DIY airplane weather vane made of wood

Tools and materials for manufacturing

Since our meteorological instrument has to constantly resist the influence of the environment, sometimes very aggressive, it must be made of appropriate materials, otherwise it will not last long. Often weather vanes are made of wood (even plywood) and sheet iron . Copper is rarely chosen , although this particular metal is more suitable than others.
A wooden weather vane treated with a protective compound will last for several years. The steel analogue lasts for several decades, subject to periodic tinting, which is not always possible, but the copper product is practically eternal. Copper sheet is the easiest to process, and there are no problems with decorating it.

Recently, weather vanes have begun to be made of plastic. The material is easy to process - no complex tools are needed. However, if the product is suitable for the roof of a country house, then it will not look good on a large luxurious house; expensive materials will be required. The following tools will be needed:

metal scissors;
saw;
hacksaw;
file;
Bulgarian;
sandpaper;
drill;
pencil;
ruler.

Do five

Windmill blanks

Disc
So, now that we've taken care of the pole, let's continue working. We perform all operations with care so as not to damage the disks. A windmill falling from a small height, or an unsuccessful contact with the assembled structure can lead to disk failure. We insert the disk into the cut of the rocker arm; for greater reflectivity, we insert a disk with two-sided mirroring into the cut from a hacksaw for metal. But you can insert it into a cut from a hacksaw on wood

turned with mirror sides outward . We insert it carefully, trying not to break the discs, split the rocker along the length or damage the fingers. I managed to insert it, great! It is desirable that the disc fits completely into the groove. We won't glue the discs. Just drill, CAREFULLY, the rocker arm where the disk is mounted and secure the disk with a wire.

Drilling the rocker

Attach the disc Attach the wheel Flat protrusion

Next, if you removed the bearings from the wheel, put them back. We will secure the turbine with a long self-tapping screw; if you have an assistant, let him help. We tighten the self-tapping screw completely; if in your design it falls into the wheel hole, use a washer. Once secured, the wheel should rotate freely on the bearings. Place the rocker on a flat ledge, such as a stack of textbooks, a system unit, or a stool, and move on to the next step.

Features and dimensions of the design

There are two main points in the design of a weather vane . This means the following:

The axis-rod, which is a kind of fastening element, is installed strictly vertically and attached to the roof of the house.
A flag with a counterweight is mounted on the rod. The force of the wind presses on the flag, and the horizontal part of the weather vane rotates around its axis.

On each side of the axis there must be parts of equal weight, which is the most difficult thing in the entire manufacturing process.
Design features include additional elements. For example, a propeller, because many are attracted by the idea of how to make a weather vane with a propeller with their own hands. The more intense the propeller rotates, the greater the wind force - everything is simple and clear. There may also be a vertically mounted plate that is secured so as to remain free. In this case, the plate should swing in one plane. It also gives an idea of the strength of the wind - the greater the deviation of the angle from the vertical, the stronger the wind.

There are no restrictions in terms of shape and design - as long as the design fulfills its functions. The same applies to sizes. True, experts advise making a product 40-50 cm wide and 70-80 cm long. This is the best option for small buildings. When the weather vane is installed on the roof of the gazebo, the dimensions may be smaller.

Features of the weather vane design

The structural filling of the weather vane is based on two components:

An axis, which is a rod that acts as a kind of fastening element. It is installed strictly vertically and attached to the roof of the house.
A flag with a counterweight is installed on the axis. The wind presses on the flag, causing the horizontal part of the weather vane to rotate around its axis.

That is, there should be equal parts in weight on both sides of the axis. In principle, this is the difficulty of manufacturing.

The design features of the weather vane include some additional elements. For example, you can make a weather vane with a screw that will show the strength of the wind. The more intensely it spins, the stronger the wind. The design can be supplemented with a vertically installed plate. It must be secured in such a way that it remains free. In this case, the plate should swing in one plane. With its help you can also find out about the strength of the wind. The greater the angle of deviation from the vertical, the greater the wind force.

As for the shape and design, there are no restrictions. Everything is in your hands, it all depends on your imagination and taste preferences. The same applies to the size of the weather vane. True, experts recommend using a width of 40-50 cm and a length of 70-80 cm. For small houses and cottages this is the best option. If the weather vane is installed on the roof of the gazebo, the dimensions can be reduced.

