How to Lift Heavy Objects Without a Tractor - FHC Q & A

Tractors provide an easy way to lift heavy objects, but not everyone has a tractor. In that event, there are at least three somewhat simple ways to lift things heavier than yourself. From gin pole setups, to the old-fashioned way to load logs on a wagon, on this edition of the Farm Hand’s Companion Q & A Show Pa Mac shows the various ways one can lift heavy things like wall logs in a log cabin, big rocks, engines, trusses, or whatever else around the small farm or homestead-all without the use of heavy equipment.
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[@stephenbinion6348]

If you are buying a come along, buy a Wyeth-Scott more power puller. I inherited my father’s pre 1964 model. I visited them in Newark Ohio and they rebuilt it for less than 10 bucks. Not cheap, but worth every cent.

[@vinhphamslam]

Thank you for the handy and thorough lesson. One way of thinking about a pulley system is it increases your strength in exchange for having to pull the rope a longer distance. In that sense, you're not getting anything for free. You gain strength at the cost of doing more work. To double your strength, you have to pull 2 feet of rope to lift the log 1 foot. It's similar to how a long handle gives you leverage. You have to move the handle a longer distance while the working end only moves a little bit, but with greater strength.

[@marker113]

Always bringing the perfect topics for homesteaders, thanks Pa Mac!

[@HomesteadDNA]

As far as pulleys go I totally agree on the "i know how it works, I just don't know how it works" but maybe it's WHY it works... it's like magic. But somehow, the ROPE itself is taking up the weight... yet that just doesn't compute, I agree.

[@georgstudnicka9969]

Well, they transform the movement of a small force along a longer distance into the movement of a big force along a shorter distance. Actually no rocket science. 😂

[@David-sp7gc]

It’s like a see saw. Moving the pivot point changes the balance between a light person and a heavy person. The lighter person moves more and thus the conservation of energy remains the same.

[@fowyb]

Because magic ain't a thang, mebee having that rope go up twice carries twice as much, because now there's twice as much rope going through your hands for the same lift. The ropes take half each. Double pulleys, four ropes, so four times the leverage and four times the lifting force. Which does actually compute. Quite easily. Simple multiplication and division. So easily computed that Aztecs, Egyptians, and almost every culture since and between has developed and used them. But for modern 'Muricans, it's 'magic'... 😂😎🇦🇺

[@senseisecurityschool9337]

​@@fowyb It certainly makes sense if mechanical engineering is your thing. Yep, scientists in different cultures have invented them. Some people are musicians or painters, lawyers or writers - not everyone is into mechanical engineering.

[@MAGATRON-DESTROY]

It's all about dividing the length of rope and every set of pulleys divides the rope in half 1 pulley = 1:1 ratio 2 pulleys = 1:2 ratio 4 pulleys = 1:4 ratio = 4 feet of rope pull equals 1 foot of object movement and divides the weight by 1/4 so picking up a 4 lb object feels like a 1 lb object but you must move the rope 4 × the distance. It's just like gear reduction ratios and it goes in reverse as well if you want to move something fast as well such as a compound bow but that uses other principles

[@dlovejoy4988]

The method with the chain and ramps is called parbuckling.

[@ericmaher4756]

This has got to be the longest Folgers commercial I ever saw 😅 Jokes aside, thanks for the insight and the old pictures I didn't suspect even existed of this kind of work. It's amazing what can be done with some rope.

[@guysquarred]

Hey, nice video, in french we call those pole "chèvre" (goat). Between the pole and the tripode you can use one with two legs (framed like a capital A) with one rope behind to hold it up, easier to set up than a pole with multiple rope i think. Oh and here is an simple explanation for the physics of the pulley. With two pulleys, when you pull 2 feet of ropes, you lift the load by 1 foot, so like a gear you have a 2:1 mechanical advantage, thus double the force (because the same energy is applied over half the distance) Here's more: The tension in the rope is constant, on the bottom pulley the rope goes up from both sides, so the pulley sees the tension twice, thus two times the force. It's the same with more pulleys, the rope pull with the same force from anywhere it tugs, the pulleys don't generate anything. They redirects the forces so you can apply the same tension several times on the load. (At the price of less displacement) Feel free to ask any questions if I'm not clear :)

[@lanevotapka4012]

Thanks Pa Mac, I’m likely to be moving some heavy things soon, and this got my gears turning…

[@BacktotheBasics101]

I didn’t realize you were making new videos. Awesome. I used to check your channel all the time to see if there was any new ones, then I just stopped doing it because I didn’t realize you were still in the business. Thank you love your channel .

