How to make your own super cheap cardboard molds and concrete weight plates for your weight lifting needs! 440lbs (200kg) of weight plates for $136 USD

Molds and weights for 45, 25, 10, & 5lbs (20.4, 11.3, 4.5, 2.3kgs)
Mold Dimension Diagram: https://imgur.com/gallery/2dmCR6k
You can use the bottom of 5gal buckets, instead of making a 10lb mold :)

Easiest/cheapest ways to draw large custom circles = a ruler with holes in it or a premeasured string around a nail with a pencil at the end (both ways function the same)

No fancy tools are required; however, I would HIGHLY recommend an angle grinder for finishing work. You can use sanding discs, flap discs, or concrete/masonry grinding wheels, but I found diamond cup wheels to be the fastest and most durable when grinding concrete. However, they are expensive, I used the Ridgid 4.5” Turbo Cup Wheel at $60 USD.

Cardboard Mold Pros:
Very cheap and customizable, can make as many as you want for super cheap, as accurate as you make them
Cons:
As accurate as you make them, might produce ugly plates, can leak moisture if not made well, not super reusable, takes time to make

Plastic Mold Pros:
Nicer looking weights, more consistent sized plates, more reusable, can retain moisture better, built in weight numbers
Cons:
Expensive, not very customizable, might be out of stock/production, takes time to ship

Plastic Mold Sellers:
http://bit.ly/2WmPCG0
http://bit.ly/34eug2g
(not sponsored, just molds that’ll give you nice looking concrete plates)
https://amzn.to/34iC033 (should be ok too I would imagine)

Weight Materials USD:
Concrete (I used Quikrete 5000) $5.25 per 50lb bag
Rebar 3/8”x48” US #3 SI #10 $3.10 per 45lb plate
Chicken Net 24”x10ftx12” $17.99 1 package used in 8x45lbs, 2x25lbs, 2x10lbs, 2x5lbs
Latexite Trowel Patch 1gal $11.97 (I’d recommend a concrete/driveway filler sealer $3040 5gal)
ABS/PVC Pipe 2”x2ft $3.58

Mold Materials USD:
Cardboard – Free "29 Places to Get Free Boxes" http://bit.ly/3mtXCQw
Plastic drop cloth/paint tarp/trash bags $3$8 (I used one 9ftx12ft plastic drop cloth for $7)
Duck Tape – $10 per 3 pack (I used 3 rolls for 6x45lb, 2x25lb, and 1x5lb molds)

Tools I used USD:
Bathroom Weight Scale $20
Metal Ruler with homemade radius holes $8
Cheap Tape Measure $6
5gal bucket $4 (I used 3 buckets $12)
Concrete trowel small 5”x2” $10
Hand saw $10 (for cutting the pipes I used a miter saw $220 you definitely don’t need this)
Wire/metal Snippers $10 (I used Wiss 93/4” compound action aviation snips 18 Ga. $18)
Scissors $7
Box Cutter $5
Shovel $8 (used for mixing concrete by hand)
4.5”x6” Corded Angle Grinder – $150
Ridgid 4.5” Turbo Cup wheel $60

Total Raw Weight Material Cost 440lbs in plates (without tools) ≈ $117 USD
8 3/8”x48” Rebar $25
10 50lb bags of concrete used $55
2 2”x2ft ABS/PVC pipe for the 34” needed $7
1 Latexite Trowel Patch 1gal $12
1 Chicken Net 24”x10ftx12” $18

My Total Mold Cost ≈ $19 USD (6x45lb molds, 2x25lb molds, 1x5lb mold)
3 duck tape rolls $12
1 – 9ftx12ft Plastic drop cloth $7

Finished 440lbs of weight plates without tools ≈ $136

My video on how to make the weightlifting rack:
   • How to Make a Cheap Weightlifting/Squ...  

Thank you for your support and time! I hope this helps! :)
Hopefully this can give you a laugh especially during these tough times
   • rolling around