Pulleys & Mechanical Advantage

PETZL MAESTRO features

The MAESTRO combines the abilities of a progress-capture pulley and a descender for effective hauling, releasing and lowering of the load. The AUTO-LOCK system locks the load automatically and returns the handle to the stop position.   Let’s start with a Petzl Maestro Overview! 1. Working principle The MAESTRO uses a pulley mounted on a …

PETZL MAESTRO features Read More »

Pulley system efficiency tests with Petzl Maestro, I’d S, Pro Traxion and RollClip

There can be a big difference between the theoretical efficiency of a pulley system and its actual efficiency. Here are test results from the Petzl lab. 1. Efficiency depending on the device used at the head of the system. The force required to raise a 100 kg mass was tested under several configurations with different …

Pulley system efficiency tests with Petzl Maestro, I’d S, Pro Traxion and RollClip Read More »

A Little Known Tool That Is Making Huge Headway… The Inside 9 Mechanical Advantage System

Over the last year or so I have been trying to up my rigging game with the main focus being “rigging light, rigging quick, rigging solid and rigging efficient”.  I will be the first to admit that all for all of this to happen at the same time it is a special day. I will …

A Little Known Tool That Is Making Huge Headway… The Inside 9 Mechanical Advantage System Read More »

5 Rules to Help Determine Simple & Compound Mechanical Advantage Systems

From Rigging Lab Academy Course Mechanical Advantage Theory There are three categories of mechanical advantages using pulleys: Simple, Compound, and Complex. Simple MA: A Simple MA consists of a pulley system that has a single haul connection between the load and the haul team. Compound MA: A Compound MA is a simple mechanical advantage system pulling on the haul line …

5 Rules to Help Determine Simple & Compound Mechanical Advantage Systems Read More »

Technical Rescue: The Importance of 15:1

(This article was originally run in Firehouse October 1, 2019) Russell McCullar clarifies whether 15:1 is still relevant and says that fire departments should select gear and load limits that meet their needs. All Photos by Russell McCullar Not long ago, I was explaining to one of my students that our training agency was undergoing …

Technical Rescue: The Importance of 15:1 Read More »

Want To Be A Dirtbag?

I’ve had a lot of bad ideas so I get pretty excited when I have a good one.  The Crackerjack Group recently held a “flyer” of a class we dubbed The Dirtbag Clinic..  and it worked. The idea came about because we had some friends in town for the Mountain Rescue Association Conference and they …

Want To Be A Dirtbag? Read More »

The Petzl Jag System Has Become A Go To Tool For At Height Workers and Rescuers

As Torrey and I travel around the country filming and managing a very large amount of footage, it has become very apparent to me that one product has become, what I would call… an “emerging product”.  While in days past, the AZTEK was (and still is to some degree) the work horse for rigging systems… …

The Petzl Jag System Has Become A Go To Tool For At Height Workers and Rescuers Read More »

A Quick Pulley Comparison… They All Rock!

Hey all, I wanted to give a quick run down of some niche comparisons.  Most pulley manufactures today make amazing gear.  When I say most, I mean those within the centric conformity of  standards, safety and accountability.  We’ll be looking at CMC, Rock Exotica, and Petzl … and then, only a niched down subset of …

A Quick Pulley Comparison… They All Rock! Read More »

For Two Tension Dual Capacity Rope Systems Savvy Technicians: The Efficiency Schematic

So lately, I have been going through a type of transformation of sorts.  I will be honest… not all of the process has been fun and pushing through bias demons can be difficult, but with friends like Craig McClure, Jason Ilowite and Rich Delaney… the sojourn has been rewarding.  Bear in mind that a sojourn …

For Two Tension Dual Capacity Rope Systems Savvy Technicians: The Efficiency Schematic Read More »

Two Tension System-Vertical and Horizontal Evacuation Part 1: In-Line 9 Using A Petzl Jag System Is An Easy Solution!

The other day I walked into the studio (Neverland) armed with one goal for the morning… build a system that is Functionality Efficient in Gear Efficient in People Efficient in Physics AHD Based Small Team Based One Person Load Very Reproducible Raise Only Based (but with a margin of error that allows for downward adjustments… …

Two Tension System-Vertical and Horizontal Evacuation Part 1: In-Line 9 Using A Petzl Jag System Is An Easy Solution! Read More »