Stages of product production

First of all, decide on the design of the device, and then draw up a drawing that will show absolutely all the details. Next, the algorithm of actions is as follows:

Make a vertical support from rebar, pipe or other metal rod. The length is 125 mm and the diameter is 13 mm.
In the upper part, use a die to cut a thread for fastening the horizontal part of the product.
At the bottom, install a bearing that will allow the weather vane to turn around the axis. It is important that dirt and water do not get into the bearing. To do this, put a cap made of a metal sheet on it (some people make a cap from a plastic bottle cap).
The decorative element is fastened using four plates installed at the bottom, welded to a metal axis on one side. On the other side, holes are made for self-tapping screws, with which the weather vane is attached to the roofing material.

Since a weather vane with a propeller is a dynamic design, it is not installed on tall buildings, since it will not be visible how much the propeller rotates.

The main part - the “airplane” - is cut out of iron sheet, plywood or plastic. The propeller is made exclusively of metal. The blades of the rotating element are located at a slight angle relative to each other. You can make a propeller from galvanized sheet iron using metal scissors. A hole is made in the center of the blank strip for the fastening element, then the edges of the strip are turned slightly in different directions. There are two options for attaching a propeller to an aircraft:

If the weather vane is made of plywood, the propeller can be attached with self-tapping screws to its end part. The fastener is not screwed all the way to allow rotation.
A small pin is attached to the nose of a metal airplane by welding or soldering, at the end of which there should be a thread into which a nut and washer are screwed. This is how we get both the fastener and the limiter. The pin can be without a thread, but with a cap, but this option is suitable if the propeller is already on.

Do it once

We mark the wheel to make slots for the blades. For complex markings, I attach stencil files (

,).

Making a cut in the wheel

Wheel in a vice

Marking a wheel for four blades

We make marks on the wheel, for example, with a ballpoint pen. If this is your first windmill, then it is better to start with two or four blades. So, we marked it out. Wheel designs are different, if there are removable bearing linings, then we dismantle them and put them in a safe place. Then it is better to adhere to the given technology; for this you will need a vice and a hacksaw. If you suggest another reasonable way to make cuts, I will publish it. We clamp the wheel in a vice, it is better to clamp it so that rubber sawdust does not fall on the bearings. In the photo, sawdust gets on the bearing! It is not right! We select the angle of inclination of the hacksaw blade (30-45°) and begin sawing from the top point of the wheel. We saw slowly and carefully with a metal saw. If you rush, there may be injuries and broken hacksaw blades. We cut to a depth of half to two-thirds of the thickness of the rubber, in my case to the steel pads.

The cut is made Result of work Marking the wheel

Having made the first cut, we re-clamp the wheel in a vice and make a second cut, and so on. The result should be something like this. If you are left-handed, you can saw with your left hand in a different direction.

Assembly and installation of a weather vane

First we decide on the installation location. It is considered good when the symmetry of the roof structure is not disturbed due to the weather vane. So, if there are pipes on the roof, it is better to attach the device to them. If there are no pipes, attach the weather vane to the ridge. To install the product on the ridge, you only need two strips (fastening elements), which are located exactly at the angle of the slopes. Assembly procedure on site:

The main part of the pipe is mounted. It is attached to the ridge using long screws. It is important to attach not to the roofing material, but to the sheathing.
A bearing is installed inside the pipe.
An axle with a protective cap previously placed on it is inserted from above.
The bearing is secured at the bottom of the pipe with a nut and washer.

The inner diameter of the pipe is determined by the outer diameter of the bearing. Since the weather vane is located in the open air, every time it rains it will be exposed to water. In this regard, it is recommended to lubricate the metal structure with grease after painting the product. From time to time you need to tighten the threaded connections, lubricate the bearing, and so on. All parts and components must have a large margin of safety, especially the fastenings, because the weather vane is subject to serious wind loads, and precipitation adds problems.

Methods for attaching a weather vane to the roof

Traditionally, a weather vane is installed on the roof of a building. The mounting location can be a ridge, chimney or ventilation pipe. Any pole or roof of an outbuilding will do, as long as the minimum height from the ground is 5 m.

