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on our house we have a hook with one of these on it:

http://www.kamhardware.co.uk/photos/1.7 ... CS1010.jpg

and a cleat further down.

and at the other end of the garden is a standard metal post with four cross poles on the top

http://www.flickr.com/photos/harrygep/4633209292/

now the cross pieces are some 7-8ft up, is there any way I can utilise the pulley so that I, as a 4ft 8in woman, can pull washing into the air? or rather so I can have the line secured to the top of the pole and then pull it tight easily at the house end?!

I've tried using the pulley but I don't think I'd doing it right as it's not easy; I was expecting the use of a pulley to make it easier but I know one single pulley wont give much of a mechanical advantage....

can anyone help please?!

This may be over-simplistic, but have you checked that the pulley doesn't need oil/WD40 - to make it easier to adjust? Alternatively, my grandmothers used to have a clothes prop, (basically a hook on a stick) to prop up the middle of the line so the washing didn't hang on the floor.

It's going to be mighty heavy to hoist a line full of washing on that, Mrs F.

It might be easier to just have a line long enough to bow sufficiently for you to reach it and invest in a long prop.

mrsflibble wrote:I've tried using the pulley but I don't think I'd doing it right as it's not easy; I was expecting the use of a pulley to make it easier but I know one single pulley wont give much of a mechanical advantage....

One pulley won't give any mechanical advantage.. you need two ;)

There's a row of terraces near us have the same system, next time I'm passing I'll look and see what arrangement they use.

Another vote for the clothes pole.

(As a child,inspired by the Tokyo Olympics on Dad's recently aquired Television, I attempted to pole vault Mum's washing line using said pole,I broke the pole,and my arm...... Dad just managed to keep a straight face whilst giving me one of the greatest bollockings I'd had.....up to then)

I use a similar set up, Jerry as always is right, even if you can pull up the string with weight it will bow down and drop, and you will need a clothes poll to prop it up.

I use a fork ended Hasel twig/tree/pole and it last about 3 years before rotting, although I have been known to use it to fizz up the Septic Tank, which OH doesn't like!

*Wonders longingly about the weather to dry stuff outside!

[quote="boboff............... Jerry as always is right,





Pole-vaulting a washing line on a 7 foot piece of 2''x 1'' ??

We were young, in love, and the music was playing.................

okiedokies, big stick it is then. thanks guys!

The picture in the first link didn't show up so I can't answer precisely, but a load of laundry on a line is really heavy. One pulley isn't gonna do much you may need a block and tackle with four or more strands of line going between the two. You'll also need sturdy poles and something secure to anchor the whole enchilada to. Look at what sailboats use to bring in the mainsail, that sort of rig will lift a load of laundry.

Search "block and tackle" or "mechanical advantage" on Google and see if anything looks useful. Most of the block and tackles show lifting an object, but just imagine them sideways and pulling the laundry line.