Lifting Logs with a Gin Pole and Block and Tackle

Used this old-school setup to load logs onto a trailer. Got inspiration from the old days of logging and the US Army field manual on Rigging. Worked like a charm! Especially for my first time trying it. I estimate that the biggest log was close to 1,000lbs.
I only regret that I didn't get more detailed video of the setup and rigging. Questions welcome.
If you notice on the last lift, the blocks chocked together. This was bad. I didn't notice this at the time.

[@jdearr1]

Awesome work. I noticed a potential safety issue related to the need for clear signals, at 6:20 when you needed slack but that massive log rolled away from the pole and stressed it more than I'd like to see. I'm sure you've honed your skills though. Most impressive.

[@brianhill4437]

love the old school methods. I used the army rigging manual to set logs on my house- I used lifting poles instead of a gin pole, but the effect is the same. Ever thought about building a log cabin?

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

Awesome! Old school is the best school. I use lifting poles to build my trebuchet too. I do think building a cabin would be interesting, and I'm subscribed to a lot of cabin-building channels. But it's just not high on the list of things I want to do.

[@brianhill4437]

@@MedievalTrebuchet understood. it's a lot of work. trebuchet, eh? nice. Shooting them at night in your video looks awesome. Here's my video of using lifting poles for my logs. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJqXhqyHnZt1mdU I estimate the log in the photo to weigh about 4,500 lbs. I'm using 5/8" triple-ply "boat rope", rated at 700 lbs lifting strength / 3,000 lbs breaking strength, and the pulley on the left is an antique triple block (it says "no 8" on the side and weighs about 10 lbs). The one on the right is a triple block I made. 200' of rope on each side. With the pulleys, I "reduce" the weight of the log from 4,500 lbs down to 642 lbs total.

[@FingerAngle]

I can use that to mount my Ballista to the stand in the field. I been using a boom lift.

[@FingerAngle]

a couple of tons.

[@FingerAngle]

And a lot taller!

[@northtonawandageneral7115]

I have a patron in my library who is interested in making a gin pole that would swing and move the logs also- he was very interested in your video- I'm sorry that I don't have any books on this subject!

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

I've actually experimented with that! It's often called a boom and derrick. I have a bunch of footage from my experiments last summer but haven't edited any of it yet. Tell him to check out the US Military Manual on Rigging, linked here: www.marines.mil/Portals/1/MCRP%203-17.7J%20With%20Ch.%201%20z.pdf

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

Also, there is a REALLY good series of short articles about rigging these sorts of things in Timber Framing Magazine, issues 67, 68, and 69, if you can get ahold of them. I would highly recommend reading them. Issue 69 especially talks about the load ratings needed on ropes and the boom and gin pole etc. when making a derrick.

[@BRENT3143945]

Archaic

[@obfuscated3090]

Also effective as generations of combat engineers proved in many wars. That rigging TM is outstanding and with some practice one can be quite rapid at rigging. (Ironworkers kick much ass at it since it's their bread and butter).

[@jonbertrand3251]

Are you sure you shouldn't be a physics major?

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

Not physics! Engineering. Maybe I should be a mechanical engineer.