DIYer looking for some ideas.

bigbudmike

bigbudmike

Active Member
Just wonderin if there are any good ideas out there for a DIY retractable light hanger? Im a cheap skate and dont want to spend the 25 or 30 bucks that they cost. Right now im using a small chain that I adjust now and then but when im away and my girl needs to do it she has trouble. I checked H.D. and all they had was a retractable cloths line and it was real bulky. Any ideas would be appreciated. Or if its not worth the trouble then where can I buy some inexpensive ones?
 
bigbudmike said:
Just wonderin if there are any good ideas out there for a DIY retractable light hanger? Im a cheap skate and dont want to spend the 25 or 30 bucks that they cost. Right now im using a small chain that I adjust now and then but when im away and my girl needs to do it she has trouble. I checked H.D. and all they had was a retractable cloths line and it was real bulky. Any ideas would be appreciated. Or if its not worth the trouble then where can I buy some inexpensive ones?
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Mine cost like $15:
Clothesline wheel/reel, 2 drilled holes.
Some air craft cable with wire locks.
2 Pulleys.
1 Bolt and 1 recessed nut with spicked feet.

The beauty of this is of course both sides rise evenly with every turn of the reel, and it's smooth so it doesn't jostle the $100 hps:roll::mrgreen:

Pictures taken looking at ceiling, so the clothesline reel is flat (in parallel with ceiling).

The recessed nut is avaiable at HD. Wish I could recall the right name. It's about size of a quarter, with 4 sharp tines on one side of it and the center has a threaded hole for a bolt.
Drill a hole through your wood to take the diameter of the recessed nut's threaded hole and hammer in, the tines dig into the wood so the bolt can thread into it and lock the reel in position.

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Hope that helps,

Kayuman
 
Adjustable blind holders generally work but it's hard to pull the string as they use small pulleys not designed for that much weight. Also make sure you get a fully metal one not plastic.
 
bigbudmike said:
Just wonderin if there are any good ideas out there for a DIY retractable light hanger? Im a cheap skate and dont want to spend the 25 or 30 bucks that they cost. Right now im using a small chain that I adjust now and then but when im away and my girl needs to do it she has trouble. I checked H.D. and all they had was a retractable cloths line and it was real bulky. Any ideas would be appreciated. Or if its not worth the trouble then where can I buy some inexpensive ones?
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run a search online for a " catfish yo yo" they're usually only a buck or two each, only problem is, they usually come in packs of ten or twelve. but i havn't bought them in years you might get lucky.

Infact!... you tube it! so as you can get an idea of what it is/ how it works!
 
Yeah that catfish yoyo looks like it could work. I googled it and found a place selling 3 of them for $9. Cheap and easy the way I like it :-). Thanks
 
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