Building a speed bag platform (boxing)

So I wanted a speed bag platform. I needed it adjustable so my wife can use it too. I wanted it sturdy and to not have vibration, wiggle, or bounce around.

I looked online at all the platforms available and none that were affordable would be easy enough for my wife to adjust. So I set out to build one myself.

I started off with a piece of butcher block countertop. I cut it in half so I had two pieces that are approx 24”x24”. I predrilled the holes on what would be the top. I drilled the holes large enough in diameter so the threads wouldn’t catch the top board and only the bottom piece. This will suck the two pieces together much tighter, and create a great lamination.

I grabbed an old paintbrush and a bottle of tight bond wood glue, and painted both surfaces with glue. I placed the top on, lined up the edges well, and sunk twelve Spax screws into it, squeezing it really tight.

I threw a few clamps on it just because. I doubt they did much, but it made me feel better.

A few days after this, I whipped out the belt sander and took the edges down so the seam became invisible. (This step is best to do outdoors, as it makes an atrocious mess. My wife is still unhappy about the dust in the garage.)

***Important note here, anywhere you see a knot, put a big dot of tight bond glue over the knot. Poke it into the knot with a needle or something like that. Scrape the excess off and when dry sand it lightly.

Next came some wood stain. I used a foam brush and painted it in. I let it sit for a few minutes and wiped it off with a towel. I let that dry for two days and then decided to coat it with glaze coat. As far as the glaze coat, just follow the instructions to the letter. It’s pretty easy.

Now I have a big blemish on mine, because I didn’t glue the knots and one kept bubbling. I kept hitting it with a torch and ended up scorching the glaze coat, picking off the top layer and adding more. So, if I could go back, I think I could have done it a little better, had I known what I know now.

So now the wood top is done. Next comes the bracket that mounts to the wall. I used some 1.5”x3” tubing for the arms. This was pretty heavy gauge. The walls are about 1/8” thick. The upper supports are 1.5” square tube with a double angles coped on them.

On the wall side the upper tubes mounted to a 3/16” plate that spans between the two. The lower arms have 6”x6” plates to mount it to the wall.

Where the four pieces of support are tied together, we welded them to another 1/4” plate that is 6”x6”.

For adjustment, we used a 1.5” Acme screw. I picked up three large nuts to go with the screw. One of the nuts is welded to the 6x6 plate and another is used as a jam nut. I wanted the nut that supports the weight to be centered on the 6x6 plate. we welded a piece of round rod to the bracket and that’s what the jam nut jams on.

We took a piece of 1/4” plate steel that was 12x16. In the center of that plate, we welded the third nut. This is what attaches the Acme screw to the wooden platform. We used carriage bolts that are countersunk to attach the plate to the wood.

We drilled out some holes in the plates, and through a couple 2x6 boards. With carriage bolts we attacked the metal pieces to the 2x6. We then lifted this whole thing to the wall, and attached it to the studs with Ledger Lock bolts. It spans four studs and is attached to all of them.

Plenty of pics below as to each step of the process, and the completed project.

 

Here is mine. It's not adjustable, but I am the only one using it, so no problem. I used two pieces of 3/4 plywood (glued and screwed together) and some scrap metal. I have lag bolts running up through the platform and through the wall brackets. I used to 2" oak to make the wall mounts. They are screwed to the wall studs with 4" carlisle screws.

I have had it for over 25 years (I'm old). Still holding strong in it's third garage home.

BTW, I like having it over the squat rack as it forces me to keep my elbows and hands high, since I can't drop them without hitting the bar.

 

@Wsidr1 , that is awesome. I like the idea of the squat bar under it. Maybe when I get better, I’ll look into an idea like that.

What swivel is that? It almost looks like a Forza. I’m itching for a Forza, but they seem to be sold out and discontinued.

 

I gotta be honest, I can't remember (I admitted I'm old!) which swivel it is because I got it probably 10 or more yrs ago. I'll look and see if there are markings. I apply a little white lithium grease to it every so often and it has more than enough speed to keep up with me.

I hit both with and without my gloves. Obviously, without is easier since you get better force application/better speed, and less weight to hold up. But, without my gloves I wind up with a much higher strikes per minute and therefore I get tired faster. So, it kind of evens out. I do have better speed and control without the gloves and so it's more fun. I just get tired faster.

What I do is rotate dumbbell presses (incline and overhead) with 3-4 minutes of speedbag. That way, if I go W/O gloves I can maintain without getting tired.

I vary my strike pattern from 1-4 per hand then hit with the opposite hand. I also like to go in an X pattern. For example my favorite is LH straight strike, LH cross(kind of a backhand strike to send bag about 20-30 degrees angled), RH straight, RH cross. Keeps me focused.

 

I got exposed to the speedbag at my local YMCA in my teenage years. They had boxing gloves, speed and heavy bags,... and usually no supervision. It was a different time. We just did what young men do and slugged the $hit out of each other. I enjoyed the bags more than the fighting. Still like hitting it.

 

I have been using my Everlast heavy bag/speed bag platform. I can definitely say that the speed bag platform quality isn't the greatest but it does just fine for what I use it for. I am thinking about upgrading the swivel in the near future to something of better quality. ^ All these setups look amazing !

 

It’s been 17 years since I hit the bag, so I’m a little rusty. That said I’m getting my rhythm back pretty quickly and the speed is coming back too. The bag I got from Title is seriously lopsided. They’re sending a replacement, but it’s a few days out. I also ordered a heavy bag, and it’ll arrive whenever UPS gets it here.
my biggest issue is sore shoulders. Not so much shoulders, but between the shoulder and the tricep. Guess I should have eased into it and not just gone right into an hour a night.

@1999TacoMan , there are some really good swivels out there now. Are you looking at a ball style or a D ring style? One of the guys on the speedbag forum makes some ball style with a delrin ball that is supposed to be super fast and really quiet.

 

I was thinking of getting a ball style swivel. The one I have now that came with the platform is okay but it is extremely noisy lol

 

@1999TacoMan Check out the www.speedbagforum.com
Jeff Thrasher makes/sells swivels. Pretty nice from the reviews. RD Shackleford sells the Arc Swivel, and it’s got a great reputation, but he needs to make some more.