[Precautions when storing barbells]
- Do not leave the barbell on the rack with weights attached as this may cause it to bend or break.
・Do not lean the barbell against a wall. This may damage the bearings (bushings) inside the sleeve.
While there are floor-standing barbell storage options available, the most ideal is a horizontal wall-mounted storage solution.
[How to clean a barbell]
・Brushing
Please use a brush to frequently clean off the charcoal mag (magnesium carbonate) on the barbell, as charcoal mag is hygroscopic and can cause rust and corrosion.
The brush you use at this time must be soft, otherwise it will scratch the surface of the barbell.
In particular, stainless steel barbells and barbells that are plated or coated should be cleaned with a soft brush such as a nylon brush or scrubbing pad.
If the barbell is made of untreated raw steel, you can use a metal brush, but a softer brush such as a brass brush is better.
・Wipe with cloth
Light stains: If it is light everyday oil stains, wipe them off with alcohol and a clean cloth.
For heavy stains such as charcoal mug or pine tar that has hardened into the knurling, stubborn sebum stains, and blood-like stains that are difficult to remove, apply oil and, if necessary, use a brush to lift the stain, then wipe off with a dry cloth.
After cleaning with oil, finish by wiping the surface thoroughly with a dry cloth or by removing the oil with alcohol and a clean cloth.
If there is a lot of oil remaining on the surface of the shaft, the grip may become slippery and cause a dangerous situation.
・Rust removal
There are several ways to remove rust from barbells that are already rusty:
Light rust → Apply oil and rub with a cloth. This will remove very light rust.
For moderate rust, polish using abrasives or non-woven abrasives. We can also remove serious rust, but be prepared for some damage to the surface.
Severe rust → Use chemicals (rust remover) or a wire brush. This is the last resort as it will severely damage the surface plating or coating.
After removing the rust, apply oil.
Brass steel and black oxide barbells are particularly prone to rust, so it is important to regularly apply oil to them and allow the oil to penetrate the surface.
[Oil used for maintenance]
ROGUE recommends the use of "3-in-ONE multi-purpose oil," and MBC POWER Gym uses multi-purpose oils such as "KURE556" and "Daiso all-purpose oil."
When maintaining your barbell, it is fine to use multi-purpose oil.
It is perfectly fine to use 100 yen oil and a brush sold at Daiso or Seria to clean the shaft.
[About barbells whose coating has come off]
Barbells even if the surface coating has completely worn off can still be used without any major problems.
Please note that this does not mean that the coating has worn off and the shaft has deteriorated and can no longer be used, but rather that the coating has worn off and the shaft has been changed to a raw steel shaft, which is more prone to rust but has the strongest grip.
The ELEIKO Powerlifting Competition Bar, the pinnacle of Olympic shafts for powerlifting, does not have a coating on the shaft from the start.
Even if the coating has completely peeled off, the barbell can still be used without any problems as long as it is properly maintained.
Barbell Basics, Table of Contents, Glossary
1. Differences between various barbells
2. Recommended barbells by type
3. Surface treatment of barbells