal, from the construction and durability to the repair-ability and aesthetics. I don't think you could go wrong with either one, though you may not be fond of Snode's larger increments or Trulap's weird inconsistent increments. Cheers, Joe
I have the plastic/metal combination tubing but would love to have the all metal ones! Thanks for the in depth breakdown. Super helpful in the event I would have to take my handles apart.
Hey DJ. I would have loved that as an option for their early adopters, but I learned last night that the internals aren't interchangeable. A bummer, but it does open up the possibility of a DIY project for someone with the CNC resources to make it happen. Basically, to recreate the nylon/steel tube shafts in solid pieces of steel or aluminum. Totally doable. Not something that I have time for at the moment, but after last night's conversation with Snode, it's definitely marinating up in the ol' noggin.
Interested in picking up a set but what do ya think about the longevity of the notches? Some have pointed out that the metal on metal rubbing during years of re-racking could lead to functional deformities over time. Others have also mentioned that since cast iron is a more brittle material than let's say steel, the notches could break during impact. Likely neither are to happen, but it's something to consider especially for the price.
Hi, TC. I wouldn't be too concerned about the longevity of the notches. I believe they'll outlast ownership of the dumbbells in most cases. It's important for me to note that I have no data to back up my statement in terms of cycle-testing or anything like that. It's simply based on my opinion of the materials and typical usage. When it comes to A vs B comments, I find that commenters are rarely specific in a way that is meaningful and relevant. For example, which iron and steel are they comparing? In which form, and under what conditions? So for these people to make comments about which is better, they need to be more specific. Generally speaking, cast iron is considered to be self-lubricating under sliding conditions. It has to do with graphite in the material that forms a tribofilm which improves tribological characteristics. In plain English, cast iron slides against itself with less friction thanks to the graphite in it acting as a lubricant. Steel alloys generally require the addition of lubricant to decrease friction. Generally speaking, cast metals will crack before they deform. You can see this in the world of automobile wheels. For example, look at curb damage to a cast aluminum rim versus one that is forged. The lip of a cast aluminum rim might crack and break away. The lip of a forged aluminum rim might bend on impact without necessarily cracking. If we were to repeatedly drop these dumbbells from a height of several meters, at different angles relative to the ground, it'd certainly be interesting to see how the iron notches hold up. But, I seriously doubt any of the concerns they raised would be an issue under normal use. The forces on a dumbbell (and specifically on its plates) from ordinary dumbbell exercises, are well within the strength of iron by orders of magnitude. I suspect even repeated drops from a height of one meter would do more damage to the floor below than to the dumbbell plates. In the case of Snodes, I believe the materials are less of an issue. It's more about whether you're ok with large weight increments, the knurl on the grip, the ring style adjustment mechanism, the width at higher weight settings, etc. All of those usability considerations. Cheers, Joe
I have received a couple requests to do that. It's definitely a possibility. I just haven't had time in recent months. If I can get my hands on one, you can bet I'll tear it down. Though I suspect there won't be much to tear down. It's a relatively simple and straightforward design. I'm willing to bet that under normal use they'll last a lifetime. What interests me most is its asymmetrical selectors. I'm sure Pepin doesn't want anyone dropping its dumbbells. Most adjustables with weight selector mechanisms aren't really designed to be dropped. But in the event of an accidental drop, an impact at just the right angle might tweak those sliders enough to impair function. I've wanted to test that hypothesis for a while now. One day I'll get that opportunity.
Hi Joe, any chance you'd do a teardown of the Trulap 8592 dumbbells sometime in the future? It definitely looks interesting with the cast iron/aluminium handle and steel plates. Either way, I'm looking forward to what you have in store next!
