Yet another stall bar dowel question

Looking to build stall bars and mulling over materials. I weigh between 200 and 210 depending on season so durability is a concern. Pipe is an option but wanted to stay with wood since it warms up quicker in my cold garage. 

The choices locally are 1-1/4" oak, 1-1/2" poplar and a slight possibility of finding 2" poplar. From some previous threads it sounds like 1-1/2" poplar from commercial vendors can go 240#. Would the 1-1/4 oak be stronger and would either be sufficient or should I try to source materials through an internet vendor?

Also thanks to the previous threads for providing all other information needed for this project.

My stall bar dowels are 1 1/2 inch poplar. I'm only around 150 lbs; for me they seem solid and sufficient. I think dowel diameter size is probably more important for rigidity than oak vs poplar. I'm making some industrial-sized parallettes to more closely mirror the low parallel bars in Handstand 1 and 2. I considered using 2" poplar dowels (they seem bomb-proof) but will go with 1 1/2. What you could do is partially assemble your bars and test the strength of one 1 1/2" dowel to dangle from, before you commit fully. If you don't like 1 1/2", I think 2" will be plenty strong for anyone, and you can just over drill your 1 1/2 holes to two inches for the final product.

Brent

That's a pretty good idea. Next weekend I'll put together some 36" paralletes then try standing and bouncing on them. If they're good to go I'll go forward with 1-1/2" poplar. If not will have set that works until getting inverted.

i personally have 1-7/16 on mine because they didn't have 1-1/2 that day and they're pine. i've done a few inverted holds, even putting my COG far away from the stallbars and have never heard not a noise of complaint. i weight 160lb at my heaviest and it's outside and the weather has already shown what can happen to it in some months cause i didn't complete it and later on added  two dowels on the bottom. still as reliable as the day i put it up  

Keilani Gutierrez said:

i personally have 1-7/16 on mine because they didn't have 1-1/2 that day and they're pine. i've done a few inverted holds, even putting my COG far away from the stallbars and have never heard not a noise of complaint. i weight 160lb at my heaviest and it's outside and the weather has already shown what can happen to it in some months cause i didn't complete it and later on added  two dowels on the bottom. still as reliable as the day i put it up

Paint it already! You don't want your bars to rot!

Yes, seal your bars. I used Minwax indoor/outdoor Spar urethane clear semi-gloss from Home Depot on mine, 4 coats. I was hesitant but like the way the sealed dowels feel.

Joshua Slocum said:

Paint it already! You don't want your bars to rot!

I REFUSE! ....okay, i just haven't gotten around to it.

pls dont paint stalbars with any synthetic paint. you are touching it. my choice: i am a carpenter and i use oil and wax if need it, for such a nice product like stalbars.

one of the alternative my carpenter neighbor gave me in place of paint. thanks for the confirmation, strme i prefer a natural look and feel without too much alteration

Well I mocked up 1-1/2 poplar parallette and attempted to stand on it. No way it would support 200#+ with confidence. Guess it will have to be pipe.