After you have made a weather vane with your own hands, it must be installed correctly. It is important not to forget to push solid oil into the housing with bearings. With plates welded to the body, the weather vane can be conveniently mounted on a chimney cap or ridge. If the base is flat, then it is better to make a round flange with your own hands with holes for self-tapping screws and weld it to the bottom of the body instead of plates. It will be more convenient to fix the product with clamps to a vertical pole.

Ready-made fasteners can be purchased at the store. Cheap models designed for mounting on a roof ridge are made in the form of a simple metal corner. More expensive products are equipped with adjusting screws.

A correctly installed weather vane will immediately make itself felt. At the slightest wind, the weather vane with the propeller will begin to rotate.

A metal windmill with a propeller has the ability to absorb lightning strikes, that is, it becomes a kind of lightning rod. This is especially dangerous if the weather vane is installed on a metal roof covering, for example, metal tiles. For safety, the structure must be grounded. You can do this yourself quite simply. They take a stranded copper wire in insulation and bolt one end to the weather vane, and the other to the ground loop near the house. If it is not there, you can drive a metal pipe or corner into the ground to a depth of 1.5 m, and weld a bolt on top for the wire.

A weather vane made independently will work and please the owners for many years. It is only necessary to lubricate the bearings once a year.

DIY airplane weather vane

From a practical point of view, a weather vane is not a mandatory attribute of the yard. Meteorological measurements can be carried out using modern instruments. Most often, a weather vane is made by hand to decorate the roof of a building and as a tribute to national tradition. Simple windmills for children are made from scrap materials, decorating the yard or garden with them. More complex structures are made of metal or wood. They are attached to the chimney or simply fixed on the roof. The most popular model of windmill is the airplane.

Children's windmill airplane made from PET bottles

If a windmill is needed only as a children's toy, you can make it with your own hands from plastic bottles together with your child. When choosing a figure, it is better to choose an airplane. To make it you will need a 2 or 1.5 liter PET bottle, a wooden block, cardboard and a cutting tool.

The aircraft is manufactured in the following order:

For the body of a homemade windmill you will need 1 bottle. If you make a propeller from the bottom, you will need to take another container. They are washed from labels and dried.
Cut out a long rectangle with rounded corners from thick cardboard. These will be the wings. The propeller can also be made from cardboard by simply placing it on the neck of the bottle, but it will not rotate well in the wind. It is better to cut this part from the bottom of the second bottle, as the photo shows.
Using a stationery knife, make two slits along the body of the bottle along the width of the wings. The prepared cardboard rectangle is inserted into the slots, and a small cockpit window is cut out above them.
Holding it with pliers, heat the nail red-hot over a fire and burn a hole in the center of the plug and plastic propeller. Next, these two parts are connected to each other, but with a cold nail. It is necessary to check that the propeller rotates freely around its axis.
Similarly, burn a through hole in the neck. Through it, a weather vane is nailed to the end of a wooden block, which acts as a stand, and the lid with the propeller is screwed on.
The body is decorated with colored stickers or you can decorate it yourself with acrylic paints.

In the cockpit of a finished aircraft, you can seat a pilot from a small children's toy, as shown in this photo. Now all that remains is to attach the weather vane to the high mast and admire the airplane you made with your own hands.

In this video you can see the making of an airplane weather vane from PET bottles:

Do seven

Drilling the rocker

Looking for the center of gravity
Also an important step . We take a rocker arm with a fixed wind wheel and a tail blade and look for the center of gravity on the rocker arm, the point on which, when supported, our structure will take a horizontal position, without tilting forward or backward. Perform alignment carefully; slipping from the support can lead to breakage of the blades. To do this, we place a thin block, a pencil, a fountain pen under the rocker and try to find the desired position.

found place. Next we drill the rocker arm. The diameter of the drill should be slightly larger (2-3mm) than the diameter of the neck of the screw. For fastening, I use this self-tapping screw; it has the advantage of having no threads on the neck. It’s not worth adjusting exactly if the rocker arm is made of wood (in the rain

Type of self-tapping screw

Rocker arm attached

the wood will get wet and swell, making it difficult for the windmill to track the direction of the wind). The drilling axis must be parallel to the plane of the tail! Drilled - great. Are the disks broken yet? Fine. To attach the rocker to the pole, you need to select several washers. I used one nut. We insert a self-tapping screw into the hole in the rocker arm, install nuts (washers) and attach the rocker arm to the pole. Screw the self-tapping screw into the pole with the entire threaded part. The rocker arm should rotate freely on the axis. The result is in the photo.

