How to make your own block and tackle

Need to create some mechanical advantage for lifting? Here I will show you the versatile set of fours for rescue and home/farm/ranch use.

[@juniordelgiorno5260]

Your explanation of this process is outstanding. Thank you for making such an intuitive video without a bunch of nonsense and distracting music. Job well done!

[@perryfire3006]

What a nice compliment, thank you.

[@foesfly3047]

Very good demonstration. Bravo for mounting the camera to your head, freeing both hands and ensuring a logistical perspective for your audience. I’m amazed how many video ‘producers’ struggle to demonstrate an action with one hand, while fumbling with the camera in the other.

[@perryfire3006]

One of the reasons I do it is because when you are showing a technique it helps the watcher to view whatever is happening as if it's their own eyes. Especially with knots. Thanks for watching.

[@p34573]

By the way, thank you for making all of these great videos. You have helped my learn a lot.

[@perryfire3006]

You are welcome. That is my goal to demystify some of this stuff for regular people.

[@bigglilwayne7050]

Excellent video, very informative!!

[@perryfire3006]

Thanks so much for watching. Cheers

[@yoashuain1]

Thank you. You make it look so easy and explain it well.

[@perryfire3006]

Thank you for watching. Happy to help.

[@stevemeister65]

That was helpful. Thanks for stepping through this.

[@perryfire3006]

Thank you for watching. Happy to help

[@mattb4826]

Hell yeah! Thanks man. I needed this in my tools bag.

[@perryfire3006]

Happy to help.

[@mr.wilson77]

excellent breakdown of the application, and the Prussic use is critical in all scenarios; thank you

[@perryfire3006]

Thank you for watching and commenting. Cheers

[@iwantcheesypuffs]

Also good for getting your 4-wheeler from being stuck and for hanging dear for processing. Great video!

[@perryfire3006]

Absolutely! Tons of uses for such a simple machine. Thanks for watching.

[@vf19blue]

Excellent teaching, I'm just getting into this stuff, have been a bit of a knot tie'r but wanted to learn more.

[@perryfire3006]

Welcome! All of my videos have the beginner in mind, so I try to cover all of the basics.

[@meshellesumpter335]

Thank you so much. I am a sing gale mom with 3 boys. This helps. Keep up the good work.

[@perryfire3006]

Thanks so much. I don't know if my content is more for your boys or you but either way welcome.

[@createlovehappy]

well done. Very well explained.

[@perryfire3006]

Thanks so much.

[@bujin5455]

Very well done presentation!

[@perryfire3006]

Thank you for the encouragement. I'm glad you liked it.

[@user-xl4uy7yo4p]

Thanks for the great video told me everything i needed to know very well explained

[@perryfire3006]

You are welcome.

[@wellyftw]

A like from me and a new subscriber here - this is really useful! Will look forward to going over your other videos. Cheers fella!

[@perryfire3006]

Welcome and thank you for the encouragement! Happy to help.

[@KathrynLeis]

So helpful. I've been looking for this video. Everyone shows you how it works but not how to configure it all.

[@perryfire3006]

Happy to have helped. My goal on this channel is to break everything down to basic components so everybody can understand. Cheers

[@robrich8294]

GREAT VIDEO!! Thanks in your incredible articulation and explanation of this. You sound like a engineer and very passionate about how this works with so many helpful applications like you briefly mentioned with rescue missions. Or just keeping the load from both holding and slipping away and controlling the load in hoisting and lowering. I plan on doing tree climbing work late in life but enjoy solving intricate problems and dangers and making them safer for everyone involved. I’m 54 YEARS YOUNG!!

[@perryfire3006]

Love your enthusiasm. If you want to know how to climb and stay safe check out my other videos. Thanks for commenting, cheers.

[@SapioiT]

Well explained, including how to do the knot easily. In the last third of the video, you could have simply swapped the two pulleys with the rope still attached, so the one with the fixed anchor (which you kept hooked above) is close to the object being lifted/moved (hooked below the rope), and move the moving anchor (which stops the weight from going away) would need to be moved so it's close to you (hooked above the rope). Thanks for the video! Edit: You did eventually do the swapping, right after I commented this. 😆 Edit2: No, you just moved the mobile anchor to the bottom. I think moving it would make it easier for people to imagine how it would be used practically.

