Block and Tackle: DIY

A few years ago I needed to move my family across the country due to health issues and subsequent career change. The company I worked for covered moving expenses when we were relocated, but now that I was unemployed I would need to move myself. I have a few shop tools that weigh in excess of 300 pounds. Not terrible, unless they are in a basement and it took 4 stout men to pack them down the stairs to begin with. So how do I get them out without killing myself? We didn't know anyone in the area and my former coworkers were quite busy building a new highway.
The short of that is I realized that with a block and tackle, some 2x6 runners, and some blocking I would be able to strap the equipment to a dolly and pull it up the stairs. So off I went to the local farm supply store to locate a Block and Tackle like my dad and grandfather had. Something similar to this.

Would you believe they didn't have one? Not only did they not have one, they didn't have anything of the sort. And neither did the Lowes, Menards, or other farm supply in the next town over. I was a bit flummoxed to say the least and being under the gun to get moved I was short on options. The little plastic sheaved deals you can find in a hunting store were simply not adequate for what I needed, and they were seasonal items, so out of stock. So my son and I sat in the hardware aisle at the Farm Supply and this is what I came up with.



I'll get some photos of the assembly up later.

The video is apparently stuck in processing. While I sort that out, here are photos of the parts and pieces to build it and the finished product.

It's not too much to ask for, in this day and age, for a Gordon Haverland to whip together a robot, in his spare time, capable of carrying a grand piano up a fire-escape.

Looks really professional!  That turned out nicely!

People who know my history of contributions here on Permies are aware that I'm big on DIY — including on devising & fabricating devices & equipment when that's cheaper, more expedient or more completely suited to one's specific needs.

So I applaud Caleb's opening post offering info on how to make a block & tackle.  I just wanted to add that, if you do want to find factory-made equipment of this type, a valuable source would be the forestry (logging) equipment supply outlets in your region.

Caleb, i was just thinking how much I enjoyed that you posted the OP for this thread. You seem like a genuine DIY-guy.  Keep posting about what you do along that line, okay?  Cheers.

Joel Bercardin wrote:Caleb, i was just thinking how much I enjoyed that you posted the OP for this thread. You seem like a genuine DIY-guy.  Keep posting about what you do along that line, okay?  Cheers.

Thank you Joel! Will do.