Thanks so much! I recently sold the IM Bench along with all the attachments, but I have reviews for all of the attachments and another video comparing the IM Bench to the Powertec FID.
lol! Thanks, Mike! You’re right! This video was done and saved to TH-cam. Last night before going to sleep, I thought of 2 more hacks. Woke up this morning and had to edit the video and re-upload. It’s difficult to quiet the hacks in my brain 😆
Love the use of the leg rollers for GHRs, I think because of my size I'd still invest in a proper hyperextension bench, but yeah, won't ever need a GHD then if I get more room for more toys 😀
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews yeah I guess so My power racks cable attachment is pretty versatile, it has a reasonable height on it too, so some cable attachments I use for lat pulldowns sitting on my bench in a decline position I get full ROM (the ultimate row handle I have to lean back with as it hangs lower), I don't think I'd need a stand alone lat pulldown unit unless I felt a need for some sort of leverage unit and I will need a stand alone bench pad for seated rows eventually as I sit on a bumper plate currently, it's a little awkward sometimes but it works, absolutely love using the ultimate row handle on the low pulley for incline prone rows, feels like a proper machine, but I'll grab a proper fat pad flat bench (similar to the REP FB5000) for my birthday which will be 17 inches compared to my adjustable benches 20 and that'll be my only proper purchase for the first few months this year, but it'll preserve my adjustable benches upholstery I think too which is likely getting a battering at the moment However there's some lower body things I'd be unable to use my rack cable attachment for which the IM2000 can do, like setting up belt squats (I'd hit my head on the high pulley elevating myself and minimal width), so yeah that and the GHR hack are 2 I really rate. Also the IM2000 may be better for seated rows as there's a footplate available to buy, but looks like we can put our feet in a few different positions (I've only got 2x3 tubing to put my heels on being the 2" part, so I'll wedge dumbbells either side of the pulley for a footplate) Have you tried using the dip handles as an overhead support when belt squatting? I'd imagine if they were high enough then the smith bars ROM wouldn't touch them?
Hey! The dip handles have to be connected to the slide rails and the smith bar. Unfortunately, I can’t connect the dip bars to the slide rails only. I would like that option to also add resistance to dips using the lower cable system.
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews ah right interesting Didn't realise the dip bars had to be locked in that way thought they were just on the rack holes like the j hooks/safeties, so as long as the smith weight bar wasn't in the way it could be utilised Anyways, good to know
Hi mate. Ive notice in this video, you have removed the front floor flat plate from the machine. I too removed it as i found it had zero use being there. It didnt provide any bracing to the feet of the machine. Was actually annoying. The machine is a beast though and possibly the smoothest smith machine ive ever used.
The plate may be important closer to the machine’s max weight capacity, but I don’t get anywhere close to that. Really good to hear you are happy with the IM 2000. I always thought the old Cybex was the best smith machine, but after having this for almost 2 years, I like this one more…mainly because of more lockout points and it’s smoother.
@Home Gym Hacks and Reviews yeh thats it. But I've noticed that if you are doing heavy squats or rack pulls with strong bands, you'll flip it. That being said, I may have to re attach the plate, which is a slight pain. I love my bands.
@@spartanptbungendore8627 I was storing my plate in the attic along with the plate for the Powertec Smith and got tired of seeing them and took the plates to dump. Let’s hope I never need either.
quick question: at the 2:55 mark when you're doing belt squats with the low pulley... what are the angle handles connected to? A band? Just curious as I love this hack but was curious as to what your arms are pulling. Thank you.
03:34 - I'm wondering what is the reason that you traditionally don't like squats on Smith Machines? Do you specifically mean those with vertical or angled paths, or all of them? Is it the wedges that makes the Ironmaster work well, the vertical path, or the combination of the two? Thanks, appreciate it (being a beginner).
Smith squats usually hurt my knees and the exercise never felt very natural to me. However, by elevating the heels with the wedges and the vertical bar path of the IM 2000, smith squats became an exercise I really liked doing.