[@perryfire3006]

Good points. Check out this followup video I made explaining all of this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp3LaJiwe65jhdE Thanks for watching.

[@lancerudy9934]

Great video!😊

[@perryfire3006]

Thanks Lance. Happy you liked it.

[@deeplorable8988]

This was awesome.

[@perryfire3006]

Glad you liked it. Cheers

[@sethbrown1763]

What a pleasant voice!

[@perryfire3006]

I think it's the acoustics in my shop, but thank you.

[@CoderTronics]

Great tutorial thanks

[@perryfire3006]

Thank you for the feedback, happy you liked it.

[@Juangaba]

Awesome I need to be able to pull logs onto my sawmill ( portable mill). I knew block n tackle would do it, used the one man and rope works great on smaller logs ( still 100’s of lbs) but for larger logs I need safety controls truck n wench with pulleys.

[@perryfire3006]

Good luck. Happy to help.

[@theincomechannel]

Very nice! Thank you!

[@perryfire3006]

Thank you. Happy to help.

[@gaylanbishop1641]

Outstanding!

[@perryfire3006]

Thanks so much. Happy to help.

[@goofyvideos]

Refreshing to see a setup like we have to do redirects for tree takedowns. Couldn't justify those elegant pulleys but use cheap Vevors instead. Bulky but they suffice. I leave the assembly in a canvas bag with bark-saver straps, and the bull rope in a cloth sack.

[@perryfire3006]

Those pulleys are expensive to be sure. Once you use them you don't want to fool with the simple ones anymore, haha. Thanks for watching.

[@firstreviewer8966]

Great Video, Great Job. Needed this. Trying to set something up to get heavy objects up our basement steps. where do you get the pulleys. I can't seems to find them. Thanks again Great work. HK

[@perryfire3006]

Go to Wesspur or SherrillTree and click on their block/pulley sections. You can also find prusik cord on each site also. Good luck.

[@leoantonio]

Great video. And you’re a great narrator. Would you mind sourcing your equipment for purchase?

[@perryfire3006]

Thanks. Check out LBoogie and my responses to him below in comments. Should answer your questions. Cheers

[@B_Van_Glorious]

That's smarts with the prussic. I'm def putting that one in my locker.

[@perryfire3006]

Prusik loops are problem solvers. Every rope guy/gal should carry a set. Thanks for watching.

[@OldNavajoTricks]

Thank you 👍

[@perryfire3006]

Thank you for watching.

[@natehall8730]

You have a great voice. You should consider doing ASMR or some sort of calming style video! Very calming and relaxing lol

[@perryfire3006]

Hopefully I'm not putting people to sleep, haha. But thank you for the compliment. It means a lot to me.

[@swayback7375]

@@perryfire3006 na it’s a really good thing for education vid for adults… no screaming and bs, you were straight to the point. Good vid for sure, and yes you could definitely do asmr if you could keep that up. I’d suggest that you could do audiobook reads if you had time and can read out loud with that same tone and cadence

[@perryfire3006]

@@swayback7375 Like most people, hearing their voice is painful so this means a lot. Thanks. And I do try to get to the point as we all have limited time and nobody wants to hear a bunch of unimportant stuff. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@mikha007]

like bob ross lol

[@jimmyloe7780]

Good teacher

[@perryfire3006]

Appreciate the support. Thanks for watching.

[@Marandal]

making my first block and tackle. thank you for the overly clear instructions. Cleared away all my doubts. 👍

[@perryfire3006]

Excellent. Good luck

[@jcipriani88]

What brand pulley system is that. Also, the rope and prusik

[@perryfire3006]

If you'll look to the other comments, your questions shall be answered. Cheers

[@hyliedoobius5114]

Great video! What’s a good line to use, twisted poly or what? That looks like about 1/2”

[@perryfire3006]

That's actually a very detailed question. But, for brevity, use a rope that is rated for life safety if a person if ever going to be hoisted or "on rope". I like arborists climbing lines personally as they are strong enough, have great hand, and are generally cheaper than a rescue rated rope. Your question could warrant an entire video going over the details, ha. Cheers

[@DarkWater4Eva]

wow very informative.

