What's the difference between a weighted squat and a deadlift?

With dumbbells, that is -- I don't have access to a barbell.  I've been mixing up my weights routine and there are so many versions of squats and deadlifts... but with a traditional squat and a traditional deadlift, what are the real differences? 

Also, does it matter how the dumbbells hang from your hands?  I can't keep my hands positioned so they're parallel side by side like they'd be on a barbell.  Is there a best way to position your hands and wrists with dumbbells?

I'm an enthusiastic sort-of-newbie to weight-lifting... When I was younger and more athletic, I lifted, but even though I didn't lift light, I didn't seriously push myself to the max like now.  Now I'm determined to do this weight-loss thing right: diet, heavy lifting, cardio, yoga, resting, icing, moisturizing, adequate sleep, all of it!  These forums have helped me so much.  Any further pointers on dumbbell routines, anyone?  Many thanks in advance!

actually that way.. you just exercise the same muscle groups.. it just another way of saying the exercise..

well for me i can feel deadlifts targeting my hamstrings more which is actually where i need it. i usually bend over & hang my hands down by my knees.  whereas squats i definately can feel more of my quads working.

When starting a deadlift, the hips are higher than at the bottom of a squat.  When deadlifting you move your hips forward to lift the weight whereas with squats you drive the weight up with your quads.

deadlifts actually work your core whereas squats are more for the glutes and hammies/quads. when i do deadlifts i tend to lean towards a variation which i call storks since i do them on one leg.... (not a typical deadlift). regular deadlifts do strengthen your core though.

Well, for a standard deadlift and squat with dumbells, I don't really know the difference. But for other dumbell exercises, here's a list I've compiled sometime ago: Just a list of some dumbell idea that I think are good

• Dumbell Bench
  • Lie on bench, with weight to your chest. Press up, and control the weight on the way down. (Incline bench is also good)
• One-Arm Dumbell Bench
  • Same as Dumbell Bench, but using just one arm at a time, do one set with your right arm, then switch to your left, etc.  (Incline bench is also good)
• Dumbell Flys
  • Grab the wieghts and lie on the bench with the weights to your chest (same as bench position)
  • Stick your arms straight out to your sides, with palms up
  • Keeping your arms straight, bring your palms together in front of your chest.
  • Go back to your starting position, and repeat
• Military Press
  • Can be done seated or standing
  • Bring the weight up to your chest
  • Press weight up, so weight is directly overhead
  • Return to starting position, repeat
• Dumbell Row
  • Place your left knee and left hand on the bench so that your torso is parallel to the bench and your left thigh and arm are perpendicular to it (the left side of your body is positioned like you are crawling on the bench)
  • Your right foot should be positioned on the ground under you.
  • Grab the weight with your right hand, and pull to your chest
  • Return to starting position and repeat. Switch sides after completing a set
• Skull Crushers
  •  Lie flat on your back with your arms extended in front of your chest and palms inward (same as final position of Flys)
  • Keeping your elbows pointing up, bring the weight down to your head (hence the name, though you don't actually have to touch your head with the weight)
  • Using your triceps, push your arms into a fully extended position
  • Your upper arms should be vertical the entire lift and not move much
• Curls
• Lat Raises
  • Standing, hold the weights at your side
  • Bring your arms up, so they end up pointing straight out to your sides
• Front Raises
  • Same as lat raises, only bring the weight in front of you instead of to your side.
• Lunges
• Squat/Deadlift
  • Pretty much the same when using dumbells
  • With weight to your sides, bend your knees and hips into a squat position
  • Make sure your back stays flat throughout the lift
  • Hold the weight overhead for an additional chalenge
• RDL
  • Set the weight in front of you
  • Grab the weight by bending your hips, and keeping only a slight bend in the knees
  • Stand straight up, and repeat
  • Try to not arch your back, keep it flat. Try looking up or squeeze your shoulders together during this lift.
  • You should feel it in your hamstrings and glutes more than your back
• Rotations
• • Sit down and hold the weight in both hands
  • Lift your legs off the ground, so that only your butt is touching the ground
  • Twist your body so that the weight touches the ground behind your hip
  • As soon as it touches, twist and touch the weight to the other side
  • Repeat for desired number of reps
  • This is a quick exercise
• 1 legged squat
  • Hold the dumbells in each hand
  • Place one leg on a bench or stool behind you at about knee height
  • Your front leg should be about 2 ft in front of the bench
  • Squat down by bending your front leg
  • Repeat for desired reps
  • Switch legs and repeat

Thanks for the responses.  Extra thanks to floggingsully and smartjock, I've seen you guys post before with recommended exercises and I've used your stuff already to help me sort through the millions of lift moves online.  Question for smartjock -- do you use one dumbbell or two for the skull crushers?

Back to one of my original questions -- does it matter how I hold the dumbbells for deadlifts (angle/position) since I'm not gripping a single barbell?  I don't know if it matters, but I don't want to do anything to mess up my form.

 It depends on the mechanics and leverages of the movement as well - squats are push, deadlifts are pull.

 In a squat you push against the weight to lift it back up to where you started from, in the deadlift you pull the weight off the floor up to lockout and then set it back down.

 It makes for a lot of difference in muscle activation, depending on which direction you want them to exert force in...

 And grip does matter - the further out from your body you hold the dumbbells, the worse leverage you've got for the deadlift. Which is one way of increasing the load if you can't use more weight - just use a worse leverage to increase the load on your muscles.

 

jds, I've actually seen/done it both with 1 dumbell, and with 2. I perfer using 2 because it's a little harder to balence, and it's good to work out those little muscles involved in balance, but if you can't do that, you can use one dumbell that you hold with both hands. It's easier to balance, and may be a better way to start off, untill you're comfortable enough to use 2 dumbells.

A squat you do with the bar behind your neck and your arms holding onto the bar on each side.  You squat like you are trying to go to the bathroom and keep your eyes facing forward and your back as straight as you can.  You go to about 90 degrees knee angle (no more than that). 

A deadlift is rarely ever done with a normal barbell or a dumbell with novices.  It is a special machine (basically a funny shaped barbell) that you step into the middle and has handles on both sides.  Once you get good at doing them with that machine you can start using a barbell.

I never did deadlifts when I was weight training (for of all things, golf. Improved my distance).  I always did squats. I felt it was safer for my back since I have scoliosis.  The way we trained as beginners was to do bench press 3x3, 3x5, 5x5, and then max out each for one week.  Then you start over at 80% your max out.  Everything else you do reps of like 10 or 15.