Probably one of the oldest and simplest lifting aids available the Gin wheel and rope gives you a helping hand to lift and lower loads up to and down from almost any height. The rope length you choose will dictate the maximum height achievable. This gin wheel and rope set up is ideal for use on a building site as they can be easily attached to a scaffold pole.
The Gin Wheel
The gin wheel may also be called a rope pulley and consists of a simple steel frame with a swivel eye anchoring point at the top and a grooved steel wheel for the rope. Rope guides are a must for preventing rope slip off.
Although this simple piece of lifting equipment is straightforward to use it will require some physical strength from the user. Therefore the operator should have enough strength to pull the weight of the load to be lifted. That said if your load weight 100kg you won't physically have to pull that much. Using the proper technique the pulley wheel will do most of the hard work, you will pull or loosen and guide the rope. Yes some strength is required but not full on brute force.
Gin Wheel Rope
The type of rope used on a gin wheel can make all the difference to its strength and ease of use. We typically use 3 strand sisal because the texture of this natural rope provides the best grip whilst being ultimately strong and durable in outdoor conditions. Sisal has some stretch properties and therefore is more gentle on the load during movement.
Lifting Gear Direct can supply hand spliced ropes complete with fitted load anchoring hook of your choice in lengths up to 30 metres as standard.
Basic Gin Wheel and Rope Safety
Using a gin wheel and rope comes with particular safety issues which must be considered at all times.
Loads must be completely secured to the rope before lifting or lowering. Load stability should be taken into account, as an unbalanced load can be quite dangerous.
Good knot tying techniques are imperative, especially when tying off the rope to secure the load whilst unloading. If not properly secured the rope and load could slip and fall, therefore it is extremely important to set up a safety exclusion zone under the lift area to prevent injuries if the worst should happen. Loads should not be left suspended and unattended.
The gin wheel should be inspected for issues at regular intervals to ensure it is working correctly. The rope will also need to be completely checked along the full length, if any signs of wear or damage are seen then the rope should not be used.
