Reducing noise

[clicker666]

My work has a gym in the basement. When I do powercleans or deadlifts the weights make noise when they hit the floor. I do attempt to lower them in a controlled manner, but when I set 300 pounds on the floor, it makes noise!

It's a concrete floor, with a single 3/4 rubber mat on it. The weights are York Olympic metal weights, on a York bar. Supposedly they can hear me dropping them on deadlifts (maybe 6 inches) two floors up.

Any ideas on building some sort of pad or something that can handle the weight, but deaden the noise? It couldn't be too high of course...

I've also thought of bumper plates, but they're pretty pricey. I'm wondering though, if I could use one 45 lb plate (per side) AND the metal plates - if that might help? Similarly, I've seen a site where a tire was used as a bumper plate.

I dunno.... any ideas? I like the gym here because it's empty, free and at work. I can just pop down on my lunch, which has done wonders for my working out.

[waderow]

set it down nicer ?

[clicker666]

Yes, and most times that's what I do. However, I would like to find something other than having to reduce my lift weights to the point where I can gently lay them on the floor. I try to push myself as far as I can go, which means that my deadlift and clean is at the point where if a bird was to land on the bar I might not be able to pick it up lol.

[dainbramaged]

I'd probably suggest less about the bumper plates (thought they'd be nice) and look into quality rubber flooring or padding. Maybe some sort of sound-proofing on the ceiling? Olympic pads on the floor?

[clicker666]

Might the olympic pads have another name? I can visualize what you are talking about, they're similar to a gym mat, but thick. I can't seem to find anything online under "Olympic Pads" though - seems to be a hockey item.

[dainbramaged]

Hmm..maybe I was thinking of something else too. I can only find common types of rubber matting. I thought something like this looked to have promise:

http://thebenchpress.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=388

or similar to it.

Unless you wanted to purchase some old foam matting or the like. Maybe several layers of underlay might dampen the noise? Of course, anything with a foam material you're likely to beat the crap out of it. Hope it's cheap. I'm thinking some sound proofing paneling on the ceiling might be one of the better ways to go.

[clicker666]

http://weightliftingexchange.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=361&Itemid=60

This gives me some ideas. Perhaps I could build two side boxes with 8" carpeting inside, and some plywood, then rubber pieces top and bottom. They would probably compress to half their height. The only real problem is keeping the whole arrangement together.

I can't put it in a frame because I wouldn't be able to slide the weights off and on easily.

I saw some gymnastic mats that might work. They're two foot thick, but I'm not sure how much impact they could take without splitting open.

[Maria]

Gymnastics mats can take a beating for sure with all the tumbling on it. However after a while the cover will wear and eventually rip over a period of time.

Can you get more the of 3/4 rubber mat that is on the floor now and put a couple more layers down where the weights hit the floor?

[clicker666]

Gymnastics mats can take a beating for sure with all the tumbling on it. However after a while the cover will wear and eventually rip over a period of time.

Can you get more the of 3/4 rubber mat that is on the floor now and put a couple more layers down where the weights hit the floor?

I probably could. I'm going to go to a carpet place today, and see if I can't get a bunch of small carpet pieces. I'll try a small stack of those first on either side and see if that deadens it enough to make people happy. If not, I'll see about getting some more matting and stacking that.

Thanks for all of your advice!

[clicker666]

Just a follow up. I was given 8 of these carpet sample things, and with the weight on them they add about 3" to the height. However, my lifts were relatively soundless.

So I will have to up the weight a bit to make up for the reduced travel, but overall, it's a compromise I can live with to keep training at work. At home I'm going with a cheap rubber backed carpet covered with a 4x6 sheet of 3/4 horse stall rubber. That won't add anything to the lift heights.

[waderow]

stand on a 3" box

[clicker666]

lol, stop making sense!