How to make an outdoor horizontal bar with your own hands - step-by-step instructions with drawings, photos and videos

General information about the horizontal bar

A horizontal bar is a sports structure consisting of a horizontal crossbar attached to vertical posts. The crossbar on which you can hang and perform various exercises is usually located higher than a person’s height, otherwise it will not be possible to fully train on this apparatus. The horizontal bar can be installed in an apartment or on the street. This simulator is a mandatory element of sports complexes.

Despite the elementary design, you can perform many useful exercises on the horizontal bar.

Two horizontal bars are connected by a Swedish wall, which allows you to diversify the exercises performed.

Types of horizontal bars

The horizontal bar can have one or several crossbars attached to the racks at the same or different heights, which makes it a real boon for simple training for the whole family. It will be convenient for adults and children to physically develop and improve on a horizontal bar built taking into account their growth.

Multi-level horizontal bar allows all family members to train

A multi-level design is not the only type of horizontal bar. A sports facility can be equipped with additional parallel bars, gymnastic rings, ladders, and a rope. In this case, we are talking about the horizontal bar as an integral part of the whole physical education complex.

Horizontal bars can be installed in apartments. This does not require a lot of free space. The crossbar can be installed in a doorway or on a wall. This simple exercise machine will help adults stay physically fit, pump up the muscles of their arms, chest, back and abs, and children will learn the basics of overcoming sports and learn a healthy lifestyle.

The outdoor horizontal bar does not take up much space. The main thing is that this sports device is installed correctly and safely.

The parallel bars are multifunctional and interesting for men and women of any age

Separately, it is necessary to say about the popular model - the parallel bars. Such a structure with handles can combine several sports equipment at once:

traditional horizontal bar;
bars;
abdominal training equipment;
Swedish wall.

You can buy a horizontal bar in specialized stores, or you can build it yourself, saving a lot of money.

The benefits of the projectile

The horizontal bar can become a real assistant for strengthening muscles, and this applies to both males and females. By placing such a simple exercise machine on the territory of a suburban area or in the courtyard of an apartment building, you too can really feel the benefits that this structure brings.

Here are the problems a horizontal bar installed outdoors can help you solve:

Relaxation and stretching of the spinal column. Normally hanging on a bar in a calm state will help get rid of overstrained back muscles and stretch the vertebrae after a long period of sitting at a desk or home computer.
Posture correction. This is especially true for children and teenagers who are not very good at physical education and are keen on the computer. Exercises on the horizontal bar will help strengthen the muscles that support the spine, and thereby improve your appearance.
Introduction to a healthy lifestyle. At any age, it is useful to perform a simple set of physical exercises, thanks to which you can become strong and beautiful. And also children who are keen on activities on the horizontal bar will be “removed” from dysfunctional companies, weaned from idle wandering and idleness.
Prolonged exposure to fresh air. Having accustomed yourself to training on the horizontal bar, you will leave the house in any weather and, while doing sports exercises, breathe in beneficial ozone (especially for suburban areas).

The horizontal bar may not be used for its intended purpose. It is often used as a strong crossbar for beating out carpets and drying blankets and pillows. A festive banner or balloons mounted on a horizontal bar in honor of the birthday of your household will look original and creative.

For children, a horizontal bar can be a tool to help get rid of excess energy

Suspension height

State fathom

The last point before starting work on the manufacture of the horizontal bar is that you need to find its mounting (installation) dimensions in the room. The figure above shows how to find the basic design size of a 3-in-1 horizontal bar; Below we will see how the basic dimensions of a street horizontal bar are determined based on other types of fathoms. And another fathom - the official one - will help you find a suitable place for a home horizontal bar on the wall.

What a government fathom is is clear from Fig. on right; The raised arm should be fully extended. It is the individual breech fathom of the tallest person in the family that is the optimal height for the crossbar.

They check it by measuring the height of the head from the shoulders to the top of the head in an increase of 5-7 cm: the distance of the crossbar from the ceiling should be no less than this value. Suddenly the height of the room does not allow it, you need to lower the horizontal bar: it is better to pull yourself up, tucking your legs, than to straighten the ceiling with your crown.