Airplane windmill made of plywood

A more reliable and at the same time simpler design can be made with your own hands from sheet materials. In terms of durability, sheet steel wins, but it is more difficult to process. It’s easier to make an airplane weathervane from moisture-resistant plywood.

The manufacturing process involves the following steps:

The self-made weather vane remains to be fixed at the highest point of the roof.

This video shows how to make a beautiful airplane weather vane:

Making a weather vane with a deflector for the chimney

The weather vane on the chimney is called differently, for example, chimney, deflector or cap. Essentially, these are the same device. The weathervane is responsible for the decorative function here, but the chimney itself is protected from reverse draft by a deflector.

Before you make the weather vane yourself and install it on the chimney, you need to understand what a deflector is. Its design has a cap that protects the chimney from air flow. Even if the wind blows from below, the deflector will still provide traction and even increase it. A chimney with a rotating hood and the principle of its operation are shown in this photo.

In this design, the deflector is connected to the weather vane through a bearing. The wind turns the cap, creating turbulence that prevents air from entering the chimney.

However, the chimney may have a deflector with a non-rotating cap, and the upper weather vane itself plays only the role of decoration, as the photo shows.

This design is easier to do with your own hands. As an option, it is better to buy a ready-made deflector, and then decorate its cap yourself with a weather vane.

This diagram shows how to install a deflector with a round fixed cap on a chimney made from a round pipe with a diameter of 120 mm. Here the racks (4) are secured to the cylinder (9) with nuts (8) and bolts (7). The upper cylinder (3) is secured with a clamp (5). The reverse cone (2) and the upper cap (1) are attached to the posts with rivets (6).

The deflector is ready, all that remains is to decorate its cap with a weather vane. You can make a weather vane according to the presented diagram.

Manufacturing consists of the following steps:

A support is made from a piece of pipe with a diameter of 15 mm and a length of 120 mm. A thread is cut on one side.
The bearing is selected according to the size of the workpiece. It is hammered into the pipe.
Two fastening plates are welded to another section of a similar pipe without thread. They are bent to the shape of the smoke cap. The bearing is hammered inside in the same way.
A compass rose is made from thin strips of stainless steel. They are bolted to the support rack.
To prevent water from getting into the bearings, a protective cap is screwed onto the pipe threads. The two workpieces are connected to each other by an axle made of a rod, tightly seated in the inner races of the bearings.

The finished rotating stand is bolted to the chimney, and a weather vane is fixed directly to it, for example, like this airplane.

What are the types of weather vanes?

Initially, the device was intended to determine the direction of the wind and measure its strength. Over time, weather vanes improved and began to be used for other purposes.

There are several types of design:

The meteorological instrument, as before, is used for its intended purpose. The weather vane has precise balancing, and only forging is used for its manufacture. Modern weather stations use sophisticated electronic instruments, but some meteorologists like to follow the weather vane the old-fashioned way.
Wilde's device, in addition to the direction of the wind, can measure its strength. It is equipped with a screw or a plate is suspended. The wind force is determined by the deviation of the plate from the vertical zero point and the scale. In addition, the noise of the propeller scares birds away from the ripening crop.
Chimney weather vanes have many different names, for example, weather vane or chimney. But their essence is the same - it is a cap that protects the chimney pipe from destruction and penetration of birds. Often chimneys are improved with a deflector that protects the chimney from reverse draft. But on top of the cap itself, for beauty, many people put a rotating decorative figurine, maybe even with a propeller. This is the same weather vane.
Decorative models simply serve as roof decoration. They can be made even without a wind rose indicating the cardinal directions. Even if there are signs, they also serve more as decoration. It is unlikely that it will be possible to determine the exact direction of the wind from them. Similar weather vanes are made in the form of figures of birds and animals. The simplest is a wooden block mounted horizontally on an axis with a propeller, reminiscent of an airplane.

Tips for attaching a weather vane to a dome

To make the weather vane easily rotate around its axis, lithol is stuffed inside the body. Now all that remains is to correctly set the letters of the wind rose according to the cardinal directions. They are aligned according to the compass by clamping the bolted connections of the plates near the rack.

The video shows the smoke vane:

An airplane weather vane made of metal is a kind of lightning rod. To avoid accidents, the structure must be grounded.

