How to Make a Simple Pulley

A pulley is simply a single wheel, suspended from its axle, with a guide track for a rope or cable at the wheel's rim. The pulley described below can be used to lift light loads up to 20 lbs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Work Gloves
• Wire Clothes Hangers
• 20 To 50 Feet Ropes
• Buckets
• Old Bike Wheels
• Pliers

Making the Pulley

1. Get an old wheel from a bicycle.
2. Remove the tire from the wheel.
3. Bend a coat hanger into a U shape that extends from the axle on one side of the wheel, around the outside of the wheel and to the other axle. The U should leave a 3-inch gap at the rim, and 4 inches of extra wire at each axle by which to attach it.
4. Use pliers to wrap the ends of the coat hanger tightly around the axles. Make sure the wheel is still able to spin.
5. Use the pliers to twist a loop into the gap of wire at the rim.

Hanging the Pulley

6. Select a strong beam, rafter or branch to hang the pulley from.
7. Attach the pulley to the beam by running a cord or rope around the beam and through the loop in the support wire.
8. Run a cord or rope around the rim of the wheel and underneath the support wire. This is the lifting rope, and it will need to be twice as long as the height you plan to lift.
9. Make sure the lifting rope can roll easily around the wheel without snagging on the support wire.

Using the Pulley

10. Tie the item to be lifted to one end of the lifting rope - this is the load side. Attach a bucket to the load side of the lifting rope for lifting small items.
11. Tie a knot in the lifting rope and secure before pulling.
12. Pull on the opposite end of the rope until the load reaches the desired height. Keep a firm grip on the lifting rope to avoid dropping the load.

Tips & Warnings

• Almost any strong, flexible piece of metal can be used in place of the coat hanger.
• Make sure the lifting rope can support the load you intend to hoist.
• Never stand directly under the pulley when pulling loads.
• Be careful not to catch your fingers between the lifting rope and the wheel.