Preparing to install a horizontal bar in the yard

Installing an outdoor horizontal bar is a serious undertaking that should be approached thoroughly. To begin with, you need to have a clear idea of the tasks assigned to the future structure, the size and location of its installation.

Selecting a location

Before you make a horizontal bar on the street with your own hands, you need to choose a suitable place to install the projectile. This should be done based on the chosen design (regular horizontal bar, horizontal bar + parallel bars, sports complex).

Of course, you should not take the sports device “to the front entrance”; it is better if the horizontal bar is installed away from prying eyes . This option is especially relevant for those who are not in the best athletic shape. Performing exercises on the horizontal bar away from prying eyes, you will not have complexes about your appearance and inept movements.

It is better to locate a sports complex with a horizontal bar away from prying eyes

If there is such a possibility, then the sports structure should be located away from direct sunlight, preferably in the shade of large spreading trees. Then you can protect yourself from sunstroke or heatstroke when exercising in the hot season.

Under no circumstances choose an uneven surface for installing the horizontal bar, since both the construction itself and subsequent activities will be complicated by such an unfavorable landscape. It is considered optimal for safe and effective training to install the horizontal bar on a lawn surface or a special rubber covering.

Drawing for the construction of a street horizontal bar at the dacha: dimensions

To build a horizontal bar at your dacha with your own hands, determine and prepare the required amount of materials, you need to decide on the dimensions in advance. The parameters may differ depending on whether it is intended for adults or children. Agree that a child who climbs a high horizontal bar will be at great risk to his health; he may fall and get injured. And a simple action - to grab the crossbar with his hands - will become a real problem for him. You can’t do it without the help of an adult, a friend or additional devices. Therefore, the height of the vertical posts should be such that a person of any age can easily reach the crossbar.

The height of the vertical posts of the children's horizontal bar should be such that children can reach the crossbar without the help of adults

To climb onto the projectile, you can make a special step; it is usually placed on a vertical support at a height of 40 cm from the base.

Adults can make the horizontal bar higher, then they will have to jump to stay on the bar. For a person 170–180 cm tall, a projectile with a height of 2 m is suitable.

The width of the horizontal bar should also vary depending on age:

for children - up to 1 m;
for adults - 1.3–1.5 m.

These sizes allow you to perform exercises on the horizontal bar without restrictions. The student will not bump into vertical supports.

The diameter of the crossbar for children's hands is 25 mm; for teenagers and older, a horizontal bar with a horizontal pipe of 35 mm is suitable.

The load that this sports equipment must withstand can reach up to 300 kg.

To build an outdoor horizontal bar with your own hands, drawings are simply necessary.

This is what a drawing of a future sports equipment might look like

Types of fasteners

Good fasteners are important for a horizontal bar. The durability of the unit depends on the strength of installation. Let's look at different types of fasteners and choose the appropriate design.

Universal mounts

Universal fastenings include metal hooks. They are used to install sports equipment.

The thickness of the hooks is 2 millimeters, made of metal. They are attached to the wall with anchor or dowel bolts; these will be discussed later. The product is “hung” on hooks.

This mount can withstand a load of 250 kilograms on a wall made of any material (concrete, brick).

Dowels

Dowels or dowel bolts are a favorite fastener for beginners. This is due to ease of use.

A dowel is a bolt with a diameter of 8-10 millimeters with a nylon plug. A hole a centimeter deep is drilled in the wall.

Dowel bolts allow installation on a surface of any material. Brick can withstand 200 kilograms of load, concrete - 300.

Anchors

The anchor is considered the most reliable fastening. A beginner cannot cope with it. To fasten a horizontal bar structure with anchor bolts, experience in construction is required.

Installation using anchors is “hardy” - it can withstand a weight load of 300-500 kilograms on a wall made of any material.

