A pull-up bar must withstand high weights pulling at a downward angle. Installing a pull-up bar with the proper support will cause damage to the ceiling. Several kits are available for purchase that include specific installation instructions for ceiling and wall mounted pull-up bars. Building your own basic pull-up bar with inexpensive materials and mounting the structure to the ceiling is not a difficult process. Galvanized pipe with screw-in connectors which are hard-mounted to the ceiling joists complete the project easily.
Instructions
1. Attach 90-degree elbows to each end of one piece of an 18-inch pipe. Attach an additional to the end of each elbow to create a "U" shape. Screw on the to the ends of the vertical 18-inch pipes. Tighten all connections down with a pipe wrench.
2. Drag a stud finder across the ceiling to locate one ceiling joist. Follow the directions for the stud finder for proper use. Mark the location of a stud within a few feet of the wall with an "X." Keeping the location close to a wall adds stability to the pull-up bar.
3. Mark the location of the ceiling joist adjacent to the first one. The pull-up bar will not be parallel to the wall, since most ceiling joists are only 16 inches apart and the bar will be approximately 18 inches long. Place the marks so the position of the pull-up bar assembly on the ceiling meets with your needs and desires. Keep the marks close to a wall for additional stability.
4. Mount one of the floor flanges to the ceiling at the "X." Drive three-inch anchor screws through the screw holes on the flange directly into the ceiling joist. Adjust the positioning of the flange so at least two or more screw holes line up with the joist.
5. Rotate the pull-up bar assembly so the second floor flange lines up with the second ceiling joist. Attach the flange to the joist as in Step 3.
Tags: ceiling joist, 18-inch pipe, ceiling joists, close wall, floor flanges, Mark location, pull-up assembly