Above parallel bars ready for a workout with my bride.  I need to remove a couple bar code decals from the pipe.  In the background is the PhysioStep LXT Recumbent Cross Trainer that came in this afternoon and have not completed the final assembly on it.  The rascal was 255 lbs. shipping weight, but I managed to off load it from my truck and get it through three (3) doors, of which I had to remove the last door from its hinges and it was "tighter than two coats of paint" getting it through the door jamb.  We might have to tweak the final location for both the parallel bars and the cross trainer for maximum space efficiency and ergonomics.

My bride settled on this arrangement for the cross trainer and parallel bars.

REASON FOR PARALLEL BARS FOR HOME USAGE

Since the coronavirus outbreak worldwide, many places are still closed and for health and safety reasons, we decided to forgo the outpatient physical therapy at the Anson Health and Rehabilitation Facility here in Wadesboro, NC.  They are still allowing outpatient therapy, but will not allow others into the facility for visits, etc.

However, various venders are entering the facility as well as staff and there still is a chance of bringing the COVID 19 into or out of the facility, although there hasn't been any reported cases of the coronavirus yet. Our town has recently reported nine (9) cases of the coronavirus which is very low compared to other towns.  An employee at the McDonalds drive through window recently tested positive for the coronavirus and the facility closed for a day of sanitizing/cleaning the place and then reopened the following day.

All four (4) physical therapy facilities my bride has used in the past, basically use the same type of exercises depending on what level of therapy is needed and standardized machines for working out the various parts of the body needing attention.  I have a hyperlink to the Carolina's Rehabilitation that was in Monroe and currently closed with that staff transferred to other facilities within the Atrium Healthcare Network which details their therapy department, machines and staff. 

NC Governor Roy Cooper issued a stay at home order on March 27, 2020 in effect until April 29, 2020 and that depends on the status of the virus outbreak.  Therefore, to continue physical therapy with as little risk as possible to the coronavirus, I decided to build a parallel bar set tailored just for my bride aka Joyce and not adjustable for anyone else.

NOTE:  As of 05-06-2020, there are 20 confirmed cases of the COVID 19.

NOTE:  As of 05-23-2020, there are 55 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, 38 recovered, 1 death.

NOTE:  As of 06-01-2020, there are 64 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, 49 recovered, 1 death.

NOTE:  As of 06-07-2020, there are 70 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, 60 recovered, 1 death.

NOTE:  As of 06-12-2020, there are 72 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, 63 recovered, 1 death.

NOTE:  As of 06-16-2020, there are 90 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, 79 recovered, 1 death.

NOTE:  As of 06-22-2020, there are 107 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, 87 recovered, 2 deaths. 

NOTE:  As of 07-06-2020, there are 160 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, 123 recovered, 2 deaths.

NOTE:  As of 07-13-2020, there are 210 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, 153 recovered, 2 deaths.

NOTE:  As of 10-25-2020, there are 716 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 with 9 deaths.

NOTE:  As of 12-02-2020, there are 937 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 with 14 deaths.

NOTE:  As of 06-21, 2021, there are 2,628 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 with 57 deaths.

BASIC SIMPLE DESIGN

I did an internet search for parallel bars images/designs and they are like watches; priced between a Timex or a Rolex watch depending on how deep your pockets are!

With the exercises she currently does at the Anson Health and Rehabilitation Facility, parallel bars with a base platform of 24" x 48" would be large enough for her standing leg exercises, etc., with a height of 34 inches +- from the base platform and is wide enough between the parallel bars for her.

Most parallel bars have a base width of 38", width adjustment 15 - 28 inches and height adjustment 29 - 42 inches and length of platform from 7 to 12 feet +-.

Also, I ordered her a PhysioStep LXT Recumbent Cross Trainer which is a commercial machine to strengthen her upper and lower body with a good cardiovascular workout and should be delivered on April 14, 2020.  Most physical therapy facilities here in NC use the NuStep T4R machine or similar model, whereas HealthCare International (HCI) in Langley, Washington is the manufacturer of the LXT cross trainer and doesn't have any dealers in NC. 

MATERIALS FROM LOWE'S

I decided to use SteelTek galvanized silver 1 1/4 inch inside diameter (1.675) outside diameter structural steel pipe, not designed for water usage for the parallel bars and use the SteelTek elbows and floor mounts aka flanges which utilize two large set screws in each end of the elbows and the floor flanges to secure the pipe into the fittings.