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews Thank you so much! One more question if you don't mind. I'm considering getting equipment for my apartment, and I can chose between a power cage or a smith machine (e.g. Ironmaster). What would you pick, if you had to?
@@F150-j5b your question is very user dependent. Most people will tell you to pick a power rack. I seldomly if ever use a barbell in my training and I actually sold my Power Rack. If you like bar work, the rack is probably your best bet and less expensive. However, keep in mind, the IM 2000 can also serve as a 1/2 rack (but for racks, my preference is full over 1/2 for safety reasons).
Nice video just curious why you feel the need to spray the rails down every month. I’ve been using mine daily for 8 years and I only see a need to spray mine maybe 3 times a year.
Thank you! The monthly spray down is Ironmaster’s recommendation. You’re right, it probably doesn’t need it that often, but it can’t hurt how smoothly the bar travels.
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews yeah I dunno even when its been a long time since ive used it ive never felt like man this slide rail is moving rough, its still butter smooth even doing it 3 or 4 times a year.
I did. I squat with wedges and the plate got in the way. Also, it was like a speed bump when trying to put the bench inside the smith. I haven’t noticed an issue and it still feels structurally strong, although I’m not loading it up with 500+ pounds. Initially, I took the plate off of the Levergym, but put it back because I think it is more necessary for the Levergym’s stability.
For IM2000 - Bent Over Cable Cross, lateral raise and low to high cable cross Any recommendations? I have the ultimate row handle which allows only one variation. Curious if anyone has figured this out. Would be great if we could attach a dumbbell for weight of the lifting bar.
It takes a bit of setting up, but pulleys can be connected to the upper frame and then connected to the existing pulley system. I never did this exercise, and I no longer have the IM 2000 to make a video on how to do it. In a couple videos, I show lateral raise variations while only having a single low pulley…if you check out on of my recent TH-cam Shorts, you will see it performed on the Levergym. Ironmaster makes a dumbbell adapter that can fit on the IM 2000 bar.
Can I add a jhooks to add a regular barbell and spotter arms?? Don't wanna be disrespectful but don't like Smith machines. All I read it's negative reviwes about them and it makes sense why. I may use it for floor Legg press since I have 2 buldging disk innlower back
Ironmaster sells j hooks and spotter arms that will only work with the IM 2000. If you have 2 bulging disks, I wouldn’t use the smith machine for leg press. It depends who you talk to…some of the best trainers and bodybuilders in the world use a smith machine.
Great stuff as always. I've had an IM2000 for a couple years and with your hacks, it's like a brand new machine!
That is so cool to hear! Let me know if any of the hacks work really well for you.
Nice work! Loving these hacks. So many good ideas I wouldn't have thought of.
Thanks so much! Appreciate your support!
Man! best hacks I've seen for the IM2000. Crazy good!
I appreciate it! I felt like the pressure was on after making 4 Levergym Hack videos.
Great hacks and ideas here in a concise, no BS video. Well done sir.
Greatly appreciated!
Jesus, you're like McGuyver with that thing!!! Awesome job dude!
lol! Thanks so much!
@3:13 so smart to use the spotter arm as a landmine stand
Thank you!
Would love to see a similar video for the IM bench
Thanks so much! I recently sold the IM Bench along with all the attachments, but I have reviews for all of the attachments and another video comparing the IM Bench to the Powertec FID.
I love this channel!!!!
I appreciate that, DIY Fitness Club!
Been waiting for this one. Have to stay up for this one ☝️
Thanks Reynaldo! Hopefully, it was worth the wait 😉
Superb I like your hacks on this rack.
Thank you!!!
great stuff as always. i can see your mind spinning figuring out more ways to use the IM ...Thanks
lol! Thanks, Mike! You’re right! This video was done and saved to TH-cam. Last night before going to sleep, I thought of 2 more hacks. Woke up this morning and had to edit the video and re-upload. It’s difficult to quiet the hacks in my brain 😆
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews lol..nice!!
Love the landmine front squats
A good exercise for sure!
