Make a Spanish windlass

WRITTEN BY JON

A Spanish windlass, also known as a "tourniquet," is a survival tool that can be used for a variety of tasks such as lifting heavy objects, hauling, and even as a makeshift winch. It's a simple yet effective tool that can be made with just a few sticks and some paracord. In this guide, we'll show you how to make your own Spanish windlass using sticks and paracord.

To start, you'll need to gather the following materials:

2 long, sturdy sticks (about 1 inch thick and 4-5 feet long)

1 piece of paracord (about 10-15 feet long)

Scissors or a knife

Once you have all of your materials, the first step is to prepare the sticks. Take one of the sticks and make a small notch about halfway up the stick. This notch will serve as the pivot point for the windlass. Repeat this process on the other stick.

Next, take the piece of paracord and tie a loop in one end. Thread the other end of the paracord through the notch on one of the sticks, and then tie a second loop in the end of the paracord. This loop will be used to attach the windlass to whatever you are trying to lift or haul.

Take the second stick and thread one end of the paracord through the notch on this stick as well. Tie a knot in the end of the paracord to secure it in place. This stick will be used as the handle for the windlass.

Now that the sticks and paracord are prepared, it's time to put the windlass together. Take the stick with the paracord loops and place the pivot point (notch) over the knot in the other stick. This will create a basic A-frame structure.

To use the windlass, simply place the object you want to lift or haul in the paracord loops and hold onto the handle stick. By turning the handle stick, the object will be lifted or hauled with the use of leverage.

It's important to note that the paracord can be used to adjust the tension and can be used to control the rate of lift as well. The more turns you make, the more tension will be applied, and the faster the lift will be.

Another variation of the Spanish windlass is to use a stick with a fork in one end in place of the notch. This will allow the windlass to be used in situations where a pivot point is not available. The fork stick is placed under the load, and the paracord is wrapped around both sides of the fork, and then the handle stick is used to lift or haul the load.

In conclusion, the Spanish windlass is a simple yet effective tool that can be made with just a few sticks and paracord. It can be used for a variety of tasks such as lifting heavy objects, hauling, and even as a makeshift winch. With this guide, you'll be able to make your own Spanish windlass and be prepared for any survival situation. Remember to always be cautious when using this tool, and never overload it.