Do you fancy some calisthenics?

[Toni Ciuraneta]

Hi guys.
Sorry for not posting much lately, I am struggling with a carving I started during the lock down and that I have been taking on and off since then. So as since I retired last December I have been interested in calisthenics and I thought about making a pair of paralletes. Looking at the existing designs both DIY made or manufactured ones I made a mix of the best ones I found and came up with these.
First I cut off a template to route the four sides exactly equal, it is the first time I use this technique with my router so it was fun and quick.
Here you see the template.

And here the setup and the resulting parts. For those I used some 18mm salvaged marine plywood from my job.


Then I took two 40mm diameter rods to make the handles.

As most designs rely on the thickness of the sides to be stable forcing them to be much thicker (and heavier than mine) I decided to put stretcher (I don't know if that is the name) on the opposite side to make them structurally sound and resisting front/back and rocking forces.
I made the tenons by hand using my saw and a semicircular gouge which made me make them in very short time.

 

[Toni Ciuraneta]

Then I made the holes for the stretcher insertion on the side with a fortsner bit of the right size.


And the tenon fit perfectly.


I forgot to take ics of the final assembly process but here they are once finished. I applied a light rub of tung oil with a cloth on the exposed parts to prevent then getting dirty with the hands sweat. The good thing is that you can use them in two different heights for push-ups and the high position is for half L-sits. half planche, full planche, hand stands, and so forth. So far I can make L-sits and push-ups, athough my goal is to be able to make a handstand by the end of the year.

 

[Bill Satko]

What! No action photo of you using them?

 

[Ryan Mooney]

Those look solid! That's some really nice looking plywood

Good luck on the hand stands , I was never able to do those even though I have good balance in the other side up it never worked for me for some reason.

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

Nicely done, Toni! And congrats on your retirement.

 

[Brent Dowell]

Very functional works of art for sure!

 

[Toni Ciuraneta]

What! No action photo of you using them?

I don’t want to show off (yet) I am too shy and I don’t want you getting depressed from envy but if you insist I’ll send you a pm.