Hi AntV. Sorry about the delayed reply. I've been overseas for 5 weeks with limited internet access, and I'm back now playing catch up with orders and answering questions. I'll definitely add Trulap to my teardown list. Hopefully I can score a broken handle in the months ahead. I try to keep my costs low for doing these teardowns. My initial thoughts: they're using telescoping cantilevered rods. That's one of the reasons they aren't going to warranty against drops. It's not easy to make a durable design with telescoping rods. I also noticed that they're geared differently than Nuobell. The numbering turns opposite the direction of the grip and in fairly small increments. So there's some gearing going on inside that handle housing. Still, I wonder if they had to license from the folks behind Nuobell because it's the same basic concept. I'll keep my eye out for opportunities to get my hands on one. I'm months behind on publishing new content, but I hope to post a few new vids once I catch up with my current backlog of orders. I hope you'll stay tuned. Cheers.
If you have their ear... I think they could make the Ultimage dumbbell if they just switch from cast iron to steel. Pepin just did a a fast series dumbbell but their design leaves these dumb rails on the sides. However, they use all steel for their plates and it is SO much more compact and nicer. Tell them to make an all steel version that's more compact... ill buy in a heart beat.
HI J O! I'm hoping to get my hands on a Pepin Fast just to check it out. Unfortunately, steel won't make Snode any more compact. The densities of mild steel and cast iron are virtually identical. So an iron plate and equivalent mild steel plate of the same dimensions will weigh roughly the same. PF is about 2" shorter in length due to creating an adjustment mechanism outboard from the grip. That allowed them to shorten the length of the grip itself and bring the plates further inward. Speaking of having their ear. Snode already watched my video, provided me with answers to some of the questions in the video, thanked me for some of my suggestions that they may now implement, and suggested rephrasing some of my claims for greater accuracy. So this week I'm going to make a previously unplanned (and shorter) follow-up video with Snode's answers to make sure I provide everyone with the most accurate info available to me. On a separate note, the primary reason I want to get my hands on a Pepin is to see how that asymmetrical adjustment mechanism compares in drop tests. I suspect it shares a similar weakness to the Snode...potential damage from accidental drops if it lands upside down. Plus, I just really want to purposely drop a bunch of dumbbells. LOL
Ok this is really impressive and unfortunate that in most of the comparisons the internals and parts replacement isn't normally mentioned. Knowing about Snodes handles now would for sure make me buy them over Nuobell hands down.
Most fitness equipment videos seem to be made by end users with the intent of talking about how they use the equipment and any experience they have with it as far as usability and durability. That's great, but it's a bit overdone. Does one really need 30 video reviews of the same adjustable dumbbell covering the same basic points? I really haven't seen anyone do tear downs like this to talk about the durability and repairability of a design. I hope to expand to tear down other types of equipment beyond adjustable dumbbells in the years ahead. For example, there are some rowers, steppers and bikes with common issues that may be preventable/fixable. The biggest hurdle I face is bandwidth. Hopefully I can find a way around that. I hope you'll check in down the road to see what else I tear down. Cheers.
Are you planning on doing a tear down of the Octabells? Look to be the exact same as the Nuobell aside from the shape. I’m curious if the internals are the same.
Hiya GB. Funny you should mention Octabell. Several weeks ago a subscriber reached out to me about donating broken Octabell handles for me to do a tear down. I've not heard from him yet so I don't know if he'll be able to follow through. If he does, I'll definitely do a tear down. You're definitely not going to be surprised. I expect them to be identical internally since the folks behind Nuobell have signed a number of license agreements: nuoathletics.com/about/collaborations/ As an aside...notice that Core Fitness appears on that licensing page. Comically, they claim Core is licensing "their products" but the two dumbbells (Core and Nuobell) have very little in common beyond the general notion of telescoping rods extended by twisting a grip. Internally, they could not be more different. If I had to guess, Nuobell was permitted to patent some ridiculously vague and all encompassing general concept. And now anyone developing any sort of telescoping rod mechanism, no matter how superior to the Nuobell design, will have to pay the patent piper.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC thanks for the reply. I didn’t know about the colabs. Great info. Interesting you mention Core is on there. I though Core came first, but evidently I was wrong. And I didn’t realize SMRTFT was just a collaborator. I thought they were Nuobell. I’m guessing the patent hinges on a rotating handle to adjust weight which is why snode is able to produce something very similar with the rotating inner collar. Now what we need is a collaborator to work with the Nuobell design but then produce it in a more easily repairable body with sturdier internal parts. Maybe an Average Joe/Nuobell collab…?
