They're goofing around but this is serious business!
One of the biggest struggles in the shop was getting the awkward, large and heavy bolt of natural wool lifted to attach to the bracket system on the bulkhead in the dye kitchen. When we used to buy the fifteen yard bolts they could be stacked here there and everywhere, in the closet, under a desk or along the wall but when we switched to the convenient 80 plus yard open roll it was bulky and heavy to handle so we had to improvise.
We had a system built with a rod and it worked but was still a struggle to get the roll up to slip it into the brackets. And woe are we, it fell down a few times but luckily not on anyone’s head. I never trusted it after that so I stopped taking my dogs into the kitchen as the roll coming down could have wiped out my entire pack! Always aware that it was there and maybe not the safest, I would duck when walking under it.
So my hubby was put in charge of coming up with a system that would not only lift the roll but give us the confidence that it would stay put. He had to find a way to secure the brackets from bending outward which released the rod sent it crashing to the floor. He also had to secure all the fittings to the wall with much longer screws and bolts. Pretty scary thinking the entire roll could plummet down at any minute on Shane’s head. So he studied the area, talked to Shane to find out all the requirements needed and went to the drawing board.
My hubby is brilliant…just wanted to get that out of the way. With a serious of ropes and pulleys he devised a system to lift the roll from the floor to the ceiling, hold it place while the brackets are attached. Shane is now able to do it all by himself, without momma in the kitchen standing precariously on a step stool, trying to hold one end up while he secures the other. That was an accident waiting to happen for me, if I fell, and for him if I couldn't hold on to the incredibly heavy roll. With the ease of pulling on a few ropes the roll locks into position so he can attach the brackets on each end that allows the wool to roll on a steel pole. Once it is all locked anad loaded, all Shane has to do is reach up and pull the wool down like using a paper towel dispenser and cut off whatever he needs for dyeing. So slick and smooth a child could do it. Just one more improvement to the greased wheel that is our studio!
We had a system built with a rod and it worked but was still a struggle to get the roll up to slip it into the brackets. And woe are we, it fell down a few times but luckily not on anyone’s head. I never trusted it after that so I stopped taking my dogs into the kitchen as the roll coming down could have wiped out my entire pack! Always aware that it was there and maybe not the safest, I would duck when walking under it.
So my hubby was put in charge of coming up with a system that would not only lift the roll but give us the confidence that it would stay put. He had to find a way to secure the brackets from bending outward which released the rod sent it crashing to the floor. He also had to secure all the fittings to the wall with much longer screws and bolts. Pretty scary thinking the entire roll could plummet down at any minute on Shane’s head. So he studied the area, talked to Shane to find out all the requirements needed and went to the drawing board.
My hubby is brilliant…just wanted to get that out of the way. With a serious of ropes and pulleys he devised a system to lift the roll from the floor to the ceiling, hold it place while the brackets are attached. Shane is now able to do it all by himself, without momma in the kitchen standing precariously on a step stool, trying to hold one end up while he secures the other. That was an accident waiting to happen for me, if I fell, and for him if I couldn't hold on to the incredibly heavy roll. With the ease of pulling on a few ropes the roll locks into position so he can attach the brackets on each end that allows the wool to roll on a steel pole. Once it is all locked anad loaded, all Shane has to do is reach up and pull the wool down like using a paper towel dispenser and cut off whatever he needs for dyeing. So slick and smooth a child could do it. Just one more improvement to the greased wheel that is our studio!
The roll is held securely to the ceiling when the rope is fastened to cleats.
Now the brackets can be attached.
Now the brackets can be attached.
Locking the bracket in place to hold the steel rod.
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