Homemade mounts

A homemade mount is any improvised installation option. This is an "alternative". You can use self-tapping bolts, glue, and other devices. For each solution, there are instructions and recommendations that are best followed. The glue must be allowed to dry completely.

Fastening rules: about the length of the anchor and the number of fastening points

This question is relevant if the horizontal bar is planned to be hung on the wall in the apartment. Of course, we are not talking about drywall - you cannot attach a horizontal bar to it.

The main indicator for calculating attachment points: the load-bearing capacity of 1 point, including bending and shear: it must be at least 130 kg/s.

The number of fasteners is calculated using the following formula:

(PH x 2.5) / 130, where:

Estimated load - for an adult man weighing about 80 kg will be about 200 kg.
2.5 - fixed coefficient.
130 is the minimum load-bearing capacity of 1 point.

The result must be rounded up to the nearest even number.

Let's give an example, if a person weighing 80 kg is working out on the horizontal bar (that is, the estimated load is 200 kg):

(200×2.5) / 130 = 3.85.

Round up to 4 - this is the minimum number of attachment points. For reliability, you can add 2 more points - up to 6.

Anyone can make a horizontal bar. A brief description of how to create a horizontal bar on the wall.

All the indicators above are the average minimum, relevant for an adult man weighing up to 80-90 kg.

As for the fasteners themselves: only bolts from M8 in size are suitable, and only in steel anchors. Plastic dowels cannot be used (unless the horizontal bar is hung not for an adult man, but for a child weighing up to 35-40 kg).

Depth to which the anchor should be inserted into the wall:

At least 120 mm - for concrete.
At least 150 mm - for brick.
At least 180 mm - for timber made of durable wood.
At least 220 mm - for coniferous trees or glued timber.

The bolt should protrude no more than 20 mm outward.

What to make a horizontal bar from: timber or pipe

Before making a horizontal bar in the yard, you need to choose high-quality material for constructing the horizontal bar, because this is what guarantees the durability and reliability of the product.

As a crossbar, it is best to take a steel pipe with a diameter of 0.25–0.35 cm (depending on who this sports equipment will serve - a child or an adult). The number of such pipes depends on how many crossbars there will be in the design of this horizontal bar (one, two, three, etc.). The material should be hard and polished - all this will protect you from injuries and make exercise enjoyable and safe.

Vertical racks can be made of either metal or wood. Using metal will require a welding machine and the ability to work with it. Two steel pipes (diameter 100 mm) are required to make a simple structure. Welding must be performed especially carefully so that during loads the horizontal bar does not cause injury.

If there are no suitable metal stands, then vertical supports can be made from wooden beams with a cross-section of 100–120 mm. In this case, the crossbar is secured either with metal brackets or self-tapping screws.

It is quite possible to build an outdoor horizontal bar using trees growing nearby as supports. The staples or metal plates that hold the horizontal strip are attached to the wood with screws or nails.

The use of metal will increase the service life of the horizontal bar, while a structure made of wood will last less. It is permissible to combine different materials.

A wonderful sports complex, built using wood and metal, requires virtually no financial costs

Video description

You can see how to assemble a horizontal bar at home in the video below:
Before you make a horizontal bar at home, you should understand its design. In general, the projectile consists of the following parts:

2 vertical pipes attached to the wall. This is the base responsible for connecting to the wall;
2 pipes running perpendicular to the wall and vertical pipes. They are fixed at only one end, the other hangs in the air;
A horizontal crossbar that stretches between the second pipes. Its ends may be slightly bent;
Additional details (optional).

In other words, you need 2 bases that look like a right angle (for greater strength, a short pipe is welded between them), and the crossbar itself.

The simplest design consists of 2 T-shaped sides, which are attached to the wall with the short side. A crossbar is installed between them. But this option is more suitable for children; it is not able to withstand heavy loads.

All parts must be welded to each other. Then the projectile is mounted to the wall using bolts and screws. By slightly changing the design, it can be hung on a shelf.

It is important to remember that welds may begin to fail when the permissible load increases or operating conditions change (for example, when the projectile is moved into a damp room).

