HOME      The Rope Wrench
Need to apply torque to a pipe?  As demonstrated in the Power of Friction page, rope can really grab, given a few turns. This same principle can be used to torque a smooth cylindrical object.  Use a long bar as shown above and plenty of turns of rope to get a grip.  You can use fewer turns of rope if you put a tight binding knot on the ends or if you weight the ends of the rope to resist what little force is left at the ends of those coils. If you don't want to mar the object you're turning, wrap the lever with leather or some other cushioning material. If the cylindrical object is free to rotate or roll, the lever can winch or windlass the rope in with considerable force, depending on the lever length and drum diameter. Related page:  Versatackle