Looking for a Smith Machine for Home Gym

[xtinct]

I am setting up a home gym and initially I wanted to get a power rack but after considering a lot of different factors, I will get a Smith Machine instead. Most of the machines I have found are crap. I want a machine that can handle 400-500 lbs without shaking like it's going to fall apart.

This is the best one I have found so far: http://www.ironcompany.com/smithmachinepatriotstrengthproformanceicps-004.aspx

I was hoping to spend a little less than $3000 which is what that machine costs, but it seems like anything in the <$2000 price range is very flimsy and would probably fall apart with 400 lbs on the bar.

Any other suggestions where else I should look?

[Jrod5150]

Have you thought about havin one made? Do you know anybody that welds and or programs and operates a CNC machine?

I use to have a buddy of mine that I use to work with. This guy could make anything. Just give him a drawing or some dimensions and he'd hook it up. He built me a single rail trailer to haul my track bike. All kinds of misc things for my bikes. Cage, frame sliders, spools etc.

If you think about it a smith machine, squat wrack, bench and many other types of equipment that we use are very basic as far as how they are built and desighned.

[PeteM]

Why a smith over a power rack?

[lordknowss]

craigslist or amazon

[xtinct]

Why a smith over a power rack?

I can do overhead presses only when then bar moves in a fixed plane. It's been that way ever since I started working out years ago and has only become more pronounced as I got stronger. On a smith machine I have done overhead presses with as much as 360 lbs (4 x 45lbs per side -- I don't count the few pounds the bar weighs). With a barbell I probably couldn't even do 225 lbs because my shoulders feel so unstable. I sometimes notice it even on incline bench press although it isn't nearly as bad.

So with that limitation, it comes down to this: on a power rack I could only do legs and back, whereas on a smith I can do chest and delts, and maybe even squats. For me, the smith is more useful.

[silver_shadow]

you should not be doing any of that on the smith. you are robbing yourself of balanced strength gains meaning that the smith is not working out the stabilizer muscles in any lift you use it for. you are also potentially risking a future injury.

BTW the reason that the bar feels unstable using free weights is BECAUSE your stabilizers are not developed!

smith = fake strength.

oh and i'll bet you will save some $$ on a power rack vs a smith. you can use that to buy some more food or even some AAS :)

[Beverly McD.]

Look for a Body Master if you can find one. I think they went out of business a few years ago. It's tough enough to take pretty much anything you can throw at it.
I completely disagree with the "they're useless" opinion.
We've got 2 Monolifts, 2 competition benches, a deadlift platform, reverse hyper, and the power rack from hell. The best bars to be had, and several type benches. (not bragging, we're just well equipped) Also, every type of machine anybody might want to use. Our Body Master smith machine still gets a lot of use.