Homemade design Source pinimg.com

Calculation of materials and preparation of tools

Before you start building a horizontal bar with your own hands, calculate the amount of materials and prepare all the necessary tools.

Materials are purchased depending on the chosen design. For the simplest structure in the shape of the letter “P” you will need:

2 metal pipes with a length of at least 2.7 m, a diameter of 100–120 mm;
1 steel pipe 1.5 m long and 35 mm in diameter.

This calculation is suitable for a projectile intended for an adult. The pipes are deepened into the ground 60–70 cm, leaving approximately 2 m for vertical posts.

In addition to the pipes, you will need a small can of anti-corrosion primer and paint for exterior use.

To strengthen the supports, you need to purchase a concrete mixture or prepare it yourself (mix cement and water in a ratio of 1:3). You should not do this in advance, as the solution will harden and you will not be able to use it in your work.

You need to prepare the necessary set of tools:

welding machine (for a metal horizontal bar);
Bulgarian;
electric drill;
hand drill or shovel;
saw (for using wooden posts);
roulette;
container for solution;
nails, screws for fastening;
brushes to paint pipes.

Step-by-step instructions for making a horizontal bar outdoors

When everything you need is prepared and purchased, you can begin the process of building a horizontal bar.

Installation of vertical racks

For vertical posts you need to dig holes.

Using a hand drill, we make holes of the required size.

Holes for vertical posts can be dug using a regular shovel or a hand drill. The depth of the holes is 60–70 cm for a metal horizontal bar, 100–120 cm for wooden supports. They are dug at a distance the width of the horizontal bar (1–1.5 m).

At the bottom of each hole you need to pour a sand layer of 10–15 cm and compact it.

Installation of a horizontal crossbar

The horizontal crossbar must be welded to the vertical supports.

Welding the crossbar and metal posts is the most reliable fastening

This step must be done before concreting the pits of the posts, because it is inconvenient and unsafe to weld on the top of the supporting metal pillars.

Welding must be carried out carefully, without skipping, since the reliability of the horizontal bar fastening depends on this, and therefore your safety.

At this stage, you can also treat the lower part of the racks with an anti-corrosion primer or other suitable means.

Installation of vertical supports

Vertical supports need to be placed in holes and filled with concrete. The solution can be bought in a store or prepared yourself from dry cement and water (in a ratio of 1:3).

Pouring concrete will help strengthen and level the vertical supports

When concreting support pillars, you should check their vertical position using a plumb line. To ensure that the racks maintain their position and do not “float,” you can support them with wooden stakes.

Finishing work

At this stage, it is necessary to add a layer of sand or gravel near the support pillars and between them, leveling and strengthening this place. This will help prevent water from accumulating after rain or melting snow.

A flat area is an ideal place for a sports complex with a horizontal bar

If you do not use a welding machine, you can first fill the holes with concrete with the vertical posts placed, and then attach the crossbar. The horizontal pipe should be fixed only after the concrete mixture has completely hardened.

Bolts, screws, and metal plates will help secure the crossbar to the vertical supports. For fastening to wooden posts, hardware is used (on top or on the side).

At the end, the horizontal bar can be painted as desired.

Video: detailed instructions for building an outdoor horizontal bar with your own hands

What metal should I use?

Reliability is the key to success, a good motto for installing your own horizontal bar. You can use ordinary ferrous metal. After the welding process, it is cleaned, processed and painted.

For an outdoor horizontal bar, you should also take care of the anti-corrosion coating. You should use powder paint; it will slip less in your hand when doing pull-ups.

Note!

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The second option is to use stainless steel. The only negative is the potential surface is too smooth, which can cause excessive slipping of the hand.

Attention: do not use food-grade stainless steel - it is made with thin walls and will bend quickly.

How to make a meter-long children's horizontal bar with your own hands

This device for children is best done in combination with other healthy exercise equipment: wall bars, rope, swings. In this case, the child will not perceive exercises on the horizontal bar as something boring and uninteresting; exercises on the horizontal bar will be as organic as riding on a swing, climbing up and down a ladder.