Very impressed with the internals. Replacement gears could easily be 3D printed and I'm sure steel gears will be offered either by the manufacturer or aftermarket eventually. Very user serviceable design, love it. I've been using Bowflex 1090's for 10 years without issue but these style of dumbbells do look good. Thanks for the breakdown, great video and I appreciate the long form content.
Hi, Gigi. 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. I'd like to get my hands on one in order to provide a more informed first-hand opinion. Based solely on what I've seen in videos, they look like a well-made dumbbell. The adjustment mechanism and increments might not be everyone's cup of tea. I would not recommend dropping them repeatedly. We might get away with dropping them a few times but eventually those sliding mechanisms will tweak just enough to begin binding. Other than that it seems like a solid option for an adjustable. Cheers.
Joe, first time I disagreed with you about plastic gears. Even brand new never used plastic will become brittle and break after 4-5 yrs or less. All military specs and safety harnesses for nylon and plastic have expired dates on never used surplus. Metal gears are very expensive so these companies are shooting them selves in the foot by cutting corners. Ever wonder why classic powerblock last forever?
Hiya Jessica. It's definitely a valid point. You're not wrong. In a couple of my videos (and in replies to some comments over the past 3 years) I have briefly touched on the impact of time and environmental conditions on plastics (and rubber). Fellow Bowflex SelectTech owners have experienced this first hand. The plastic discs, dials, pins and weight plate coverings can become brittle with time. Which is what led me to develop my first aluminum discs for the SelectTech. So I'm a big fan of metal replacement parts depending on the application. My entire business is built around aluminum and stainless steel parts. But in the case of Snodes, while metal gears would have a certain "cool factor", I feel they'd be overkill unless they could be made affordably. If someone wanted to swap in metal gears, there's certainly no harm in doing that. The gears in this design are under virtually no load; they aren't directly exposed to harmful environmental conditions; and, most importantly, they aren't directly involved in the safety of the dumbbell. I feel fairly confident that 20+ years from now the gears will continue to work as intended. Powerblock is an interesting example of metal versus plastic. At one point they were milling the two bookends from aluminum. A beautiful looking version of the dumbbell too. So they had plastic versions and the aluminum pros, but they eventually chose to discontinue the aluminum version and continue with plastic across all of the models. A vast majority of those plastic Powerblocks are still in use today, some 30 years later, right alongside the aluminum versions. They've aged for sure--many of them more yellow now than white these days--but they're still fulfilling their mission. On closer inspection you'll find that some of them have deformed over time. Plastics bowed. Aluminum twisted. But they'll still carry loads of 50, 90, even 125+ lbs. So plastic has served Powerblock well over the years. However, its track record isn't flawless. In 2017, Powerblock was the defendant in a class action lawsuit because the urethane coating and "ears" on its urethane series weren't holding up well. If I remember correctly, the urethane could not handle the heat and humidity of the south. So the main plastic body of the handle was fine, but the coating and joints on the plates were not. So I totally agree with you when it comes to mission critical components. Vehicle tires, safety harnesses, parachute webbing, etc. Mind the expiration dates and replace the products even if they've never been used. It's simply not worth risking lives over it. But in the case of the gears inside the Snode, I'm willing to bet they'll be ok 10 or 20 years from now. And if they ever do need replacement, for a few bucks and a few minutes of your time you're back in business for another 10 or 20 years. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on the subject too. Thank you for that! Cheers, Joe
Well this video ended up being significantly longer than I had planned, but hopefully you'll find it interesting/helpful even if you just skim through it. During the video I forgot to mention that I have no concern with ordinary day-to-day weight adjustment shearing off any parts as is the case with the Nuobell design.
CORRECTIONS:
At 8:30 I say "this is the only plate that has an insert". I should have said that the end plates are the only plates with inserts.
