Commercial Curl Bar – Definitive FAQ Guide

Looking for a commercial curl bar but don’t know how to find one? Well, our FAQ guide will save your day!

We will give you all the details and information you need to pick the best commercial curl bar for your gym or your clients. So sit back, relax, and be informed!

Table of Contents

What’s a Commercial Curl Bar?

A commercial curl bar is a short lightweight barbell bar with jagged lines along its middle part. They are used to give lifters more comfort and grip for their free weight exercises.

Figure 1. Commercial curl bar

How are commercial curl bars classified according to their use?

You can have rackable, non-rackable, and pull-up commercial curl bars.

Rackable Commercial Curl Bar

Rackable commercial curl bars are stored on a power rack. It is loaner than an EZ curl bar and uses free weight plates.

Figure 2. Rackable commercial curl bar

Non-rackable Commercial Curl Bar

Non-rackable commercial curl bars are not stored on a power rack. They are also plate loaded but shorter than rackable ones.

Figure 3. Non-Rackable commercial curl bar

Pull-up Commercial Curl Bar

Pullup curl bars are permanently attached to a power rack since they are used for body weight exercises. Its length is in between the rackable and non-rackable commercial curl bar.

Figure 4. Pull-up commercial curl bar

How are commercial curl bars classified according to structure?

You can either have a free or fixed weight commercial curl bar.

Free Weight Commercial Curl Bar

Free weight commercial curl bars have sleeves for loading weight plates. Olympic and standard plates can be used for these types of curl bars.

Figure 5. Free weight commercial curl bar

Fixed Weight Commercial Curl Bar

Fixed weight commercial curl bars have plates solidly affixed on them. The plates will either be machine pressed or welded to the bar.

Figure 6. Fixed weight commercial curl bar

Should I use a free weight or fixed weight commercial bar?

It’s recommended to use a free weight commercial bar because the user can progressively train on them without having to change the curl bar every now and then. In addition, using a commercial curl bar saves gym space.

On the other side of the coin, fixed weight commercial curl bars can be used instantly. However, you need to get a full set of the weights so your users can sufficiently train on them. It also has limitations on its maximum and minimum weight amounts.

That is why a free-weight commercial curl bar is a better option for commercial gyms. But for retail and distribution outfits, it’s better to have both for variety.

What are the types of finishes a commercial curl bar offers?

Here are the finishes used in commercial curl bars.

Bare Steel

Pros:

1. Provides an enhanced grip and more natural path of motion.

Cons:

1. Prone to rusting.
2. Need a lot of TLC

Black Oxide

Pros:

1. Has resistance to rust
2. Low-maintenance

Zinc

Pros:

1. Can resist rust more than black oxide

Cons:

1. Finish wears off easily
2. Highly maintained

Chrome

Pros:

1. Best in resisting oxidation
2. Best knurling

Cons:

1. A bit pricey.
2. Too smooth that it loses its grip capacity.

Stainless Steel

Pros:

1. Provides for grip.
2. Low risk of rusting 

Cons:

1. Pricey.

Electro-coating

Use electrostatic plating for coating. 

Pros:

1. Sturdy.
2. Rustproof.

What are the materials used to make a commercial curl bar?

Steel is used to produce commercial curl bars. 

To design and produce a high-quality bar, Q235 standards should be followed. Finish on the steel bar can be either electrically coated, zinc coated or chrome. 

Shafts of commercial curl bars are electrically coated while its sleeves are finished with zinc. As for Yanre Fitness’ commercial curl bars, they are all protected with a hard chrome finish.

What is the purpose of knurling in a commercial curl bar?

Knurling or grooves on the handles of commercial curl bars are provided for enhanced grips. The more the knurlings are provided on the commercial curl bar, the better its grip characteristics.

A stronger grip is a result of more aggressive knurling. Here are the three types of knurling of a commercial curl bar:

1. Mountain Knurling
2. Volcano Knurling
3. Hill Knurling

Avoid commercial curl bars with hill knurling, they don’t provide a good grip. For your customers at the gym, purchase commercial curl bars with volcano knurling. They give the best grip among other knurling types.

Figure 7. Knurling in the jagged portion of a commercial curl bar

Which part of the commercial curl bar has knurling?

The sides of handle of commercial curl bars are the areas usually knurled.

Figure 8. Commercial curl bar with no center knurling

Are all commercial curl bars rackable?

Not all commercial curl bars are rackable. 

However, it is advisable to buy a rackable bar for ease of storing  and plate loading. In addition, a racked bar on a power rack can be used for bodyweight exercises. 

The plate loading sleeve’s length helps estimate whether the bar is rackable or not. It is a must to contact the manufacturer to confirm this.

