...I have a problem with the weights swinging.

This is a duplicate message for those who don't visit the Techniques Forum:

I got the machine assembled today and tried it out for a short while. I rigged up a loom from an old worn out snow shovel I kept in the garage for just such a purpose. The old handle was just the right length for me to tie the rope to it and still have enough room for a good grip. I had to extend the steel cables with sections of rope in order to get sufficient clearance from the wall so that the weights didn't bash up the nice paint. The wife kind of flipped when she saw how many holes I drilled on the lower wall while trying to find that elusive wall stud. I eventually had to install the hooks up above the window to get enough free swinging clearance for the weights. The rowing machine worked well for a seat and footbrace structure although I'll have to modify the footbraces so that they sit at the right angle for my feet.

Although it worked well, there is a problem with the weights swinging around. At some point proper paddling technique has to cause the weights to move in a minimal motion and in the same pattern of movement. Does anyone know how I can arrest some of the movement so that when I paddle hard and fast the movement of the weights will be restricted enough that they won't bash in my wall? I did notice that with even paddling motions the weights tend to avoid hitting each other. I have thought of using guide ropes so that the weights largely move up and down but I have no way to attach such a rope to the celing and floor without having to sign a divorce agreement. As it is, I have some repair work to do. Luckily, when the wife flipped about the holes in the wall I reminded her that we still had lots of paint left over from the initial work. She knows I can fix it so she clammed up in short order but her grimace did not melt so readily.

If anyone has an idea how to improve this el cheapo baby of mine, puhleeze chirp in about now. I've gained a fair bit of weight over the holidays and really need to burn it off.

Paul, do you want me to send the plans for this baby to Sandy Eggo or will the pictures suffice? Oh yeah, now I remember, you still have liquid water over there so you don't need no steenkin' machine.

Robert N Pruden