[@farmhandscompanion]

Glad you're back checkin' again, BacktotheBasics101. I hope you're doin' well!

[@rebeccaledford8202]

I have used cars to move storm felled trees before. My old Corolla and my Celica before that. Just hook a chain onto the tow bar that's part of the frame. You could use that to pull a log up the ramps. Or a block and tackle . Lifting heavy objects with just my body, I often walk it up a pile of lifters, you lift one side or corner a little and put something under it, then the other side or corner until you have it to the height you need. I do this a lot for heavy equipment too heavy to lift straight up. Takes time, but no injury.

[@Pocketfarmer1]

If you’re standing at the top holding one rope tied to a log, the rope is holding the whole weight. If you are holding two ropes each rope is holding half the weight but there is twice the length . The more passes of rope up and down the less each pass carries. So you divide the weight by the number of passes. However there is also friction. The Coast Gaurd in their rigging hand books recons that each individual pulley loses 10%. So say you have a110lbs weight and a four part block and tackle. 4 pullies and 40% ,so 40 lbs . You will be lift the equivalent of 140lbs divided by 4 (parts) . You will be pulling with 35lbs of force. Hope this helps.

[@johnsullivan6560]

I agree pulleys are amazing! Poles and tripods can hold a lot of weight. Levers and ropes used correctly can move huge logs. Almost anything can be used as a hammer!

[@billybob5171]

This is good old fashioned quality , thank you

[@sethmoking]

I've never done it, but I've seen videos of people using a hi-lift jack to lift one end at a time.

[@joshcrabtree404]

Love your videos as always, do you think you ever do a your favorite farm tool about your treddle stone? After watching your scythe videos I ended up finding stone locally for 10 dollars with the square hole and made my own. I've learned a lot from your very informative videos.

[@farmhandscompanion]

Sure will, Josh. It's already on the list. Congratulations on your great purchase!

[@xthexadvantagex]

Black and tackle, chain fall, cable come-a-long. Don’t pay full price find an old used one. A small winch comes in super handy for more than picking up logs.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Great information Pa Mac. Good information for sure. Stay safe, Fred.

[@farmhandscompanion]

Thanks, you too

[@IveysFamilyFactotum]

All great ways to move heavy logs. I have used the ramp method and the gin pole methods and they work great. I still have a little tractor that can't really lift heavy logs so I still have to use these methods myself. I haven't had the opportunity to use a chainsaw mill yet but wouldn't mind trying it out at some point. I just don't have a strong enough chainsaw nor the correct chain.

[@robertf6523]

that little tractor could do the pulling with the gin pole and an extra pulley low on the gin pole to turn the pull horizontal :)

[@bretdavisdmd]

Look at you busting out the chalkboard. Atta boy

[@eoinmacantsaoir811]

As for how pulleys work: Destin from "smarter every day" did a great video on snatch blocks and pulleys. Would highly recommend.

[@nermket4849]

Wow the gin pole is awesome. I almost wasted my time making a gantry I don't actually need

[@thelawdoc8029]

I have been watching your videos for years and learning a lot- thank you! I was hoping to find one with your particular ideas for planting a pole without a tractor.

[@Traderjoe]

I saw something once where a rope was looped round and round the log and by pulling it from the safe side of the ramp, pulling the rope unwound the rope by rolling the log itself uphill

[@ryteulopki8069]

Two poles in a V shape configuration with a single pivot point at the base and a suitable counterweight at the opposite side. You are running here into lateral stabilisation issue, therefore you need to engineer a suitable base platform. However, this setup is still superior to single pole and tripod in terms of rotational mobility and lateral reach. The reach can be controlled with a third vertical pole positioned between V-shaped main poles and with a pulley system anchored to the middle pole. This way, a constant-weighted counter-pole can be tilted independently to achieve required balance.

[@gretafields4706]

I thought about setting up a tri-pod with a long pole on top with a bucket on one end to dip silt out of a pond.

[@lorishirron7326]

The physics of a triangle ❤!!! I have used a rock to drive in a nail too!!

[@ja3482]

Devices that use Mechanical Advantage - such as a series of pulleys - trade force for distance. I think thinking of that is the way to make it more intuitive

[@ciphercode2298]

All great information. Ive used my wyeth Scott more power puller and some poles to pull large rocks from the creek behind my house to help reduce flooding. Ive also dragged logs with it,but ive never tried a verical lift.

