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For barbells, material fatigue, material quality, weight load, impact or a combination of all of these can cause failures. The point of failure is most likely where the bar diameter is smallest such as within the grooves cut near the knurls of the bar. A 2nd major point of failure is due to load and impact and tend to be about 1 plate width away from the collar.

You can build muscle & strength using plenty of exercises with only one barbell. This article gives you more info on strength training with only one barbell.

What you need to build your own home gym: barbell, plates, power rack, bench, room, floor.

I trained from 1999 to 2004 in a commercial gym. It was a fine gym. A Squat rack. Two benches. Several olympic barbells. Iron plates. Good gym.

I trained in other gyms occasionally. But none was as good as the gym I went for 5 years. Except for my home gym of course. Best buy of my life. Here’s why.

Where I train & which I equipment I own. Pictures included.