At 42:50 I mention that they "don't have an inventory in the U.S.". I'm referring to a spare parts inventory, not the dumbbells.
JOE! You need to create an assembly steps PDF with link to a shortened/simplified video. I disassembled my AD80 to troubleshoot something and watched all (worthless) Snode official videos and manuals to no avail until I found this video. This would help SO MANY people!
I really hope Snode takes your improvement suggestions and incorporates them into AD80v2.
Hey hey Mike. I could definitely do something like that. I'm wicked far behind (months behind) on publishing my new videos, but I'll pop that on the list for sure. I'm glad you finally found this video.
May I ask, what ended up happening that caused you to need to troubleshoot the problem? I like to keep track of any issues people run into, especially if it's something that I've not yet experienced. Wishing you and your family Happy holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and all that good stuff!
I ordered a set of 80lb Nuobells Sunday night at 6pm. Making sure I made the right decision, I started researching and watching all of your videos. By 11pm, I made up my mind to request a refund for the pre ordered Nuobells. I redid a bunch of research today and it seems the AD80s could be argued as the best on the market.
Hi, Keith. I've been crazy busy lately but I'm taking a few minutes to catch up on RUclips comments. If you have some time to share your experience with the Snodes at a later date, I'd definitely like to hear what you think. From the delivery time frame to your first-hand experience versus what I mentioned in the videos. Thank you for checking out my videos too! I appreciate it. Rock on man.
Just canceled my nuobells from Amazon after it had already shipped last night. Now I got be patient for 3-4weeks for snode
A wise move IMHO
I decided that I will do this for my graduation project, so far the video is very helpful:)
Hi. Sorry about the delayed reply. I've been out of the country for the past couple weeks with intermittent Internet access.
Awesome! Do you mean your own original dumbbell design? If so, I wish you the best with the project! Cheers, Joe
I understand this is a 10 month old video, but I found the mechanism interesting, so I'll leave this comment.
The handle knurling is probably limited to their pressing process. The tube ultimately needs to be cold welded to the casted ends, and the least amount of material that needs to be formed the smaller the press is required or more assemblies can be formed in the same press. Unfortunately that means a less effective knurl, due to a lower gauge tube to start with.
Excellent commentary.
Hiya, KentoVv. Older video, but I still appreciate your insight. Thanks for taking the time to post it. I know from experience with the knurling processes that we use in the manufacture of my custom grips that our options were limited by the grip wall thickness. The enormous pressure of some of the knurling equipment easily crushed the walls of lighter gauges. So we ended up going through the extra steps and cost of boring out solid billets to create tubes with no less than 5mm thick walls just to accommodate my knurl specs as well as the ~20mm center shaft of OEM Bowflex dumbbells.
Snode, Trulap, Nuobell and other telescoping rod adjustable dumbbells are forced to use much thinner gauge tubing to accommodate those inner rods and, just as you described, it results in a less effective knurl. I suspect it's also why they use a higher TPI than I do. Thank you again for sharing your insight. Cheers, Joe
Always great to watch, and hear, your analysis of these (and other)dumbbells...
Your explanations are very precise and yet simple to understand!
Thank you thank you Albert 🙏 I appreciate you checking them out. And I am glad you find some value in them.
Thank you Joe. You are the best.
Heck, thanks Roy. I appreciate you watching my videos. Snode watched the video and replied with some answers for us. I'm going to make a quick recap video with their answers this week.. I hope you'll check it out.
great vid.
Awesome work!
Just ordered the AD80s. Came with a free stand and also had a $30 off which covered shipping.
Sweet! That's a damn good deal. If you have a minute or two after using the AD80s for a bit, I'd love to read what you think of them too. I'm in my own little bubble here, so it's always great to hear opinions other than my own. Cheers, and happy holidays!
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC
They got in yesterday, under 5 days from when I ordered until they arrived at my door.
Packaging was solid.
Straightforward installation.
