Machines or free weights??

I use both.

I have a full basement with about 8ft. ceiling height.

Ths is what I use...

(1) Body Solid Multi-press rack......great for all compounds....has adjustable bench. Great for Deads,Benches,Squats,Mil Press and the like. This rig just replaced my older free-bench rig.

(2) Selectech Dbs'....also have the the handles for all my older Db.s, so I use the SelecTechs for quick change up to 52.2 lbs and make up heavier ones as need be with the other handles.

(3) Dip station...home built....will take any extra weight I can use on it.

(4) Chin bar....can add weight for weighted chins.

(5) Old 3001 York Home gym.....switched out the York bushing pulleys for Bodysolid pulleys. After carefully weighing each and every plate (concrete) on the rig I discovered that the stack was "off" overall by about 30lbs. I recorded the actual weight for any given setting and simply add velcro ankle weights to the top of the stack to get the correct weight. The stack is said to be 210lbs. But because they're concrete plates the actual top end is about 170. So...I add some weight to get 210. Good machine for cable work and Pecs or if I want to do drop sets or am pressed for time. Built a rowing set-up for it too.

(6) Smith machine....has pulldown tower on it. Versatile rig for specialized lifts,rack chins,cable ab crunches, partials and all sorts of stuff. Made a leg-press rig for it.

(7) Total Trainer....with additional weight bar...You can do all sorts of weird stuff on these rigs...Yesterday I went for a swim on it, using the Butterfly stroke. Great for "combo" moves after you've fried a body part with a freeweight ex. Great for cable delt work. Will simulate an Iron Cross or Iron cross in combo with other moves. Can also be used for Decline Crunches, Decline Flyes,etc.etc.

(8) Gymnast rings....use these on hooks that I use for the chin-bar with straps hanging down.Don't quite have enough head-room for some of the fancy stuff but can do pushups,airplanes,flyes,chins,etc.etc.
Uses muscles you never knew you had.

(9) Several barbells for such things as rep cleans, power cleans, standing overhead work etc.

(10) Power hooks....hang 'em off the Smith Bar for presses and chest work with Db's

(11) Neck ex rig.

(12) Hand hooks

(13) Cardio machines:- Eliptical, Ski-machine,Walking treadmill, Stat bike.

(14) Multitudinous lengths and pices of chain for when making adjustments on pulldown /pullup/row bars etc etc.

(15) Large clock with easy-to-see sweep second hand......time is of the essence.

(16) Table with training logs,work-out plans, set/rep schemes and any other info that is pertinent to the workout.

(17) One large spray can of Dr.Scholls Deodorant Spray.....this stuff makes gym shoes and air smell nice and sweet after a workout...:)

(18) Thin design steel weight plates...for some reason I never have enough weight plates. Buy them on an ongoing basis. Just when I think I have enough, turns out I need a couple more. The fatter the plate the less of 'em you can get on a bar or DB.

(19) Assorted home-made boxes for Step-ups and what-not.

(20) Swiss ball and mat. Also several vinyls balls of different weights for use in ab exes.

(21) Stereo and c.d. player......for background music or for workout cardio c.d.'s.

My Significant Other thinks I am starting to obsess over exercise..
But I just tell her all this is necessary in order to get the job done correctly...for me, anyway.......:lol::cool:

That's a nice selection. I'm like you in that regard, in that I think it's neat to have a great selection of exercise equipment at home, and I like using machines for variety. I have some of the stuff you have,..no room for any more, which is why I'm thinking of maybe getting a new place in a few years mainly so I can have more room to buy more equipment and more room to move around. I'm not fit like you, as I'm missing the most important ingredient, ...motivation, but still, I'd enjoy having a great home gym just for fun. I have power hooks and have used them like you, on the smith machine. I have the gymnast rings but no room to use them. I think that having chains is pretty hard core.

that gym does sound great..i'd love to see some pictures of it

Sounds like a pretty awesome setup! I wish I had that kind of room in my basement.
How do you like the Bowflex db's? My workouts consist of a Bowflex in combination with some freeweights and db's. I've thought about purchasing a set of the Selectechs, but I've been hoping that they will eventually come out with a set that will allow for more weight. Are you satisfied with yours and do you think they are worth the money?

While perusing the net the other day, I thought I caught a blip that said
Selectechs are now available up to 90 lbs per dumbell instead of the standard 52.2lbs.

Can't confirm it right now tho'..haven't had time to look into it.

I like mine. Fortunately I haven't dropped one on the floor yet...

My gym (as yet) while diverse, is not decorated in the style of some I've seen displayed in photos....

More like you'll swear you're in some comrade's cellar in pre-Gorbachev Moscow...:lol:

Every once in awhile on a foggy night I'm sure I've seen the ghost of this huge fat bald-headed powerlifter in a uni-suit down there, cursing in Russian while he looks for the chalk while simultaneously spitting on the Smith machine....:eek::eek::eek:

That sounds like my kind of gym! The more a gym can resemble a dungeon, the more I tend to like it. Seriously though, it sounds like you have a very useful setup.

I'm going to have to look into those Selectech db's again. If they did come out with a set that goes up to 90, that would be perfect!

How about posting some pics of your gym (ghosts and all)??????

I know they've got the 90 lb selectech DBs, I just spoke to a salesman recently about them and they're frighteningly pricey. That is a serious gym setup you've got, though! Awesome!

How frightening was the price? I'm going to google them right now and see what I can come up with.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/jonathanwong/thumb_thisthreadisworthlesswithoutp.gif

Looks like they are $599 without the stand, and $739 with the stand.
OUCH!

...I've thought about purchasing a set of the Selectechs, but I've been hoping that they will eventually come out with a set that will allow for more weight...

Just curious...
Have you thought about Ironmaster? (http://www.ironmaster.com/store/Quick-Lock-Dumbells-c-1.html) They can go up to 120 with an add-on kit.

http://www.ironmaster.com/store/images/T/t_2.jpg

+

http://www.ironmaster.com/store/images/T/t_5.jpg

Just curious...
Have you thought about Ironmaster? (http://www.ironmaster.com/store/Quick-Lock-Dumbells-c-1.html) They can go up to 120 with an add-on kit.

http://www.ironmaster.com/store/images/T/t_2.jpg

+

http://www.ironmaster.com/store/images/T/t_5.jpg

I did check them out, but it looks like they are just as pricey as the Selectechs. I guess when you think about how versatile they are, the price doesn't seem as bad as the initial sticker shock.