Homemade Hanging Pullup Bar

I mentioned previously the Again Faster Bar, and really liked the look of it. The market inefficiency of spending 20% of the total cost on shipping bugged me though, so I never ended up taking the plunge. So I percolated for awhile over how I'd build one myself. The trick is attaching the pipe to the strap such that it doesn't spin (although a spinning bar would offer a different challenge). Here's what I came up with:

...and here's a detail of the end assembly:

Here is the equipment list and costs:

• 1" diameter 48" long black pipe ($8.96)
• 1/2" x 6" (I think) eye bolts ($3.72)
• 2 1" galvanized Ts ($4.62)
• 2 1/2" lock washers ($0.30)
• 8 1/2" fender washers ($2.00) 4 1/2" fender washers ($1.00)
• 2 1/2" nuts (mine were included with the eye bolts)
• 2 carabiners ($12.50)
• 2 NRS 1" HD Tie Down Straps ($16.55)

Grand total: $49.58. More than I was expecting, but isn't that always the way? You could economize by leaving out the carabiners and just threading the straps right through the eye bolts, and by buying shorter straps. I wanted the straps longer so I could throw them over high things (like swingsets, rafters, and tree branches), and the carabiners make life a little easier.

Anyway, assembly was easy: screw the Ts onto the pipe. I used a pipe wrench and a huge screwdriver through the T for lots of leverage, getting them nice and tight. You'll want them to both be oriented the same way when they are snugged down. Put an eye bolt through one of the Ts. Then, on the other side thread on the two four fender washers (two four because you want the metal to be thick here, as it supports everything three or four per side might be better). Then the lock washer, then the nut. Hold everything centered as you tighten the nut. I got mine tight enough that the washers went slightly concave on me (again, three or four fender washers per side might be better than my meager two). Repeat on the other side, and you're good to go!

I'm no engineer though, so don't be surprised if the whole thing falls apart, the straps break, or the washers just pull right through and dump you. The eye bolts even say explicitly say not to use them to support people. So don't build one of these. If you do, and you get hurt, it's not my fault. I'm just telling you what I did.

UPDATE: be sure to read the comments for design suggestions/concerns.

UPDATE 2: became convinced two fender washers on each side weren't enough, so upped it to four, and updated the instructions above accordingly.