I'm currently dealing with a herniated disc and sciatica, but I was still able to knock out various exercises.
Dumbbell bench with 60s felt solid.
Goblet squat with 40s felt solid.
Knocked out some curls and shoulder press, also felt proportional.
I love the knurling, nice aggressive texture.
I've never dumped dumbbells on the ground even when DB benching 110lbs, but it's nice to know these are "drop proof"
Very informative video, thank you sir. I am sold on these over the nuobell.
I'm glad you found the video helpful. Of course one of these days I may get a love letter from Nuobell. LOL
This was a great tear down. Thanks for showing the internals. In definitely not getting that nuobells after your video on it. Now I’m torn between the ad80 and the powerblocks.
I'm glad you found it helpful, Veeps. For the time being, yes I'd stay away from Nuobell and wait for them to address the issues. I like my AD28, AD80 and my Powerblocks (I own several PB models). I wish you had some way to try them both out just to see which one best suits your style since you'd quickly experience the pros and cons of each.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC I think I’m leaning towards the powerblock for the expandability. Also the ad80 are on backorder for 6-8weeks. I feel the powerblocks might be slightly more durable with less moving parts.
The AD80s look mechanically simple, robust and easily repairable. All reasons why I purchased these adjustable dumbells over the Nuobells.
*Currently, Snode is running a 20% off sale until May 10th. Also includes their new 1.25lb magnetic attachments that allow for smaller weight increments.
Oh man, I will have to ask Snode about the magnetic adders. Thank you for mentioning that, Noah. Definitely let me know what you think of them after using them a bit. Cheers, Joe
Excellent job on this video. The amount of detail that went into examining the internal components of this dumbbell is just unreal. I’m really considering these. I really hope the plastic gears don’t wear however. May have to wait for the Pépin Fast Dumbbells to make final verdict. Currently have the all metal powerblocks and ironmasters and love them both.
Hey Joe!! Hope you can get a hold of the Trulaps 92lb adjustable dumbbell and do a breakdown video. Would love to see how they compare to the Snode AD80. Thank you for your videos, they sure do help a lot!!!
Hi Ady, By now you may have seen the video I just posted. I finally got around to doing a tear down after a several month delay. The 8592 is likely nearly identical to the 8552 internally, with only one or two minor changes to the parts, and the addition of more plates and a longer base. I'd rank Snode and Trulap as about equal, from the construction and durability to the repair-ability and aesthetics. I don't think you could go wrong with either one, though you may not be fond of Snode's larger increments or Trulap's weird inconsistent increments. Cheers, Joe
thanks for the video , i hope you get your hands on trulap 8592 dumbells they seem well built and weight go up to 92
Wow, Nej, you're the 3rd person this month to mention the Trulaps. I definitely hope to get my hands on one to do a tear down, but due to the high cost I'm hoping to get my hands on a broken handle at some point. That'll keep costs low, and it'll also give us at least one example of how they fail. Cheers.
You earned yourself a subscriber my friend. Great Content!
Awesome! Thanks W. I appreciate it. I'm months behind on publishing new content, but I hope to post a few new vids once I catch up with my current backlog of orders. Rock on man. Cheers.
Do you have plans to do the Trulap 8552 (52lbs dumbbell) or the 8592 (92lbs dumbbell)? I am on the fence right now between the Snode AD80 and this Trulap 8592. I have found your videos very helpful and would love see what the inside of that Trulap looks and works like on the inside.
Hi, By now you may have seen the video I just posted. I finally got around to doing a Trulap 8552 tear down after a several month delay. The 8592 is likely nearly identical to the 8552 internally, with only one or two minor changes to the parts, and the addition of more plates and a longer base. I'd rank Snode and Trulap as about equal, from the construction and durability to the repair-ability and aesthetics. I don't think you could go wrong with either one, though you may not be fond of Snode's larger increments or Trulap's weird inconsistent increments. Cheers, Joe
I have the plastic/metal combination tubing but would love to have the all metal ones! Thanks for the in depth breakdown. Super helpful in the event I would have to take my handles apart.