[@perryfire3006]

Thanks so much.

[@extremeair1199]

Great video and those are awesome pulleys where can i purchase a couple?

[@perryfire3006]

Thanks. Check out here: rescuedirect.com/cmc-proswivel-pulleys/ Or check out arborists catalogs for similar pulleys: www.wesspur.com sherrilltree.com

[@extremeair1199]

@@perryfire3006 appreciate it I'm definitely gonna order a few

[@Mumwaldee]

If your double sheave pulley only has one attachment point, what are the options for the final termination on the high side? Can you just connect it to the carabiner?

[@perryfire3006]

You can, although it won't be as smooth. Good luck

[@marlonvite4152]

Thanks X3 for sharing your video with us .... thw world is already better with people like you and I.

[@perryfire3006]

My pleasure. Happy you enjoyed it.

[@p34573]

So if at the end after switching the prusik position and turning this into a 5:1, you would have taken what was the bottom pulley and hung it from your top anchor point, would that have correctly demonstrated what you were describing for the characteristics of how a 5:1 should work?

[@perryfire3006]

Yes. In the 4:1 configuration, the last pulley sheave is basically acting as a change of direction while in the 5:1 configuration the last pulley is moving with the load. Thinking about this, I should make a separate video on just this topic as it would demonstrate how mechanical advantage is achieved. It would probably help in understanding why this is the case. Thanks for the thought.

[@mikha007]

@@perryfire3006 please do

[@TheJaredBealer]

Can you please provide a link to those awesome pulleys?

[@perryfire3006]

Those are CMC Omniblocks. But there are other brands out there that are good too such as Petzl that swivel and side plates. Cheers

[@irmafacundo7107]

Thank you i did it and so useful 🎉

[@perryfire3006]

Happy to have assisted you. Cheers

[@ouchymytoe]

You were right; those "double prusik-minding pulley" blocks are prohibitively expensive for most folks. I guess the execution and concept are still mildly useful.

[@perryfire3006]

Anything that is rated for life safety is going to be expensive. They are also highly efficient pulleys too, meaning your effort isn't wasted on friction. The principles behind MA advantage don't change because one uses cheaper pulleys however. So consider a cheaper version if you aren't hoisting a person.

[@itadvance]

Hardware store Rapid links are usually marked with something like "Not to be used for supporting human weight". Some are aluminum, others are galvanized, some come from China. The materials and manufacturing methods from one suppler to another or one batch to the next can vary widely and the actual strength is just a prediction. I think a figure 8 on a bight or even better, a double figure 8 on a bight would be a better option. Both are stronger and also don't bind. Another improvement would be to back up your knot by with a fisherman's knot or even an overhand. Appreciate the video.

[@perryfire3006]

Good point about always checking your equipment, including its origins. There are some really inexpensive pieces out there on Amazon and the like that really make me wonder. And yes, I could have bypassed the link altogether and just tied into the becket. Like many things in rope work, there are different ways of accomplishing the same task. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers

[@timryan4510]

Could one use this system to pull oneself up? Let's say someone is disabled in their legs, who isn't particularly strong but is heavy, and they can put a belt on and attach the tail and might lift themselves after having fallen down.

[@perryfire3006]

People have been using this type of system for raising themselves up for a very long time. So the short answer is yes, but for anyone with medical issues it is even more important that the system be safe and have the capability to be fully controlled for the person using it. For example, it would be very bad to raise yourself and then get stuck in a suspended state hanging from a harness, especially a modified one such as a belt. It will literally kill you if you are stuck long enough as the harness will restrict blood flow. But yeah, within safe reason, this system can easily raise a person. Cheers

[@motionsick]

Sick

[@perryfire3006]

I'm taking that as a complement. Thanks for watching.

