Page 61 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

Figure 2-22A. Two views of a fiddle (without sheaves) shelf item these days, but they’re fairly easy to make;
and three views of a single block. Note faired-in strop they’re less inclined to bang up brightwork; they’re
grooves. The dimensions, which are those of the fid- dirt cheap and undeniably attractive; and they really,
dle and block in the author’s handy-billy, are ideal really work. There are two elements to stropping a
for use with ⁄16-inch line. block: the grommet that encircles the block and its
7
thimble (see Chapter 6), and the Round Seizing that
is applied between block and thimble to hold them in
the grommet (see “Seizings,” Chapter 1). And note
that HM rope has brought about a resurgence of rope
stropping, with Spectra loops replacing steel shackles
for block attachment. The result is stronger and much
lighter, and the loops can be made from scraps.

CHOOSING WINCH POWER

Figure 2-23 illustrates the principle of that magnif-
icent rotating lever, the winch. The winch handle is
the lever arm, the barrel axis is the fulcrum, and
the load is applied at the barrel face. Divide the dis-
tance between fulcrum and face into the length of
the handle, and the result, in an ungeared winch,
is the amount of your advantage. Internal gearing
in two- and three-speed winches in effect lengthens
Figure 2-22B. Patterns for a single bullet block and or shortens the lever arm so you can take up slack
a single bullet block with becket. Scale the sizes to quickly when the load is light, then switch gears for
the line.
greater leverage as the load increases.

40