[@markcdeyoung3118]

Even the bulb falling out of a light pole and hitting you on the head would hurt😅

[@Crozbyguy-rg1iu]

I used a small I2 volt boat winch and a 2x4 stand, all in one. $60 bucks lifts 1,500 lbs.

[@totherarf]

There are another couple of ways, similar but different. Leavers and Teter Toter. Leavers are self evident way of producing mechanical advantage. Teter toters are probably the way Stone Henge was built. Simply leaver up on end of your log and place something that can hold its weight just off centre. Lift the other end of the log and put another object close to the centre. Pushing down on one end of the log allows a gap between the log and the far support object. Place something higher and repeat the action. The log will teter toter its way into the sky as long as you can support it ..... Blocks of wood or even bricks work well enough!

[@alexfullmer4707]

From my own personal experience loading logs on a trailer with ramps and a chain, you really need to have two chains (or rope, line which ever) going under the log so as to pull evenly on the log. If you try one under the log you will end up rolling one end farther than the other. Once set up properly, you could go back to the block and tackle for the pulling power.

[@michaelboyle1983]

Thanks for the video, and God bless you!

[@farmhandscompanion]

You're very welcome, Michael. You as well!

[@creepinglimongrass3276]

Do you have plans on making a wooden wagon including wooden wheels?

[@farmhandscompanion]

I've got a big one to restore (and will do it on the show one day), but the wheels are still in good enough shape to keep usin'.

[@threeriversforge1997]

This is actualy one of the reasons I recommend everyone have a copy of the Ashley Book of Knots on hand, and read it regularly. As Mr. Ashley shows, our ancestors did everything with rope and pulleys, including the heaviest of tasks. So there's no reason why we can't do the same things today. It's just a matter of re-learning the skills and accumulating the basic tools. That said, one of the most ingenious methods for raising a log has got to be what this gent came up with --- kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZ23qIydftBrhLc Some basic lumber and old lawnmower blades, throw in some bungee cords, and you're set. Really simple and effective, especially if you're only trying to raise logs up to a comfortable cutting height.

[@farmhandscompanion]

Good word, threeriversforge! My new favorite 4th way to raise a log...

[@threeriversforge1997]

@@farmhandscompanion It is pretty slick, isn't it? When I first came across that video, I was rather gobsmacked by the ingenuity of the design.

[@phillyfathead]

WOW!!!!

[@jedver242]

Thanks!

[@farmhandscompanion]

Thank you so much, jedver242!

[@jedver242]

@@farmhandscompanion thanks for the years of awesome content.

[@___PK__]

How: The work W to be done lifting mass m to height H is a contant, i.e., W=mgH. This is the potential energy you give the object. Say you have a 4:1 configured block and tackle. You will have to pull the rope to length L that is 4 times H, i.e., H = 4L. Also there is the formula W = F_1 * L (assuming you need to pull with constant force F_1). The question is why is F_1 = 0.25* F_2, where F_2 = mg is the gravitational force on the mass (pull 1/4 as hard but for 4 times the distance)? From the formula above, the contant work done is W = F_2*H but also W = F_1*L so F_1*L = F_2*H but L = 4*H so F_1*4*H = F_2*H, divide both sides by 4*H to get F_1 = 0.25*F_2 (as desired). Cool that it's a straight trade off like that 😃

[@budwilliams6590]

For rolling up the ramp look into the parbuckle technique using rope. You already know it. That's the thing you did with the chain.

[@douglasvantassel8098]

Great video Pa Mac! I love learning from these.

[@psidvicious]

For lifting heavy objects, no one does it better than Wally Wallington (one word for his YT channel). He does some pretty amazing stuff while researching the Pyramid building and Stonehenge. He doesn’t use much in the way of tools either. Some rope, blocks, wedges, levers.

[@user-sy3ec5zx9b]

Great video, yesterday I used a chunk of firewood for a hammer 😂

[@sailingoutwardbound5341]

Thanks Pa

[@JonAnderson-j6o]

Very Informative

[@budstep7361]

Awesome tips

[@StephManescu]

Be safe chris!!

[@tigarxox]

1. Imagine digging a trench large enough to fit a tree trunk. 2. Lay or position rope/chain/something under each end and middle to raise large tree trunk before rolling tree trunk in trench. 3. Roll tree trunk in trench on rope/chain etc. 4. Secure and raise tree trunk with use your imagination.