Non-rackable bars may be favored by some of your users since it is shorter and easily manageable. if you can, you can also purchase a few non-rackable bars to cater these users.

Do commercial curl bars have average dimensions?

A commercial curl bar’s size will depend if it’s a rackable or non-rackable. In general, rackable curl bars are lengthier than non-rackable ones.

Here are the average dimensions of the two types of bars:

Rackable Commercial Curl Bar

Total length: 74.75”

Shaft Diameter: 1”

Sleeves Diameter: 2”

Distance between sleeves: 52”

Loadable Sleeve Length: 10.5”

Non-rackable Commercial Curl Bar

Total length: 54.5”

Shaft Diameter: 1”

Sleeves Diameter: 2”

Distance between sleeves: 31.5”

Loadable Sleeve Length: 10.5”

Pull-up Commercial Curl Bar

Total length: 43”

Loadable Sleeve Length: Absent

Shaft diameter: 1”

Note that these are approximate sizes. The EZ curl bar of Yanre Fitness has a length of 47” and the loadable sleeve length is 6.6 inches. 

How much is the weight of a commercial curl bar?

The type of commercial curl bar determines its average weight.. 

Rackable curl bar: 35lbs

Non-rackable curl bar: 30lbs

Pull-up curl bar: 17lbs

Commercial EZ bar’s weight will depend on its finish and the type of material used. To get the exact weight specifications of the commercial curl bar, check with your manufacturer or their brochure.

For the commercial curl bars manufactured by Yanre Fitness, they are weighed at least 22 lbs.

Does a commercial curl bar have tensile strength?

Yes, commercial curl bars like any other steel-made equipment have tensile strength. It can endure up to 45,000 psi of force.

Tensile strength refers to how much weight can the commercial curl bar carry until it breaks. Quality of material is one of the major factors that affect the commercial curl bar’s tensile strength. The higher the material quality, the larger the loads it can carry.

To get more details of the tensile strength of our commercial curl bar, please feel free to contact our sales team and resident experts.

What helps in the rotation of commercial curl bars?

Bearings and bushings are used for the ease of rotation of the commercial curl bars. They are usually made of bronze and protect the shaft and plate loading sleeve from jarring.

For the commercial curl bars offered by Yanre Fitness, they are made with 4 needle bearings to further enhance the equipment’s smooth turning.

Figure 9. Bronze bushing

What type of weight plates are used in a commercial curl bar?

Commercial curl bars are designed to fit Olympic weight plates.

There are also commercial curl bars for standard weights but you’d have to confirm this with your manufacturer or retailer. Or else, you’ll end up having a bar with no available weight plates in your area.

Here’s some of the Olympic weight plates that can be used in a commercial curl bar.

1. Bumper plates
2. Technique plates
3. Competition weight plates
4. Tri-grip weight plates. 

Figure 10. Olympic weight plates

What are the commercial curl bar sleeve designs? 

Commercial curl bars normally use a snap ring sleeve design. They can also have a hex bolt or end cap sleeves.

End caps and snap rings are suitable for gyms.  But hex bolts are a no-no for your commercial studio.

What is the maximum amount of weight plates the curl bar can carry?

Commercial curl bars can carry up to 300 lbs of weight plates. This number refers to the total number of plates that can be loaded on both sides of the commercial cul bar.

Weight plate capacity is dependent on the material, quality of manufacturing and size of the bar. To ensure that the commercial curl bar does not fail after too much loading, only advise to use the total number of weights less than its maximum capacity.

Are weight plates included in the set of commercial curl bars?

No, you would have to buy the weight plates separately. But if you want to use the weight plates in your gym, be sure that they can fit into the commercial curl bar you purchase. 

Yanre Strength manufactures both high quality weight plates and commercial curl bars.

Can the logo of the commercial curl bar be customized?

Yes, Yanre Fitness is flexible enough to give you an option for imprinting your company’s logo on the commercial curl bars. Kindly keep in touch with our team so we can assist you with your requirements.

Can the color be customized?

Yes, Yanre Fitness can help you change up the colors of the commercial curl bars you purchase. Just contact our sales representative for further details of this request.

Where should I order commercial curl bars in China?

Wholesale rates of commercial curl bars are offered at Yanre Fitness in China. 

Yanre Fitness is one of the well-known and top manufacturers in China. We offer excellent services including customization of the equipment to give a more appealing look in your gym. We have most of the equipment needed for a gym. From heavy-duty equipment to simple accessories. 

Conclusion

Commercial curl bars are staple gym equipment and choosing one for your gym is important. If you still have other queries you want answered, feel free to contact us.

Yanre Fitness offers the best high-quality commercial curl bar. Customizing the color and logo services are available. To know more about the product and prices, please contact us.