How to make a weather vane from wood with your own hands?

A weather vane is a device that is installed on the roofs of houses and is used to determine the direction and strength of the wind. Initially, it was used by meteorologists, but now, when more reliable and accurate methods for this have appeared, it has become a decorative element that emphasizes the individuality and style of the owners. You can buy a beautiful and original weather vane in a store or order a model with an individual design from a craftsman. In this article we will tell you how to make this useful device with your own hands from wood and other available materials.

Do four

secret-mastera.ru

Screeds
Now you need to decide where the device will be installed. This is an important moment to achieve your goal. The sun should fall on the windmill, and it, in turn, should send bunnies into places where there is no sun. It is rational to place the windmill on the north side (if you live in the northern hemisphere). The figure shows an example of windmill placement. So, we decided on the place. It is necessary to find a blank for mounting the windmill. This can be a pole 2-6 meters long if it is intended to be installed on the ground, or the remainder of a mop handle for mounting on a balcony, roof ridge or pole, etc. In my conditions, the windmill was installed on a pole. The upper end of the pole should have an even cut, and we will also drill a hole in the center of the cut. Let's take care of the method of attaching the pole to the surface or to the tree. Examples of fastening poles are shown in the photographs. There is no need to secure it tightly. The windmill requires maintenance. Screeds or improvised materials are good for fastening.

Pole attachment

Attaching the pole Attaching the pole

Device

A weather vane is a simple meteorological instrument that can be used to easily determine which way the wind is blowing. It is installed on the roof ridge or on the head of a pipe and serves as an entertaining decoration, which also has practical applications. The design of this device includes the following elements:

Frame. The body or glass is the part of the weather vane into which the axle is inserted and the wind rose is secured. With the help of struts it is fixed to the roof ridge. To make a housing with your own hands, use a piece of pipe; sometimes, to facilitate the rotation of the axis, a bearing is placed in it.
Axis. The axis of rotation is the element due to which the weather vane rotates. It is made from reinforced twigs, sticks or other materials.
Cap. A small part in the form of a funnel or circle with a hole in the middle is called a cap. It is attached to the axis of rotation of the weather vane and serves as a limiter and protection for the body from moisture penetration.
Wind vane. The flag is attached to the axis of rotation, it is driven by wind currents and indicates its direction. The pointing part of the weather vane is called the arrow, and the opposite part is called the counterweight. Experienced craftsmen can make this part in the form of an animal or a whole plot picture, and they do not need drawings to work, just show the photo you like. You can make a weather vane from wood or plastic with your own hands.
Rose of Wind. The compass rose is the name given to the compass pointer; it consists of two twigs crossed at right angles with letters or colors that indicate where north, south, west and east are located. To correctly make a wind rose with your own hands, during installation you need to orient the pointers along the compass.

Note! If you have visited seaside towns, you have probably noticed that almost every house there is crowned with an intricate weather vane in the form of animals, plants, or even entire scenes. It can reflect the occupation of the homeowners, the family coat of arms. At all times, people believed that a weather vane scares away evil spirits and protects against the evil eye. If you do not take into account superstitions, then a weather vane made by yourself is an excellent bird scarer.

Chimney weather vanes-deflectors

These devices are installed at the chimney outlet and serve to decorate it and disperse smoke. In addition, the deflector prevents raindrops from entering the chimney and birds or small animals from entering. As smoke exits the chimney, the device begins to rotate, dispersing the flow to the sides. In addition, the weather vane is directed along the wind, which prevents the flow from blowing into the chimney and smoke from entering the premises. The manufacture of such a weather vane is simple; galvanized steel is used as the material. The shape of the weather vane is an inclined section of pipe cut in the longitudinal direction. A tail is installed on top, guiding the device in the wind.

The device is simple, but requires periodic maintenance, since soot and condensation clog the bearings or bushings, making rotation of the device difficult.

Self-production

A weather vane of a simple design can be easily made with your own hands from scrap materials, using galvanized steel, plywood, plastic bottles or even unnecessary disks. The advantage of this method is that such a product looks unique and does not require large expenses. Spending the weekend at the dacha, this idea can be turned into joint entertainment for children and adults. To make a weather vane with your own hands, you will need scraps of building materials, for example, thin plywood. In addition, you will need a long nail or self-tapping screw, a block of wood, 3 large flat beads, a hacksaw, a pencil, glue and a marker. The manufacturing process is as follows:

Print or make a pattern of the weather vane parts on paper. We suggest choosing a model in the form of a simplified airplane made of three triangles of different sizes.