[@perryfire3006]

compliment, haha.

[@oldmanriver1057]

I used a rope that has a woven core and a woven cover! Then I make an eye splice, and if I have a stainless steel sailboat shackle!

[@perryfire3006]

Excellent. Thanks for watching.

[@LBoogie-uw3xb]

Great video. What about a parts list? Website? I would like to lift a 200 lb garage heater up, would this be ok

[@perryfire3006]

You'll need two double pulleys with beckets, two carabiners and a quick link, a rope and a set of prusik loops. All of these items vary in price and quality depending on what you buy. Petzl, CMC, PMI, SMC, are all great brands and there are many others too. Look at their catalogs or try an arborist supply house such as Wesspur or Sherrils. And 200 pounds is no problem at all. Good luck.

[@LBoogie-uw3xb]

@@perryfire3006 ok thanks for the reply. What middle of the road brand would you choose. Will only be used for installing suspended heater units. I need to be able to lift at least 25 ft. What size rope for that length? How thick of a rope? What do you use the second Prusik for?

[@perryfire3006]

@@LBoogie-uw3xb Just went over to Wesspur. The Petzl Spin L2 pulleys would work nicely. A Sampson Arborplex 1/2 inch, 12 strand rope at 150 feet is your cheapest option, and for a prusik pick the Flex 8mm sewn prusik. No need for two of them. You can choose whatever carabiners or link you want. All of this gear is rated for life safety meaning it is strong and durable and it's expensive. But if you are the one underneath a 200 pound heater unit you'll want to know it won't break. One last thing: I'll vouch for the gear but I can't vouch for your rigging methods in the field. So please be safe and practice smart rigging and learn how to properly sling objects as well as place strong anchors.

[@perryfire3006]

Just re-read your question. If the minimum height lifted is 25 feet, then you probably need to get at least a 200 foot rope.

[@LBoogie-uw3xb]

@@perryfire3006 thanks for the website and recommendations. Maybe i can get one more to complete my portable heater hoist. The garage heater comes on a pallet. I would like to lift the pallet. What would be the best method? The slings? I noticed two sizes of caribiners, would either size work? As an anchor point i planned on a 4x4 across roof trusses with a double loop sling? Suggestions?

[@southin47639]

What brand of double pulley are you using?

[@perryfire3006]

CMC. Thanks for watching

[@chessPrabu]

Dear sir,what type of pulley are you using & where can I buy it

[@perryfire3006]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKK4Z4Gai5aWqcU All of my equipment is in here. Cheers

[@alexk3088]

Harbor Freight has a $16 "Gambrel and Pulley Hoist", which includes the 2 double pulleys with hooks and a rope (and the gambrel). Rated for 440lb. and has a built-in stopper to fix the load - similar to how you raise window blinds. Instructions are wrong, so look up how to rig it. It's a decent piece of kit for those weights. Obviously not strong enough for climbing or vehicle recovery, but they also have manual winches and individual pulleys, as well as snatch blocks, for that.

[@perryfire3006]

Yeah as long as your aren't putting a real person on those cheaper components they have their place. Funny you said the instructions were wrong. You get what you pay for holds true. Thanks for watching.

[@williamkerby3179]

What brand is the pully

[@perryfire3006]

CMC. Great swivel pulleys with side gates, but expensive.

[@NWMT]

Links to your pulleys, etc.?

[@perryfire3006]

The ones in the video are CMC, however Petzl makes a good opening side plate as well as Rock Exotica. Check out Wesspur.com or Sherrilltree.com. Cheers

[@seanrhone5306]

What is the brand of the blocks?

[@perryfire3006]

CMC Omni Blocks. Thanks for watching.

[@user-qo3kf2oy7b]

Wy not use a bowlin first so you can get it untied easy?? Or a double Bowlin?

