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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

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  1.  
    What's the best design for one of these when the post to wall distance is about 12m?

    I've seen designs previously with 2 lines and different pulley setups but can't find anything? I've also seen some with wheels to make lifting heavy washing easier.

    What's a good basic design to follow and best clamps to fix a scaffolding bar to a breeze block wall?
    • CommentAuthorowlman
    • CommentTimeApr 8th 2020
     
    Wall fixings are usually not a problem, there are loads of types. Nor is a post at the other end, there are various options with ground anchoring.
    If there is a problem, it will be with the washing line itself. Twelve metres of wet washing can weigh heavy and with UV degradation and wind load of the usual PVC coated thin nylon lines they will eventually break especially near cleats etc., where they rub. You may be better with an intermediate post i.e. 2 x 6M; make the middle one removable with a ground tube insert.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeApr 8th 2020
     
    Posted By: owlmanYou may be better with an intermediate post i.e. 2 x 6M; make the middle one removable with a ground tube insert.

    Or use a clothes prop.
    • CommentAuthorCliff Pope
    • CommentTimeApr 10th 2020
     
    The question refers to a pulley line system, not simply an ordinary single line.
    I can't see an ordinary plastic-coated line working satisfactorily because of the difficulty of making the attachment each time to the cleat - it's hard enough tying a secure permanent knot, the stuff is so intractible, slippery, and prone to cracking round tight bends.

    I thought the point of a pulley system was so that you could add or remove washing from one end, such as an upstairs window, without having access further down the line. A prop part way along wouldn't work, for obvious reasons.
    I'd have you needed something sturdier yet flexible, from a yacht chandlers perhaps.
  2.  
    Ah I am mistaken in my description

    When I mean pulley system, I mean with cleats and pulleys etc.
    • CommentAuthorowlman
    • CommentTimeApr 10th 2020
     
    I assume the line is perpendicular to the wall, if so then some sort of plate with an eye and three or four fixing may be OK but you could also go for a shield anchor with an eye instead of a hex bolt head. Then buy a pulley with an eye ( literally 1000s to choose from in every material you can think of and for many rope sizes ). Then all you need is a shackle to join them plus a wall cleat. There are other variations on this theme.
    At the other end it's easier to fix a snap hook on the line, with an eye on the post to attach it to, rather than tying and untying each time.
    P.S. that's how I did something similar, and all the hardware in SS was quite cheap.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeApr 10th 2020
     
    Posted By: VictorianecoAh I am mistaken in my description

    I thought I understood your original description but now I'm not sure.

    When I mean pulley system, I mean with cleats and pulleys etc.

    Yes, got that much, but what's its purpose?

    Is the line too high and needs to be let down to un/load it? Or is it loaded from e.g. a balcony and needs to be pulled around to un/load it? Or something else?

    BTW, I'd think a normal steel-cored line would be flexible enough to go around a pulley of a decent diameter and won't stretch much, but do check.
  3.  
    Posted By: djhIs the line too high and needs to be let down to un/load it? Or is it loaded from e.g. a balcony and needs to be pulled around to un/load it? Or something else?

    An Answer to this question would help in giving a solution.


    Posted By: djhBTW, I'd think a normal steel-cored line would be flexible enough to go around a pulley of a decent diameter and won't stretch much, but do check.

    The rule of thumb for wire ropes and pulleys is 20 x dia of rope is the minimum pulley size (but bigger if the rope goes more than 90 deg. around the pulley).

    A trip to the dinghy chandlers will show all manner of pulleys, shackles cleats etc. all in stainless steel and they will also probably sell kevlar based rope and cordage which will not stretch under load and IMO is better than the plastic coated wire stuff sold for washing lines (no plastic coating to crack off after time in the sun)
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeApr 10th 2020
     
    Posted By: Cliff PopeI thought the point of a pulley system was so that you could add or remove washing from one end, such as an upstairs window, without having access further down the line. A prop part way along wouldn't work, for obvious reasons.

    Sorry, just noticed this. Loading the line from one end doesn't preclude using a prop afterwards.
  4.  
    The line will be 3.5m up in the air

    So lifting it, but also making it easy for the wife to pull up...
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeApr 11th 2020
     
    Just don't try and pull the line perfectly horizontal.
  5.  
    It is simple enough to reduce the effort needed to lift up the loaded line by use of a pulley giving a 2:1 ratio that will reduce the effort needed by 50%.
    On the attached diagram a pulley is attached to the end of the washing line and a line passed through this, one end of which is fixed to the wall and the other end is pulled to raise the line and then tied off. The 2:1 ratio works when the line is pulled vertically downwards. If the line is pulled out at an angle the advantage is progressively lost as the angle away from vertical increases.
      washing line.jpg
  6.  
    After some experiments, we prefer to have a 'saggy' washing line, which I can reach easily to hang the clothes on, then hoick it up with a couple of props.

    We tried having a 'taut' line but it needs way more tension to keep it up, so the line doesn't last so long before it breaks or pulls the fixings out.

    We also tried some braided dinghy rope (prestretch polyester much cheaper than Kevlar) but found that grime lurked in the braids and transferred to the clothes. The plastic coated stuff is easier to wipe clean.
    • CommentAuthorDur
    • CommentTimeDec 16th 2020
     
    Something like https://www.marinesuppliesdirect.co.uk/8-plait-pre-stretched-polyester-rope-white-4mm-or-5mm-1532-p.asp if you don't like the plastic coated.
    If/when it gets grubby, put it in an old pillowcase tied up with some string and put in the washing machine. Loads strong enough etc.
    Don't stress over size of the pulley wheel (sheave) - as long as it is not tiny it will be fine.
    Somewhere like https://www.gsproducts.co.uk/pulley/ for pulleys (blocks) maybe
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