Lowe's had some excellent looking 3/4" x 48" x 96" maple hardwood plywood and purchased a couple sheets, needing only one for this project and the other sheet for projects in the future.

I found out very quickly how much my body strength has went South the past year while trying to load the sheets of plywood onto their steel transport cart.  I had to ask another shopper to help me load the two sheets of plywood onto the cart and also have one of Lowe's staff members to help me load them onto the bed of my truck.  The plywood sheet weighs about 61 pounds, but is very difficult to move around due to its size.

I purchased eight (8) 1/2 x 2.5 inch length bolts, nuts, flat washers and lock nuts from our local H. W. Little, Inc. hardware store to mount the floor flanges to the base.

I planned to double the thickness of the base with two pieces of the 3/4 inch thick maple plywood which is more like 23/32 inch thick and decided not to countersink the flat washer and bolt head which would reduced the strength.  I simply used 3/4" x 4" wide pine boards and bored a 1 5/8 inch hole where the flat head washer and bolt nut head was located and would be recessed.  The pixs will explain it better.

FABRICATING THE BASE

I initially cut one sheet of the maple hardwood plywood into two sections being 3' x 4' and later cut the width to 2' which was wide enough for a non-adjustable parallel bars base.  I used my Milwaukee "skill" saw and a wood saw guide to make the initial 3' width cuts from the 4' x 8' plywood and the table saw to cut the width to 24".

I glued and screwed the two 2' x 4' sections together.  My DeWalt battery drill batteries died on me quickly and had to bring out the ole Milwaukee electric hand drill which works you much harder due to its weight and size.

I positioned the SteelTek floor flanges in place to give me a measurement for the length of the parallel bars and then drilled 1/2 inch diameter holes through the plywood base.  I decided not to countersink holes for the flat washer which was about 1 1/2 inch in diameter and the hex head bolt head would take up about 1/2 the thickness of one layer of the maple plywood weakening the construction as mentioned earlier.

I added 3/4" x 4" wide pine board around the washers and hex head bolt which was glued and screwed into place and will give access to the bolts if ever needed.

The parallel bars base is heavy enough for sure!

I used scrap aka unallocated 4" wide pine boards to complete the wood working phase of the parallel bars construction for the underside of the platform.

The floor flanges were bolted into place and the base stained.  I ordered a medium walnut Mohawk Ultra Penetrating NGR Dye Stain # M520-2475 via Amazon and did not pay any attention to the label and starting staining the platform base and realized it wasn't medium walnut color, but ox blood # M520-2455 color.....too late now and went with the ox blood color stain...................grin if you must! 

I told our Pastor Sam Abee, I might tell the folks at Mohawk, we are no longer under the ole Mosaic Law and no longer need ox blood.  Another grin is in order!

PARALLEL BARS PIPE CONSTRUCTION

I cut the SteelTek pipe to length using my Milwaukee PortaBand saw, however I rarely cut a perfect square cut, but close enough.  I believe the height of the four upright legs was around 34 inches and the length between the elbows was 39 inches. 

My bad on not taking any pixs, whereas the saw is very heavy and not conducive to hold and take pixs at the same time.  

I used a hand truck to carry the base from the basement woodworking shop to the first floor using the wheelchair ramp which came in handy for sure.  I carried the parallel bars, one side at a time going up the stairs to the first floor.

The parallel bars will occupy a small bed room being used for storage and as a  dressing room for my bride.  We had earlier given the bed to our youngest daughter.  I will remove an incline chair from the room not being used to make room for the parallel bars and the PhysioStep LXT Recumbent Cross Trainer which should be delivered on April 14, 2020.  Older homes such as ours do not have the wide doors 32 to 36 inches in width as does newer home construction and will be a tight fit getting the 30 inch wide machine into the room and will probably have to remove the door to give me the needed door inside clearance.

This project is SN 85.

As soon as I get the spare room ready, I will add a pix of the completed parallel bars to this page.

APPROXIMATE MATERIALS COST

The material cost was in the neighborhood of $ 216.95 +- not counting the cost of the glue and the screws used.  An easy project to complete and saved a chunk of money too.

Web page created by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 04-10-2020 and updated on 04-11-2020 and 04-16-2020.