Cord Lock Pulley FAQs

A cord lock pulley is a way of “locking” the lift cords in position when you raise your Roman shade. The traditional method of holding the shade in position is by wrapping the lift cord around a cord cleat which is attached to the window trim or wall. You do not need a cord cleat if you use a cord lock. Child-Safety Note: You should use a cord cleat if you want to keep the cords out of the way of children and pets.

The cord lock operates using a simple mechanism of one smooth plastic roller bar and one toothed metal roller bar. The cords are threaded so that they run between the two rollers. Swinging the cord towards the outside of the shade locks the cords. Swinging the cord towards the inside of the shade unlocks the cords. The Cord Lock can be used on either side of the shade as long as the metal roller bar in facing “out”.

Pros and Cons of Cord Lock Pulleys

Pros:

• You can easily hold your shade at any location. A cord cleat requires an extra step (winding the cord around the cleat) each time you raise and lower the shade.
• You don't have to drill extra holes into your window trim or wall to attach a cord cleat.
  
  

Cons:

• You may have to replace the lift cord due to shredding caused by the toothed metal roller bar. You can restring the shade with new lift cord without removing the shade from the mounting board.
• You have to “fish” behind the shade to unlock the shade. This is particularly annoying for an inside-mount shade. One way to avoid this annoyance is to thread the lift cords to the front of the shade at the top using grommets. The hardware is placed in front of the shade so you have to cover it with a valance. This is the way all of those manufactured Roman shades are made that you see in Wal-Mart, Target and Home Depot. A customer sent in a nice description of how he installed the grommets, so Click Here if you are interested in his technique.
• Cord Locks have a high mortality rate. They just seem to fall apart more than any other item we sell. If you have to replace a cord lock two times, it is better to switch to a cord cleat. Your shade is too heavy, or you are being too rough when opening and closing the shade.

Which Cord Lock Should I Use, the 3-slot or the 5-slot?

There are two things to consider in your decision. The size of your lift cord and the number of lift cords. Before looking at the chart below, which lists the maximum number of lift cord for each cord size, let me give you my recommendations in words:

• If you are using 0.9 mm lift cord (which you should ONLY be using if you are making a Top-Down shade) you MUST use a 5-slot Cord Lock. This is because the cord is so thin that it gets caught between the roller bars and the housing if you place it into an “outside” slot.
• If you are using 1.4 mm lift cord use the 5-slot Cord Lock and thread the cord through the “inside” slots first.
• If you are using 1.8 mm lift cord use the 3-slot Cord Lock. Notice that I only use the 3-slot Cord Lock when I am using the thicker lift cord.
•  Exceptions to the Rules. You can use the 1.4 mm lift cord with both the 3-slot AND the 5-slot Cord Lock. If you have six lift lines and fat cord, use the 3-slot Cord Lock and thread two cords in each slot.
   

  	5-slots, 4-Guide Wires	3-slots, 2-Guide Wires
  0.9 mm lift cord use this cord for Top-Down shades only	9 lift cords maximum. Don't use the outside slots (cord might catch). 1, 2 or 3 cords in each "inside" slot.	Not recommended since you can't use the outside slots (cord might catch).
  1.4 mm lift cord this is the best choice for most shades	10 lift cords maximum. Okay to use the outside slots, 1 or 2 cords in each slot	6 lift cords maximum. Okay to use the outside slots, 1 or 2 cords in each slot.
  1.8 mm lift cord	5 lift cords maximum. Okay to use the outside slots, 1 cord in each slot	6 lift cords maximum. Okay to use the outside slots, 1 or 2 cords in each slot.

  
  
  
  

  Use the 1.4 mm and 1.8 mm lift cord with the 3-slot Cord Lock Pulley. The 0.9 mm lift cord is too thin to use in the outside slots.	The 5-slot Cord Lock Pulley should be used with our 0.9 mm lift cord. Use only the three internal slots.

   

   

  How do you increase the life-time of your lift cord if you use a Cord Lock?

  It took me a while to figure this out, but adding a tandem flat pulley (or a tandem screw eye) next to the Cord Lock pulley eliminates the rubbing of the cords on the top side of the housing. I’m not trying to sell you one more pulley or screw eye, I am only telling you the facts. If you don’t use a tandem pulley, the last lift cord (pink in the drawing below) will quickly shred. What I really wonder is why the Cord Lock designer didn’t add an additional roller bar to provide the function of the tandem pulley.
  
  
  

  

  Troubleshooting the Cord Lock Pulley

  ·         Device does not work

  o   It is impossible to test the Cord Lock Pulley before it is attached to the board and shade. Downward tension on the cords is required to make it work properly.

  ·         Device will not release cords

  o   Be sure that you have installed the lock in the correct orientation. The larger, metal roller must be on the “outside” of the shade.

  o   You need a weight rod in the bottom of the shade. There must be downward tension on the lift cord for the cords to release. If you have a weight rod, try a heavier one.

  o   If you are making a Top-Down shade and the Cord Lock Pulley for the top-down function will not release, you should replace the stiffener board at the top edge of your shade with another weight rod. Large shades don’t seem to have a problem, but smaller shades, or those made with lightweight material, need extra weight to release properly.

  ·         My lift cord is shredding.

  o   Be sure to use a tandem pulley or tandem screw eye next to the cord lock.

  o   You should use tightly woven cord. One No-No is Wright’s polyester cord which is widely available in retail fabric stores and is labeled for use for Roman shades. One way to test your cord is to tap the end. If it frays easily, you will have a problem. This pre-cut cord is available in small packages in fabric stores such as JoAnn's Fabrics. Sometimes, these stores also have cord on large spools which they cut for you. This cord is usually okay. All of the lift cord sold on this site is very resistant to shredding.