Important! Wood is not the most durable material for making a weather vane; from constant exposure to moisture it darkens, becomes moldy, and then collapses. To make the craft pleasing to the eye longer, you need to coat the plywood with paint or varnish. This measure will preserve the appearance of the weather vane and make it more noticeable.

Vane

One of the interesting and aesthetically attractive roles of a wind turbine is to act as a weather vane. This device, in addition to its decorative value, performs the duties of a meteorological instrument. The weather vane is capable of determining the speed and direction of the wind, allowing it to obtain statistical information.

The accumulated data can be used, for example, to make calculations when creating a large wind generator. Installing a weather vane on the roof creates a stylish decorative element and decorates the protruding parts of the roof. The following materials can be used to make a weather vane:

metal,
plastic,
wood.

The choice of material is determined by the capabilities and preferences of the home owner. You can create a highly artistic forged product from metal, but this is not accessible to everyone. A plastic weather vane is not afraid of exposure to atmospheric moisture, but does not react well to cold and sunlight. Wooden structures are accessible to most home craftsmen, but they greatly require the application of a high-quality protective layer from moisture.

Installation of a weather vane

After you have made your own weather vane, you need to secure it to the roof. In order for it to correctly determine the direction of the wind, and not serve as a useless decoration, the following rules should be followed:

The weather vane is installed on the highest point of the roof - the ridge, chimney or ventilation pipe. You can attach it to the roof of a house, gazebo, or greenhouse. If you want the weather vane to correctly indicate the direction of the wind, then install the device at a height of 4-5 m.
Construction stores sell special mounts for weather vanes. They are corners for fixing on the roof ridge. More expensive models are equipped with special screws, with which you can adjust the position of the weather vane and make it exactly vertical.

Note! In order for the weather vane to show not only the direction of the wind, but also the strength, a special suspension is made. It is cut from a sheet of metal, foam plastic or thin plywood in the form of a small rectangle. A hole is made on one side of the workpiece, a thread is inserted into it, and then hung to the arrow of the weather vane. When the wind blows, the gimbal deflects, showing how strong the gust is.

What parts does a weather vane consist of?

To make a structure with your own hands, you need to know its structure. Any weather vane consists of the following parts:

The base of the weather vane is the body. It is mounted on the roof, and an axle with bearings is inserted inside it.
The compass rose represents 2 crossed rods at right angles. At their ends there are letters welded to indicate the cardinal directions.
A cone-shaped cap protects the housing with bearings from the penetration of rainwater.
A rotating flag is a weather vane. It is made in the shape of birds or animals. Often this is an airplane. Opposite the balancing flag is a counterweight.
The propeller is the most interesting part of the weather vane. The wind speed is determined by its rotation. The screw is made from solid sheet material or taken ready-made, for example, from a computer fan.

Recommendations on how to make a weather vane with a propeller with your own hands

Every country property owner wants to make their home beautiful and unique. If you know how to make a weather vane with a propeller with your own hands, then you can equip any building with it. Despite the availability of modern instruments with software, the weather vane remains a fairly accurate device for determining the direction and strength of the wind, which operates around the clock, without the need for energy sources, adjustment or frequent maintenance. In addition, these products perform a practical function by driving away birds that can destroy crops. Having a little free time, you can make a weather vane yourself from scrap materials that you can always find in the pantry.

Scheme of the weather vane. Despite the availability of modern instruments with software, the weather vane remains a fairly accurate device for determining the direction and strength of the wind.

Do eight

The device in action
We install the pole in a pre-selected place. First, replay the climb in your mind and evaluate your capabilities. We lift it carefully, the main thing is not to destroy the windmill by hitting foreign objects. After installation, securely fasten the pole. Hooray! Ready. The house, the dacha are protected from dark forces ;)! Video of a wind turbine in operation. Bunnies video.

According to Feng Shui, evil forces are concentrated in dark corners; a windmill, when installed correctly, can throw sunbeams into the most unexpected places in dark corners and rooms. About the positive impact of the design in protecting against dark forces