The Story behind the Log - Arnold Strongman Classic Melbourne

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The Story behind the Log - Arnold Strongman Classic Melbourne

On the weekend we saw one of the biggest and heaviest strongman competitions in Australias Strongman sporting history. Not only was Eddie Hall’s deadlift of 462kgs the biggest ever seen on the planet but Robert Oberst, as seen below, maanged a 211kg Log press, an American record and also the heaviest log ever lifted on Australian soil.

 

What goes into making a log that can withstand regular use at heavy weights but also handle a drop from over 2 metres high while loaded with over 200kgs?[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/5axbshBmTP0″][vc_column_text]Scott Comber of Strongmelbourne, gym owner, strongman implement manufacturer and under 105kg strongman competitor managed to pick up the job, only a day out from the competition. Here is a simple timeline of how the log order and manufacture went down:

 

2:00pm Friday 13th March - Strongmelbourne receives the order for the new log

9:00pm Friday 13th March - Final welds done on the log

9:30pm Friday 13th march - First coat of paint done

Early Saturday 14th March - Second coat of paint done

10:00am Saturday 14th march - Log delivered for the competition

 

 

How did the requirement for a new log come about on such short notice?

Scott - Well the pros were supplied a log which was only 7.5 inches. Which they raised as a concern for bicep tears, and at the last moment they asked if a replacement could be supplied or they wouldn’t be able to make a max attempt. Luckily I was there coaching my athlete Jesse and Aaron Scarbough, who has been working with me to test a indestructible log for the Victorian championships suggested that we use one of my logs. The pros asked me some questions about its dimensions, and I asked about preferred knurling (roughness of grip) and handle size and we agreed it could be done.

 

What did you do differently on the log to handle the large weights, and the huge drop you see in the above video?

Scott - The log actually is made from a single piece of steel with internal washers for strength. We have the log supplied to us, then send it to a 3d laser cutter who uses cad drawings to slice out the handles, then we use laser cut washers to keep the log from bending.

This single piece design keeps the log from having anything that can propagate stress of cracks. Also the washer keeps the pins that are internal from bending like on a regular log.

 

 

What are the dimensions of the log and what weight do you expect it to handle?

Scott - The log is 1.8m long. And 85kg. So it is basically the same size as a normal man before even being loaded. The theoretical safe maximum is 250kg. It’s all numbers until you see a 6’6″ man drop it from over head.

The weight plates are just normal 5kg plates, the design called for regular plates because I wanted any one to be able to afford a world class log rather than paying for everything to be custom.

 

I imagine your two highlights from the weekend are Radzikowski saying how much he liked your log and also Oberst lifting 211kgs on it. Anything else you might like to ad?

Scott - Wow, yes, Radzikowski walking up and saying, it’s good, actually made me very, very, happy. I work mostly by myself testing and building for a few years in a quiet workshop. So most of my testing is done by hand, dropping these implements off various heights and comparing measurements and various standards around the world to make the most standard log that would be challenging but also feel familiar to any experienced presser. To hear various high level professionals make compliments and small suggestions was a real confirmation that I had done all the hard work as best as I could. My father Graham deserves great compliments too as he worked as my CAD operator endlessly changing small details at my request. Seeing Robert press it out, and clean it so perfectly was a really amazing moment.

 

 

Were you nervous at all about the log holding up to the strongest men in the world?

Scott - If I hadn’t have been wearing a black t-shirt you would have seen my sweat. My heart was in my throat. But as dad said, in his own words when I asked him will it support 220 he said “ha, of course!”

 

You had a scorcher of a weekend yourself, coming first in farmers in the under 105kgs competition, what else would you like to note about that competition?

Scott - I would like to say how nice it was to meet some nice athletes from overseas, competing with fun guys from here and abroad was a pleasure. I enjoyed each moment and 4th overall in the 105’s was nice, and with some obvious areas I can improve in I’m looking forward to working my way to Southern Hemispheres strongest man u105 in 5 years.

 

What is the best contact details for you and your Strongmelbourne products and what do you have to offer?

Scott - Always email me at info@strongmelbourne.com my mother takes all requests and we send back our best quote. Follow us at Strongmelbourne on Facebook for photos and updates on new gear or visit the website where we are going to put up prices soon.

We make drag sleds, axles, yokes, frames, cartwheels and we also make a circus Dumbell which is plate loadable and rated to 150kg. This monster will be shown soon and I can’t wait to share it with people. (Author note: I have seen video of this new dumbbell and it looks amazing!)

 

Anything else that you would like to note from the weekend?

Scott - Just that I’m looking forward to Australian strongman becoming even bigger in the future and I hope that my family can be a part of that.

Finally I would like to say thanks to my beautiful girlfriend Sarah for supporting me on the weekend, my brother, mother and father and also Jakob Anderson for coming out and staying up until late on a Friday to help make sure Australia got the big show we all wanted to see.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Also Strongmelbourne are hosting round 1 of the Victorian Strongman/Woman Grand Prix series on March 29th 2015: Here

 

Contact: Scott Comber

E: info@storngmelbourne.com

W: www.strongmelbourne.com[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]