What is the maximum weight a barbell can handle?

[J0hnny]

Anyone ever use those at-home gym benches? One of them came with a 15 lb bar. What's the maximum weight a 15lb bar can hold. My friend put 260 lbs on it and it started bending pretty badly.

 

[thelanx]

Check the safety manual or some other form of documentation.

 

[Kipper]

My guess is about 200lb...I use one like that and am afraid to go higher because it'll bend, like you said.

 

[Gravity]

it will hold as many of those plastic weights as you can fit on it without damaging the plastic collar. If memory serves, about 210 lbs.

 

[J0hnny]

I don't have the safety manual!!!

 

[Mutilator]

When my brother in law is benching 450+ a 45lb bar bends too... not too worried about it breaking though.
Typically I would think that if it came as a set... then that set can handle all the weight it came with. IE if it came with a bench, barbell, and 300lbs of weights, I'd imagine the bar can handle the 300lbs, flex or no flex.
If you're that worried about it, just get a larger bar.

 

[Amused]

Never buy a cheap weight set.

 

[skypilot]

IIRC a 15lb bar is a normal Non-olymic (ends dont spin) standard sized bar... should be able to handle 300+