Am trying to design a pulley system to mount on a free standing Shepard's hook to raise and lower a bird feeder.

The full feeder will weigh between eight and 11 pounds.
its out in the yard so sun ,rain and cold are a concern,

Would paracord a good or poor option if the owner changed the cord every year ?

550 cord will last.

We had drag chutes on F-4 aircraft that went through some pretty rough treatment and they were inspected and repacked, and the lines replaced when cut, nicked or abraided beyond specified limits.

For your purpose, keep an eye on it, and compare it to a 'good piece. You could occasionally do a test pull of several times the weight you are lifting and if it does not let go, continue using it until it fails your test.

I have a 135 foot long wire antenna supported by para cord tied to a tree. It has been there for four years and is as strong as the day I installed it. I know this as I lowered it to check on the condition of the cord a few days ago.

quote:

Originally posted by old dino:


The cord will do just fine ... ! I have a section of fence that is rotted off at the base that I have neglected to for at least 15 years or longer that is held up from following over by a single section of paracord tied from the post to a tree 18 inches away. Been exposed to the elements all this time and still holding. Fence section is being replaced this summer.

If your luck is anything like mine the whole fence will fall down tomorrow!

Thank you,
Believe it or not
This exact application has not been on either YouTube or Google.

I've used 550 cord on a flagpole for over 5 years, stays out 365 and still looks and works like new.

I use UV Resistant 3/16th inch rope from any one of several Ham Radio stores.

It's used to string up some Dipole antennas and as guy ropes for push up antenna masts.

Lasts a loooooooooooong time and stays darn strong. I have some that's been out in the harsh sun and winter for 10 years now and it's still as good as new.

The very best is the Mastrant brand, imported from the Czech Republic. There are a good number of US retailers.

Sounds like you don't need very much length.

I can send you some, just email me.
.

Thank you Gene that's a nice offer,
I am still in the very preliminary stage of design phase and three hurdles to jump yet.

And have plenty enough Para cord. Will keep it in mind though.

It's old tech, but the old clotheslines used to be a reasonable tensile strength rope enclosed by a kinda UV-resistent plastic shell. These were on fixed clotheslines as well as those pulley type where you pulled the line to remove clothes. That stuff used to last years-

I use the braided /coated stuff on the static lines, but the pulleys I am contemplating are only 1.5 inch diameter,
The cloths line pulls are four or five inch dia.

Now it would be very nice to find polymer ( no rust)
Pulleys.

Ebay is your friend...

I've had these up for a Ham End-Fed wire antenna for a couple of years with no wear:

2-1/2" Pulley Ham QRP Dipole Inverted Vee Loop Longwire End Fed Antenna W5SWL

https://www.ebay.com/itm/37264...e:g:4LUAAOSwGdtcrM5b

There are lots of variations...

I'm sure the Ham gurus here have lots of experience with pulleys...

Thanks

A boat supply store that specializes in sailboats would have corrosion resistant pulleys aka blocks to sailboaters.

FWIW I’ve got big Eye Screw that I’ve been using instead of a pulley for about 10 years.

I’ve got it screwed in the top, in a horizontal position, of a 16 foot 2x4 (which is fastened by big screws and washers) to a 8 Foot 4x4 (which is set 2 feet into the ground). I finished screwing in the eyebolt by making sure the open spot was on top, so there is no abrasion to the rope.

It works just fine instead of a pulley.

Here is an example LINK CLICKY except I used a Stainless Steel eye screw. I made sure the eye was 1 in of diameter and used my 3/16 inch UV resistant guy rope.

If you’re not lifting a lot of weight and whatever is doesn’t have a lot of wind load stress, it will work fine.
.

The four arm bird feeding Shepard's hook will be made of rebar.

So screw eyes won't be an option.

quote:

Originally posted by nosticks:
I have a 135 foot long wire antenna supported by para cord tied to a tree. It has been there for four years and is as strong as the day I installed it. I know this as I lowered it to check on the condition of the cord a few days ago.

How to say "I'm a HAM living in an antenna-restricted wasteland" without actually saying it.

quote:

Originally posted by DennisM:

quote:

Originally posted by nosticks:
I have a 135 foot long wire antenna supported by para cord tied to a tree. It has been there for four years and is as strong as the day I installed it. I know this as I lowered it to check on the condition of the cord a few days ago.

How to say "I'm a HAM living in an antenna-restricted wasteland" without actually saying it.

I've done much the same myself and it works pretty well.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:

quote:

Originally posted by DennisM:

quote:

Originally posted by nosticks:
I have a 135 foot long wire antenna supported by para cord tied to a tree. It has been there for four years and is as strong as the day I installed it. I know this as I lowered it to check on the condition of the cord a few days ago.

How to say "I'm a HAM living in an antenna-restricted wasteland" without actually saying it.

I've done much the same myself and it works pretty well.

Same here. It was supposed to be "temporary." but it's still there (working fine since 2017.)

To the OP's point: About two pounds of hardware/wire in open air, winter/summer, sun/ice, etc. No issues for five years.