Smith Machine opinions

**Cayvmann** · Posted On: 5/22/2009 9:19am

I'm now equipping my home gym again, after a couple of years at a gym, knocking elbows with girly men, and fat women. Just kidding, it's a powerlifting gym, and most of the women are hotties. (no really)

I'm not a big fan of smith machines, in general, though I do shrugs and some limited squat-type work on the one at the gym, but there's an ad on craigslist for an Ironmaster 950 for 300 bucks, with a full 300 pound olympic set, including olympic bar. I still plan on having a regular bench, and deadlifting, so I won't go full-on-girly, but I'm wondering if any of you guys have found any legitimate, and helpful uses for a smith machine, outside of hanging the laundry.

Like I said, I actually like doing shrugs on the one at the gym, so there's that, but what do you guys think?

For the price of a new weight set, I'll get a weight set, and a smith machine, with pec deck, and lat attachments, and rubber flooring. I'd just like to think I could use the smith machine part for something useful also......

**Emevas** · Posted On: 5/22/2009 10:09am

At that price, buy a powerrack, not a smith machine.

**Cayvmann** · Posted On: 5/22/2009 10:18am

I'm mainly buying it for the olympic set that comes with it. $300 is about the store price, just for that, lately. I'm sure I can use the lat pulldown feature, if not, I can just sell the smith machine thing, keep the weights. I'll certainly never bench on a smith (again). I'm looking for a cage anyway.. I just haven't seen one in my present price range.

So no use at all for the smith machine so far...

**Kintanon** · Posted On: 5/22/2009 10:21am

You can do pull ups...

**Kentucky Fried Chokin** · Posted On: 5/22/2009 10:22am

Originally Posted by Cayvmann

I'm sure I can use the lat pulldown feature,

But why would you want to?

So no use at all for the smith machine so far...

You already mentioned hanging your laundry.

**Phrost** · Posted On: 5/22/2009 10:28am

I have a Smith Machine that I'd love to give away if someone would just come over and pick the goddamn thing up.

**Emevas** · Posted On: 5/22/2009 10:29am

Originally Posted by Kentucky Fried Chokin

But why would you want to?

Lat pulldowns are awesome man, especially for people that weigh over 200lbs.

TC: What is your price range for a rack?

**Cayvmann** · Posted On: 5/22/2009 2:59pm

If you are just talking about a free standing rack, I'm not sure I want one. I've been looking for a pretty cheap (pricewise) full cage. I almost had one for $200, but the seller got rid of it too quickly. The ad had only been on craigslist for half an hour when I inquired.

In a couple of months I may be able to spend another few hundred on equipment, but after this purchase ( mainly to get the cheap Olympic set ) I'm pretty well tapped out. Oh yeah this set comes with curl bars, and rubber flooring too, so I think I'm getting a pretty good value, even if I don't keep the machine itself.

Damn didn't even answer the question $300 was my current price range....

**Cayvmann** · Posted On: 5/22/2009 3:01pm

Originally Posted by Kintanon

You can do pull ups...

Unfortunately, the lat cable system is right in the middle of the crossbeam of this thing... but I could do pullups from the weight bar. I'm probably short enough

**Cayvmann** · Posted On: 5/22/2009 7:21pm

Well, never mind. I just found "free bar holders" for the smith machine I'm buying that basically turn it into a rack. I'd still rather have a cage, but at least I won't have to buy a separate rack for benching, and squats. I can use saw horses for squat safety, I guess.