You added a lot of exercises that are very useful. 👍
Thank you! That is great to hear!
Awesome review!
Thank you, TT!
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews I like my initials...
@@Torbent2 they do have a nice ring to them! 😂
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews They call me the walking Pec...
I would love to see a longer foam roller pad, I feel like when I am on the floor I could use more width
Yeah, they’re about an inch shorter than the pads on the Lat Tower attachment.
Great information
Thank you!
Love the use of the leg rollers for GHRs, I think because of my size I'd still invest in a proper hyperextension bench, but yeah, won't ever need a GHD then if I get more room for more toys 😀
Yeah, some of these hacks are only to hold people over until the real piece can be picked up.
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews yeah I guess so
My power racks cable attachment is pretty versatile, it has a reasonable height on it too, so some cable attachments I use for lat pulldowns sitting on my bench in a decline position I get full ROM (the ultimate row handle I have to lean back with as it hangs lower), I don't think I'd need a stand alone lat pulldown unit unless I felt a need for some sort of leverage unit and I will need a stand alone bench pad for seated rows eventually as I sit on a bumper plate currently, it's a little awkward sometimes but it works, absolutely love using the ultimate row handle on the low pulley for incline prone rows, feels like a proper machine, but I'll grab a proper fat pad flat bench (similar to the REP FB5000) for my birthday which will be 17 inches compared to my adjustable benches 20 and that'll be my only proper purchase for the first few months this year, but it'll preserve my adjustable benches upholstery I think too which is likely getting a battering at the moment
However there's some lower body things I'd be unable to use my rack cable attachment for which the IM2000 can do, like setting up belt squats (I'd hit my head on the high pulley elevating myself and minimal width), so yeah that and the GHR hack are 2 I really rate. Also the IM2000 may be better for seated rows as there's a footplate available to buy, but looks like we can put our feet in a few different positions (I've only got 2x3 tubing to put my heels on being the 2" part, so I'll wedge dumbbells either side of the pulley for a footplate)
Have you tried using the dip handles as an overhead support when belt squatting? I'd imagine if they were high enough then the smith bars ROM wouldn't touch them?
Hey! The dip handles have to be connected to the slide rails and the smith bar. Unfortunately, I can’t connect the dip bars to the slide rails only. I would like that option to also add resistance to dips using the lower cable system.
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews ah right interesting
Didn't realise the dip bars had to be locked in that way thought they were just on the rack holes like the j hooks/safeties, so as long as the smith weight bar wasn't in the way it could be utilised
Anyways, good to know
Hi mate. Ive notice in this video, you have removed the front floor flat plate from the machine. I too removed it as i found it had zero use being there. It didnt provide any bracing to the feet of the machine. Was actually annoying. The machine is a beast though and possibly the smoothest smith machine ive ever used.
The plate may be important closer to the machine’s max weight capacity, but I don’t get anywhere close to that. Really good to hear you are happy with the IM 2000. I always thought the old Cybex was the best smith machine, but after having this for almost 2 years, I like this one more…mainly because of more lockout points and it’s smoother.
@Home Gym Hacks and Reviews yeh thats it. But I've noticed that if you are doing heavy squats or rack pulls with strong bands, you'll flip it. That being said, I may have to re attach the plate, which is a slight pain. I love my bands.
@@spartanptbungendore8627 I was storing my plate in the attic along with the plate for the Powertec Smith and got tired of seeing them and took the plates to dump. Let’s hope I never need either.
quick question: at the 2:55 mark when you're doing belt squats with the low pulley... what are the angle handles connected to? A band? Just curious as I love this hack but was curious as to what your arms are pulling. Thank you.
The handles are connected to the carabiner that connects the lower cable to the upper cable.
03:34 - I'm wondering what is the reason that you traditionally don't like squats on Smith Machines? Do you specifically mean those with vertical or angled paths, or all of them? Is it the wedges that makes the Ironmaster work well, the vertical path, or the combination of the two? Thanks, appreciate it (being a beginner).