Hey DJ. I would have loved that as an option for their early adopters, but I learned last night that the internals aren't interchangeable. A bummer, but it does open up the possibility of a DIY project for someone with the CNC resources to make it happen. Basically, to recreate the nylon/steel tube shafts in solid pieces of steel or aluminum. Totally doable. Not something that I have time for at the moment, but after last night's conversation with Snode, it's definitely marinating up in the ol' noggin.
Interested in picking up a set but what do ya think about the longevity of the notches? Some have pointed out that the metal on metal rubbing during years of re-racking could lead to functional deformities over time. Others have also mentioned that since cast iron is a more brittle material than let's say steel, the notches could break during impact.
Likely neither are to happen, but it's something to consider especially for the price.
Hi, TC. I wouldn't be too concerned about the longevity of the notches. I believe they'll outlast ownership of the dumbbells in most cases. It's important for me to note that I have no data to back up my statement in terms of cycle-testing or anything like that. It's simply based on my opinion of the materials and typical usage.
When it comes to A vs B comments, I find that commenters are rarely specific in a way that is meaningful and relevant. For example, which iron and steel are they comparing? In which form, and under what conditions? So for these people to make comments about which is better, they need to be more specific.
Generally speaking, cast iron is considered to be self-lubricating under sliding conditions. It has to do with graphite in the material that forms a tribofilm which improves tribological characteristics. In plain English, cast iron slides against itself with less friction thanks to the graphite in it acting as a lubricant. Steel alloys generally require the addition of lubricant to decrease friction.
Generally speaking, cast metals will crack before they deform. You can see this in the world of automobile wheels. For example, look at curb damage to a cast aluminum rim versus one that is forged. The lip of a cast aluminum rim might crack and break away. The lip of a forged aluminum rim might bend on impact without necessarily cracking.
If we were to repeatedly drop these dumbbells from a height of several meters, at different angles relative to the ground, it'd certainly be interesting to see how the iron notches hold up. But, I seriously doubt any of the concerns they raised would be an issue under normal use. The forces on a dumbbell (and specifically on its plates) from ordinary dumbbell exercises, are well within the strength of iron by orders of magnitude. I suspect even repeated drops from a height of one meter would do more damage to the floor below than to the dumbbell plates.
In the case of Snodes, I believe the materials are less of an issue. It's more about whether you're ok with large weight increments, the knurl on the grip, the ring style adjustment mechanism, the width at higher weight settings, etc. All of those usability considerations.
Cheers,
Joe
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Thanks for the quick reply Joe! You've convinced me enough to bite the bullet.
Hey Joe, I was wondering if you will do a breakdown of the pepin fast series dumbbells in the future?
I have received a couple requests to do that. It's definitely a possibility. I just haven't had time in recent months. If I can get my hands on one, you can bet I'll tear it down. Though I suspect there won't be much to tear down. It's a relatively simple and straightforward design. I'm willing to bet that under normal use they'll last a lifetime.
What interests me most is its asymmetrical selectors. I'm sure Pepin doesn't want anyone dropping its dumbbells. Most adjustables with weight selector mechanisms aren't really designed to be dropped. But in the event of an accidental drop, an impact at just the right angle might tweak those sliders enough to impair function. I've wanted to test that hypothesis for a while now. One day I'll get that opportunity.
Hi Joe, any chance you'd do a teardown of the Trulap 8592 dumbbells sometime in the future? It definitely looks interesting with the cast iron/aluminium handle and steel plates. Either way, I'm looking forward to what you have in store next!
Hi AntV. Sorry about the delayed reply. I've been overseas for 5 weeks with limited internet access, and I'm back now playing catch up with orders and answering questions.
I'll definitely add Trulap to my teardown list. Hopefully I can score a broken handle in the months ahead. I try to keep my costs low for doing these teardowns. My initial thoughts: they're using telescoping cantilevered rods. That's one of the reasons they aren't going to warranty against drops. It's not easy to make a durable design with telescoping rods. I also noticed that they're geared differently than Nuobell. The numbering turns opposite the direction of the grip and in fairly small increments. So there's some gearing going on inside that handle housing. Still, I wonder if they had to license from the folks behind Nuobell because it's the same basic concept. I'll keep my eye out for opportunities to get my hands on one.