[@dustdevl1043]

I upgraded my hammer. I no longer use a rock, I found a brick!

[@craigslitzer4857]

If you need to transport a log without a tractor, you need a log dolly. They are not all made equal, though. You would need one of the kind that acts as a fulcrum on wheels. For moving them by hand (or by 4-wheeler), it's not enough to have the kind that is only the wheels.

[@rogerhuber3133]

Love this channel and your music. Sure wish your music CD were still available.

[@farmhandscompanion]

They're available, Roger, as downloads, just not cds. Find them here at Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/album/homemade/1213324248 Amazon: www.amazon.com/Homemade-Pa-Mac/dp/B06XHYQWBW

[@bruce-le-smith]

4:45 or a whole bunch of really nice neighbours. I actually helped raise a totem pole like this once, it was really cool how about 20 people could pull together to lift something really heavy! p.s. 13:12 head down to the Jeep dealership and test drive one with a winch haha tell the salesperson testing the winch is part of your requirements

[@amorphous_bones]

A math-adjacent way to describe how a pulley works is that tension is effectively constant through the entire rope. A block and tackle with a rope doubled over inside it will be pulling with the same force using the same rope twice, thus doubling the input force. This feels like cheating, but force is not conserved as a rule; energy is. As pointed out by other comments, the cost of multiplying force is dividing the distance you’re lifting by the same multiple for a given movement of the input rope. This tradeoff is how energy conservation is satisfied. Gear reductions operate on an identical exchange.

[@Vince-ml9gw]

Awesome Bro. Your channel is excellent. Thanks for great content

[@farmhandscompanion]

Thanks for watchin', Vince

[@phillyfathead]

Excellent!!!

[@RyanJBarnard]

You may want to consider a hand crank wench with a series of pulleys to improve your mechanical advantage.

[@glenwallis2366]

farm jack!

[@bigunone]

I watch guys build cabins and struggle to lift heavy logs by muscle alone, or move through the woods by dragging with a rope behind them. Folks the pioneers weren't dumb people, they knew how to build these devices, because there was no ambulance full of trained paramedics coming to your rescue if you got hurt

[@ashleyfroud5015]

A "parbuckle" look that up Paw Mac.

[@thomasolson7447]

He speaks! I haven't seen you in over a decade. I am looking at the Alone series and thinking about the three-pole thing. Timothy gotta moose. ChatGPT is telling me 4 inches at the base, more if it's a softwood. If I were doing Alone, I would take a trench tool and dig under the three poles while rig sets. Is this practical? I could probably make a block and tackle with wood.

[@lkhfun6575]

Very cool!!!

[@LittleJordanFarm]

Great info

[@user-ln9mj7tn8l]

A winch is a handi thing to have

[@robertf6523]

on the ramp and cant hook you'd need at least two cant hooks and maybe two people

[@georgeschmitt8205]

Wood Wedges! When you're canting a log up a ramp keep some wedges in your back pocket. Roll. Wedge. Roll. Wedge. Roll. Wedge. It keeps that whole smashed like Wile Cayote thing from happening.

[@farmhandscompanion]

Great word, George

[@bomaite1]

What is the best method of splitting rails? Can you demonstrate?

[@farmhandscompanion]

I've demonstrated that in another video...I just can't remember which one. I think it was the one on fences. Nevertheless, your assignment is to watch all of my videos from the beginning until you come across it. You'll enjoy the effort (I hope)

[@musicaloric]

What brand name and model is the chainsaw mill that you use for making lumber, wanting to build a carport and some out buildings and have 5 acres of forest around my farm, storms over the past 3 or 4 years have fell several large trees and figure why not use them for lumber.

[@farmhandscompanion]

I've used both Jonsered and Stihl with great results

[@anthonyvincent9990]

could you also use a gantry?

[@rogersprague563]

Grabs , AKA Log Tongs

[@faronsteele8754]

I just use Ba Ba to lift the logs

[@laverlemiller3480]

Trench

[@donames6941]

How do you lift that heavy boom (jin) pole without a tractor

[@farmhandscompanion]

It's not too difficult to hoist into place with a rope. It doesn't have to be as big as a diameter as it can be; just strong enough that it won't break under the load

[@improvisedsurvival5967]

I just hurt myself to do it. One end at a time

[@farmhandscompanion]

Perhaps that's the 4th way to get it done

[@michaelhunter2136]

Or don't raise the log but dig a trench to stand in.