Smith squats usually hurt my knees and the exercise never felt very natural to me. However, by elevating the heels with the wedges and the vertical bar path of the IM 2000, smith squats became an exercise I really liked doing.
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews Thank you so much! One more question if you don't mind. I'm considering getting equipment for my apartment, and I can chose between a power cage or a smith machine (e.g. Ironmaster). What would you pick, if you had to?
@@F150-j5b your question is very user dependent. Most people will tell you to pick a power rack. I seldomly if ever use a barbell in my training and I actually sold my Power Rack. If you like bar work, the rack is probably your best bet and less expensive. However, keep in mind, the IM 2000 can also serve as a 1/2 rack (but for racks, my preference is full over 1/2 for safety reasons).
Good work as usual . Quick question, what are you using to connect the d handles to the bands ?
Thank you, SL! It’s a big carabiner.
Nice video just curious why you feel the need to spray the rails down every month. I’ve been using mine daily for 8 years and I only see a need to spray mine maybe 3 times a year.
Thank you! The monthly spray down is Ironmaster’s recommendation. You’re right, it probably doesn’t need it that often, but it can’t hurt how smoothly the bar travels.
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews yeah I dunno even when its been a long time since ive used it ive never felt like man this slide rail is moving rough, its still butter smooth even doing it 3 or 4 times a year.
Hey mate, good work. Did u remove the centre reinforcement plate? The one bolted with two front frames and sit on the floor. .
I did. I squat with wedges and the plate got in the way. Also, it was like a speed bump when trying to put the bench inside the smith. I haven’t noticed an issue and it still feels structurally strong, although I’m not loading it up with 500+ pounds.
Initially, I took the plate off of the Levergym, but put it back because I think it is more necessary for the Levergym’s stability.
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews thanks for the detailed reply. You are the best home gym channel on TH-cam 👍
Glad to help and very kind of you to say.
awesome
Thanks so much!
what j hook attachment fits the holes?
@@jylongbun8790 only Ironmaster J hooks will fit the holes correctly.
Did you buy the cable fly thing? If you did can you make a video
I have a review for it. The video is called the Ironmaster 2000 Pec Dec, Dip Handles, and Ultimate Row Handle Review.
For IM2000 - Bent Over Cable Cross, lateral raise and low to high cable cross Any recommendations? I have the ultimate row handle which allows only one variation. Curious if anyone has figured this out. Would be great if we could attach a dumbbell for weight of the lifting bar.
It takes a bit of setting up, but pulleys can be connected to the upper frame and then connected to the existing pulley system. I never did this exercise, and I no longer have the IM 2000 to make a video on how to do it.
In a couple videos, I show lateral raise variations while only having a single low pulley…if you check out on of my recent TH-cam Shorts, you will see it performed on the Levergym.
Ironmaster makes a dumbbell adapter that can fit on the IM 2000 bar.
Can I add a jhooks to add a regular barbell and spotter arms?? Don't wanna be disrespectful but don't like Smith machines. All I read it's negative reviwes about them and it makes sense why. I may use it for floor Legg press since I have 2 buldging disk innlower back
Ironmaster sells j hooks and spotter arms that will only work with the IM 2000.
If you have 2 bulging disks, I wouldn’t use the smith machine for leg press.
It depends who you talk to…some of the best trainers and bodybuilders in the world use a smith machine.
Dude, let's do the second part!
Appreciate it! This winter, when I move my training back in the house and spend more time on the IM 2000, I hope I can come up with some new stuff.
Anyone had success with jammer arms with a IM? Which ones and how did you do it?
I have not seen / heard anyone add jammer arms to the IM 2000.
Can you do reverse pec dec fly with it?
Not really… one arm at-a-time works so-so but not a full ROM.
Thanks. Shame would have been cool if it had that ability.
I agree.
hacky does hacks! Great!
Thank you, LW!
10/10
Thank you!
*F.T.W IM2000 B*TCHES!* 🙌💪
lol! I agree, CJ!
It is too , but too expensive. You can buy far better quality machine far far less money.