How to Make Sandbags for Weights

Before modern fitness equipment was available, people were still working out. Whether you live in the country or on an isolated island, you can use sandbags to make weights to build your muscles and train like Rocky. Sandbags provide enough strength to hold back large amounts of force such as floodwater. In the same way, they are durable enough to use as weights for bodybuilding. Sandbags provide a simple, low-cost method to work out your body parts.

Things You'll Need

  • Sand
  • Cloth sand bag
  • Shovel
  • Scale
  • Broomstick
  • Table saw
  • Fine sand paper
  • Hand saw
  • Duct tape
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Pour sand into a sturdy cloth bag using a shovel. This should take place outdoors.

    • 2

      Weigh the sandbag on a scale. Add or remove sand until the sandbag is the desired weight.

    • 3

      Twist the open end of the bag. Wrap the twisted portion of the bag around your fingers. Push the remaining twisted portion of the bag underneath the twisted portion wrapped around your fingers. Remove your fingers. Pull the end of the twisted portion. This creates a knot at the end of the bag.

    • 4

      Make another sandbag of the same weight.

    • 5

      Cut a broom stick to the length of 1 foot using a table saw. Use the broom stick as the handle for your barbell.

    • 6

      Sand the ends of the broomstick to create a smooth surface using fine sand paper.

    • 7

      Use a handsaw to cut a 1/4-inch slot in the broomstick 1 inch from the end. Saw another slot on the other end of the broomstick 1 inch from the other end.

    • 8

      Make an icicle hitch knot on the left side of the broomstick. Animated Knots explains how to tie an icicle hitch: "Wrap the rope around the pole four times moving away from the pole end. Leave a loop hanging and pass the end of the rope back over the pole alongside the standing end. Pass the loop behind both ends and hook it over the pole. Tighten the knot."

    • 9

      Take the two ends of the rope hanging from the broomstick. Tie the two ends of the rope to the end of the sand bag. Make a double knot to secure the broomstick to the sand bag.

    • 10

      Repeat on the right side of the broomstick.

    • 11

      Wrap the center of the broomstick with duct tape. The duct tape makes a grip for the barbell. Hold the center of the broomstick with your hand. The sandbag barbell is ready to use.