I'm months behind on publishing new content, but I hope to post a few new vids once I catch up with my current backlog of orders. I hope you'll stay tuned. Cheers.
If you have their ear... I think they could make the Ultimage dumbbell if they just switch from cast iron to steel. Pepin just did a a fast series dumbbell but their design leaves these dumb rails on the sides. However, they use all steel for their plates and it is SO much more compact and nicer. Tell them to make an all steel version that's more compact... ill buy in a heart beat.
HI J O! I'm hoping to get my hands on a Pepin Fast just to check it out. Unfortunately, steel won't make Snode any more compact. The densities of mild steel and cast iron are virtually identical. So an iron plate and equivalent mild steel plate of the same dimensions will weigh roughly the same.
PF is about 2" shorter in length due to creating an adjustment mechanism outboard from the grip. That allowed them to shorten the length of the grip itself and bring the plates further inward.
Speaking of having their ear. Snode already watched my video, provided me with answers to some of the questions in the video, thanked me for some of my suggestions that they may now implement, and suggested rephrasing some of my claims for greater accuracy. So this week I'm going to make a previously unplanned (and shorter) follow-up video with Snode's answers to make sure I provide everyone with the most accurate info available to me.
On a separate note, the primary reason I want to get my hands on a Pepin is to see how that asymmetrical adjustment mechanism compares in drop tests. I suspect it shares a similar weakness to the Snode...potential damage from accidental drops if it lands upside down. Plus, I just really want to purposely drop a bunch of dumbbells. LOL
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Hi, are you still planning on uploading the Snode follow-up video?
Ok this is really impressive and unfortunate that in most of the comparisons the internals and parts replacement isn't normally mentioned. Knowing about Snodes handles now would for sure make me buy them over Nuobell hands down.
Most fitness equipment videos seem to be made by end users with the intent of talking about how they use the equipment and any experience they have with it as far as usability and durability. That's great, but it's a bit overdone. Does one really need 30 video reviews of the same adjustable dumbbell covering the same basic points?
I really haven't seen anyone do tear downs like this to talk about the durability and repairability of a design. I hope to expand to tear down other types of equipment beyond adjustable dumbbells in the years ahead. For example, there are some rowers, steppers and bikes with common issues that may be preventable/fixable. The biggest hurdle I face is bandwidth. Hopefully I can find a way around that. I hope you'll check in down the road to see what else I tear down. Cheers.
Are you planning on doing a tear down of the Octabells? Look to be the exact same as the Nuobell aside from the shape. I’m curious if the internals are the same.
Hiya GB. Funny you should mention Octabell. Several weeks ago a subscriber reached out to me about donating broken Octabell handles for me to do a tear down. I've not heard from him yet so I don't know if he'll be able to follow through. If he does, I'll definitely do a tear down.
You're definitely not going to be surprised. I expect them to be identical internally since the folks behind Nuobell have signed a number of license agreements:
nuoathletics.com/about/collaborations/
As an aside...notice that Core Fitness appears on that licensing page. Comically, they claim Core is licensing "their products" but the two dumbbells (Core and Nuobell) have very little in common beyond the general notion of telescoping rods extended by twisting a grip. Internally, they could not be more different. If I had to guess, Nuobell was permitted to patent some ridiculously vague and all encompassing general concept. And now anyone developing any sort of telescoping rod mechanism, no matter how superior to the Nuobell design, will have to pay the patent piper.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC thanks for the reply. I didn’t know about the colabs. Great info.
Interesting you mention Core is on there. I though Core came first, but evidently I was wrong. And I didn’t realize SMRTFT was just a collaborator. I thought they were Nuobell.
