How to Build a Rope Pulley Hoist

Place a double and single block -- a double block having two pulleys and a single block having one pulley -- on a table or workbench. Arrange the blocks with the larger top eyes of the blocks pointing away from each other, and the smaller bottom eyes on the blocks facing each other.

Uncoil a length of rope at least four times as long as the distance to lift the load above the ground. For example, hoisting an object to a height of 10 feet will require a minimum of a 40-foot rope.

Thread one end of the rope through either of the pulleys on the double block. Bring the rope from the double block through the pulley on the single block. Run the rope back from the single block through the second pulley on the double block. Tie the end of the rope off to the small eye of the single block -- the eye facing the double block -- with a triple half-hitch knot.

Tie the larger eye of the double block with a piece of rope to a solid overhead structure, such as a beam, rafter, joist or tree branch. Pull down on the single block until it rests on the ground. Tie the load to the large bottom eye of the single block with a short piece of rope. Pull on the free end of the rope to hoist the load.