[@perryfire3006]

You could, but the reason I use a poachers knot is because of the compactness. When you use other knots with a loop in them it elongates the entire system and sometimes it matters when raising in tight quarters. That four inches or so you sacrifice for another knot could make a tremendous difference. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@user-qo3kf2oy7b]

@@perryfire3006 I see. Thanks for replying. It was a good video.

[@user-jf1do9lq3b]

I hooked my pulley exactly how you did and the bottom pulley keeps flipping..I have a baler bucket for my well and when I lowered it the bottom pulley got wrapped around the pulley and wouldn't allow the bucket to go down right..dont know how to keep it straight so it wont flipp..its the other pulley you didn't use on your presentation

[@perryfire3006]

Try putting some weight in the bucket so the system is tensioned. Good luck!

[@ridermak4111]

Why didn’t you just flip the whole system top to bottom at the end to create the 5 to 1? I was anticipating that so hard I fell off the edge of my couch. 😅 Great demonstration. 🤜🤛 You can make it a 6 to 1 with a small pulley added to the first becket and tie off at the other becket. But you would probably have to go with a smaller diameter rope to accommodate the pulley in the middle. That’s okay because 6 tension lines would add up to more than the rating of the blocks. Carry on, Mate. Good stuff. 👊😎

[@perryfire3006]

Check this out where I redeem myself, haha: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp3LaJiwe65jhdE Thanks for the encouragement!

[@robertmarino2158]

4-1 pulleys price & who carries them , thank you !

[@perryfire3006]

See my replies to LBoogie for all of that. Thanks for watching

[@jonathancombs2699]

Why a scaffold knot vs a 8 on a bight?

[@perryfire3006]

Compactness. The scaffold knot sits tight and is smaller than an eight. Absolutely nothing wrong with an eight however, as long as it doesn't interfere with the operation of the prusik. Cheers

[@user-ic1us5ms1x]

4to1. Does that mean, if the weight is 100 lbs. you’re pulling 25 lbs?

[@perryfire3006]

Yes, in theory. Due to inefficiencies it is never that clean, but close. You would also be pulling the tail of the rope 4 feet to raise your object 1 foot. Cheers

[@TrueHelpTV]

can confirm we keep them in rope access rescue bags to take the weight of the victim off their gear and sit them onto our systems to lower them to the ground.

[@perryfire3006]

I love a set of fours. Solves lots of problems. Thanks for watching.

[@wynandscholtz1969]

Scaffold knot we call a double loop safety knot

[@perryfire3006]

Interesting. Thanks for watching.

[@fredcsensits4476]

I noticed your omni block does not have the flat on the bottom to mind the prusik

[@perryfire3006]

With an 8mm prusik cord it does just fine. I would still consider it a prusik minding pulley. Thanks for watching.

[@JLLove]

Scaffold knot looks just like poachers knot

[@perryfire3006]

Technically a scaffold knot has three turns while a poachers has two. I get a bit lazy with terminology at times. Good catch.

[@jbalakrishnan666]

Put the second process in seperate video for good understanding....

[@perryfire3006]

One of the things I may start doing are short videos detailing one small process of overall techniques. Not everybody has 15 minutes to watch a video and sometimes details get overlooked. Thanks for the feedback.

[@pikebishop999]

Why was it necessary to say 'Okay' 38 times?

[@perryfire3006]

Because I suck at making videos and my only hope is that the information provided compensates having to listen to filler words. Cheers

[@Venom-nk8nd]

🇵🇬🇵🇬,,,,

[@jimlcher8201]

You acquired, threaded and used them, but you did NOT "MAKE" them!

[@user-jf1do9lq3b]

I can't see what your doing bc your hand is all in the way.

[@jcbbb]

I subbed you seem cool but drink some coffee or something son let's get some energy

[@perryfire3006]

Ha! I am cool, thanks for noticing and the sub. And I like coffee so thanks for commenting!

[@Venom-nk8nd]

Z🇵🇬

[@randyscott990]

The diameter of the Prussik rope should always be a bit smaller than the rope it is attaching to for best stopping force.

[@perryfire3006]

Yes, ideally. Thanks for commenting.