OLYMPIC WORKOUT BAR TERMINOLOGY
Tensile Strength
The force to pull apart material (breaking)
Yield Strength
The force to create a permanent bend
PSI
Pounds Per Square Inch
190K PSI Tensile
190,000 lbs per square inch of force required to break or tear apart.
Corrosion Resistance
The ability to combat the elements such as salt, air, sweat, etc.
Raw Steel
No finish to protect. Very easy to rust.
Zinc Plating
Either Black, Silver or Gold color. A very superficial finish providing moderate corrosion resistance. Inexpensive.
Black Oxide
Black coating that has minimal corrosion resistance. Inexpensive.
Chrome
Used for cosmetic purposes like car parts, faucets, etc. Very good corrosion resistance but very dangerous for Olympic Bars. Chrome can flake and peel causing severe lacerations to the user. Moderately expensive.
Hard Chrome
Moderate corrosion resistance. Very hard finish, cosmetically appealing and will not peel or cut. Used predominantly in the aircraft industry. Expensive.
Stainless Steel
Very good corrosion resistance. It can always be cleaned or repaired with no damage to the finish. Very expensive for material and machining costs.
Cerakote Finish
Excellent corrosion resistance when properly cared for. Expensive.
Needle Bearings
A bearing with hardened needle shaped pieces in a cage that rotate around the workout bar.
Bushings
Either Bronze or a type of Nylon. Used inside workout bar sleeves for smooth rotation.
IPF
International Power Lifting Federation.
IWF
International Weightlifting Federation.
Shaft
Shaft: The long section in the middle of the workout bar where the user grips.
Sleeves
The rotating ends on the workout bar where you load the plates.
28MM, 28.5MM, 29MM, etc.
Refers to the diameter of the workout bar shaft.
IWF OR IPF Spec.
Precise specifications of the workout bar dictating hand grip locate points, workout bar diameter, knurl lengths, sleeve diameters, etc. An IWF workout bar has wider locating marks for hand gripping and usually a smaller diameter than an IPF workout bar.