[@MrAdamNTProtester]

The way a pulley works for weight is the same way a gear works for a wheel & speed > P = V x A or W = V x A... if you want greater amps [current to do work] it costs you Voltage, if you want LESS resistance[HEAT LOSS to transport the electricity to the place you want to do the work aka have a motor that REVERSES the generator process] then you buy Voltage with the cost of Amps[current] which is the reason Tesla invented the AC Rectifier it is like a bunch of ping pong bolls in a tube if you stand at one end & I at the other the instant you put the ball in the full tube of balls another one pops out at my end- and if I put that in my end it pops out the end you hold... so we increase the distance and again by going back & forth we do not push all the ping pong balls thru the tube just one instantly back & forth that is the reason AC works so well you reduce the amps to almost ZERO & increase the Volts to the MAX to transport power instantly with almost zero resistance & then when you want the cranking amps to do the work you transform back from HIGH V low A to HIGH AMP & LOWER VOLT... once POWER is generated it always STAYS THE SAME = you ONLY change the V x A magnitudes to always EQUAL the same amount of POWER generated... so in a similar tho not perfect way to demonstrate 12 x 15 = 180 so does 4 x 45... we reduced the 1st by a factor of 3 and increased the 2nd factor by an equal factor of 3... the result is the SAME but the TWO numbers are now different so too with V x A... different magnitudes of V & A equal the SAME amount of power... so the WORK you do lifting the LOG is EXACTLY THE SAME ALWAYS however if you do it OVER A LONGER DISTANCE then it is easier/lighter each instant...but the amount of work you have done stays the SAME... that is a GOD PRINCIPLE as I like to call them because that is a fundamental principle that GOD utilized when he created the UNIVERSE... so you KNOW that GOD created everything- THAT DOESN'T CHANGE- however matter changes form... so we call this energy-matter is never created or destroyed once it was 1st created by GOD

[@alzathoth]

I never did understand how they would lift LONG beams when building cabins. Tripods would get in the way an would have to be really tall...

[@senseisecurityschool9337]

Not shown in this video is a method where it almost doesn't matter how heavy the beam / log is. An average person can do a 2,500 pound beam this way. Get something under the beam near the center - pound a wedge under there if that's what it takes. Then put a weight on the left end of that long beam. It'll wobble just a bit, the right side coming up a little bit. Like a teeter-totter that's not very high (yet). When you slightly teeter-totter the right end up, put a brick or something under the high side, near the middle. Move the weight to the right end and it'll teeter-totter the other way. Stack two bricks near the middle on the left. Back forth, adding another brick or timbers under it each time. As it gets higher, it will teeter-totter more, which allows you to lift further with each step. Heck, if you do this about 20 times it'll be up half the length of the beam. At that point you could tip it over all the way to a vertical position if you wanted. That raises a 2,500 pound beam and the maximum weight the person has to lift is just a brick.

[@SCOTTA1]

Subd !

[@cynthiacassel]

I’m mentioning this fact. Someone took $3200. Out of my checking account running me around buying cash cards and shouting “Way to go Brandon”. And that money would have maintained my car and bought new tires for it. Ha ha. I really need to know how to lift something heavy. And did God stand up for me about that? Nope, not that I know of.

[@annaa5749]

please put your horseshoe behind you upright. your good luck is going to spill out :)

[@farmhandscompanion]

Can't quite do that, Anna; that horseshoe and that mule shoe are handles to open those cabinets behind me. I read somewhere that old folklore doesn't apply to cabinet handles, so maybe I'll be okay.

[@mikelgeren149]

Is that how the jews lifted Jesus on the Cross ?

[@raydall3734]

I think you have the Jews confused with the Roman Army.

[@mikelgeren149]

@@raydall3734 John 19 : 6 , John 19 : 7 , John 19 : 12 , John 19 : 15 , John 19 : 21

[@raydall3734]

@@mikelgeren149 The Jews may have requested it, but in the end it was the Roman Army under Pilate that physically put him on the cross. Pilate could have refused, which might have started a riot, but he ordered the execution. Then there's the whole "It was God's plan all along", which means God put Him on the cross (the Romans and Jews were just the tools He used to do it. Finally, Jesus could have prevented it Himself, but chose not to. He willingly laid down His life, ergo... suicide.

[@Sergiusz1551]

You can cut "sters" in this third stuf (11minutes) so log step buck in to cut sters. I'm not sure do you understend Me:).

[@jounit6849]

Liikaa PUHETTA liian vähän TOIMINTAA 🫢

[@mike-yp1uk]

Great information