I’m guessing the patent hinges on a rotating handle to adjust weight which is why snode is able to produce something very similar with the rotating inner collar. Now what we need is a collaborator to work with the Nuobell design but then produce it in a more easily repairable body with sturdier internal parts. Maybe an Average Joe/Nuobell collab…?
Very impressed with the internals. Replacement gears could easily be 3D printed and I'm sure steel gears will be offered either by the manufacturer or aftermarket eventually. Very user serviceable design, love it. I've been using Bowflex 1090's for 10 years without issue but these style of dumbbells do look good. Thanks for the breakdown, great video and I appreciate the long form content.
Any thoughts on the Pepin Fast dumbells?
Hi, Gigi. 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. I'd like to get my hands on one in order to provide a more informed first-hand opinion.
Based solely on what I've seen in videos, they look like a well-made dumbbell. The adjustment mechanism and increments might not be everyone's cup of tea. I would not recommend dropping them repeatedly. We might get away with dropping them a few times but eventually those sliding mechanisms will tweak just enough to begin binding. Other than that it seems like a solid option for an adjustable. Cheers.
I'd suggest Snode switched to an aluminum inner rod because its tensile strength is far superior to the Polyoxymethylene rod in the earlier version.
Quite possibly, Dean, though only on the 80 as far as I am aware. Where did you hear/read that they were using POM? I've not seen a reference to it.
Joe, first time I disagreed with you about plastic gears. Even brand new never used plastic will become brittle and break after 4-5 yrs or less. All military specs and safety harnesses for nylon and plastic have expired dates on never used surplus. Metal gears are very expensive so these companies are shooting them selves in the foot by cutting corners. Ever wonder why classic powerblock last forever?
Hiya Jessica. It's definitely a valid point. You're not wrong. In a couple of my videos (and in replies to some comments over the past 3 years) I have briefly touched on the impact of time and environmental conditions on plastics (and rubber). Fellow Bowflex SelectTech owners have experienced this first hand. The plastic discs, dials, pins and weight plate coverings can become brittle with time. Which is what led me to develop my first aluminum discs for the SelectTech.
So I'm a big fan of metal replacement parts depending on the application. My entire business is built around aluminum and stainless steel parts. But in the case of Snodes, while metal gears would have a certain "cool factor", I feel they'd be overkill unless they could be made affordably. If someone wanted to swap in metal gears, there's certainly no harm in doing that. The gears in this design are under virtually no load; they aren't directly exposed to harmful environmental conditions; and, most importantly, they aren't directly involved in the safety of the dumbbell. I feel fairly confident that 20+ years from now the gears will continue to work as intended.
Powerblock is an interesting example of metal versus plastic. At one point they were milling the two bookends from aluminum. A beautiful looking version of the dumbbell too. So they had plastic versions and the aluminum pros, but they eventually chose to discontinue the aluminum version and continue with plastic across all of the models. A vast majority of those plastic Powerblocks are still in use today, some 30 years later, right alongside the aluminum versions. They've aged for sure--many of them more yellow now than white these days--but they're still fulfilling their mission. On closer inspection you'll find that some of them have deformed over time. Plastics bowed. Aluminum twisted. But they'll still carry loads of 50, 90, even 125+ lbs.
So plastic has served Powerblock well over the years. However, its track record isn't flawless. In 2017, Powerblock was the defendant in a class action lawsuit because the urethane coating and "ears" on its urethane series weren't holding up well. If I remember correctly, the urethane could not handle the heat and humidity of the south. So the main plastic body of the handle was fine, but the coating and joints on the plates were not.
So I totally agree with you when it comes to mission critical components. Vehicle tires, safety harnesses, parachute webbing, etc. Mind the expiration dates and replace the products even if they've never been used. It's simply not worth risking lives over it. But in the case of the gears inside the Snode, I'm willing to bet they'll be ok 10 or 20 years from now. And if they ever do need replacement, for a few bucks and a few minutes of your time you're back in business for another 10 or 20 years.
I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on the subject too. Thank you for that! Cheers, Joe
Thank you Joe. You are the best.