How to Hang a Pulley

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Things You'll Need

  • Pulley

  • Hook screw or bolt

  • Electric drill

  • Screwdriver

  • Rope

Lighten your load with a pulley.

Pulleys can be very useful as they make it much easier to hoist objects. They can be used to lift heavy objects such as tools. Many people also install fixed pulleys in their garages to hoist canoes, kayaks or other objects so they can be hung from the ceiling when not in use and thus save a lot of floor space.

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Step 1

Choose a place to hang the pulley. If you are hanging it inside a building, you will need to attach the pulley to a rafter. If the rafters are not exposed, you can use a stud finder to locate them.

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Step 2

Choose a proper hook to hang the pulley on. For most purposes you can use a hook screw, available at your local hardware store. Check the maximum load capacity of the hook to make sure it can support the weight of the object you wish to hoist. If you will be dealing with very heavy objects you may need a bolt instead of a screw. Make sure the bolt is at least 2 inches longer than the width of the rafter.

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Step 3

Screw the hook into the rafter. Drill a hole where the hook is going to go with a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the hook shaft, then start screwing it into the hole with your hand. Insert a screwdriver into the mouth of the hook to provide leverage and finish screwing it in. If you are using a hook bolt, you will need to drill all the way through the rafter. Screw the bolt in, then secure it with a washer and nut where it protrudes from the top of the rafter.

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Step 4

Mount the pulley. Feed the rope, cable or chain you are going to use to hoist the objects through the wheel of the pulley, then hang the pulley on the hook.

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