When constructing a horizontal bar, special attention should be paid to the strength of the fastenings, because this is the key to the health and safety of children mastering this sports equipment.

To make it easier to climb onto the bar in the children's version of the horizontal bar, it is necessary to provide a special step - to help kids who cannot jump onto the horizontal bar. For this purpose, you can use a wooden platform that is attached to the horizontal bar.

A wooden stand will help small people and children to climb the horizontal bar

Types of outdoor sports equipment

All horizontal bars are a type of sports equipment where the load is the exerciser’s own weight. Naturally, you can work with additional weighting, but the main idea of the horizontal bar is an extremely simple design without moving parts.

Conventionally, all modifications can be divided into several groups:

the simplest U-shaped design. It is the most stable, easy to manufacture and at the same time makes it possible to perform a large number of exercises;
wall horizontal bar (or ceiling). In terms of complexity they differ little from the U-shaped one; in fact, they are a modern “interpretation” of the very first horizontal bar - a tree branch. Attached to a permanent wall/ceiling or a special installation;
double, triple models designed for different heights of users. Particularly convenient for families with children of different ages;
combined designs, where in addition to the horizontal bar there is a wall bars, an emphasis for swinging the press and push-ups, parallel bars, rings, a ladder, a rope and other devices for body development.

When planning to make an outdoor horizontal bar with your own hands, you need to choose not only the modification, but also the material. Most often, wood or metal is used to create the structure.

Wooden products are as simple as possible to manufacture, do not require special tools, are quite strong (provided that the cross-section of lumber is chosen correctly), but, unfortunately, they are not very durable and can be damaged if the user is overweight or the load is applied incorrectly.

Metal complexes are stronger, more reliable and durable, but their production requires skills in working with metal - cutting, welding, painting.

Both types of structures are either mounted on an existing support or on pillar supports that are maximally firmly fixed in the ground/site.

Decorating Tips

A horizontal bar is a sports facility designed to be used for more than one year. To extend its service life, it is necessary to treat all its parts with anti-corrosion agents, especially the “underground” elements.
The crossbar should not be rough, otherwise problems with the palms cannot be avoided, so the horizontal pipe must be well sanded and waxed (you can also use special anti-slip products). Sports stores sell straps, pads, and hooks for performing exercises on the horizontal bar - they will help you exercise comfortably, comfortably and without blisters.
It’s up to you to paint or leave the horizontal bar in its original form. Naturally, the beautiful appearance of the sports facility will harmoniously fit into the design of your site. By the way, you can entrust the decorating work to children who will be the direct users of the horizontal bar. In this case, bright colors that attract the attention of children would be appropriate.

The bright colors of sports facilities make them attractive
The area around the projectile should be well-groomed and not overgrown; it is best to fill it with gravel or sand. Additionally, you can purchase or sew a gymnastics mat that will soften the blow when falling or jumping.

An outdoor horizontal bar will help adults and children stay in great physical shape. You can build this simple sports equipment yourself. The horizontal bar can help in the formation of an athletic figure, add health and positive mood.

Choosing a location for exercise equipment

Before working on the design and composition of the simulators, you need to decide on the location of the gymnastics camp. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the opinion of specialists with experience in such work:

the most suitable place to place exercise equipment would be the backyard, isolated from the excessive curiosity of passers-by and neighbors;
the underlying surface of the exercise area must be sufficiently elastic to avoid injury from falls. The best material is crumb rubber. To use it, you need to remove the soil layer of the earth, arrange a drainage layer up to 15 cm thick of sand and gravel, and cover the shock-absorbing bedding with a layer of 15 cm. You can use sawdust and shavings instead of crumbs;
You should avoid placing exercise equipment in the sun, as the heat will not allow you to exercise or simply spend time with children during the day. You should choose a well-shaded or semi-shaded side of the site. At the same time, tree branches or bushes should not interfere with classes.

The optimal place to place your own training complex would be the backyard