A weather vane with a propeller is the most reliable indicator of the direction and presence of wind. That is why until now it remains an invariable attribute of any meteorological station. However, it can be not only a measuring instrument, but also a decoration of the roof of your house.
It is necessary
- - plywood;
- - EDP glue;
- - paint;
- - small bearings;
- - propeller.
Instructions
Step 1
Before building a weather vane, develop a simple blueprint. Decide on the dimensions of this device, when developing moving joints, be guided by the dimensions of the bearings. Consider the maximum possible wind speed at which the weather vane will operate, and use parts of the appropriate thickness.
Step 2
Cut all the necessary parts out of thin plywood. Use a thick steel pin to make a pivot pin. It will be subjected to strong wind loads, so it must be powerful. The stud diameter must be at least 6 mm. The part of the axle on which the housing with bearings will be put on does not need to be wrapped with threads, the main thing is that there is enough length of the protruding part to fix the weather vane on the leg with a nut. Make the propeller axle in the same way.
Step 3
Assemble the body, glue the wooden bosses for the bearings and the propeller shaft, as well as the keel. It is best to glue it with EDP glue. Secure the parts to be bonded with clamps or heavy duty wooden clothespins. Be sure to insulate the clothespins from the glue with a piece of plastic bag, otherwise the clothespins will stick tightly to the weather vane body. When the glue is dry, use a drill to drill a hole in the wood boss for the slewing bearings, then drill a hole for the propeller shaft. Glue on the propeller shaft, and then dilute a little paint with solvent and paint the entire weather vane body. The paint will protect the wood from moisture, and it must be dissolved for deeper absorption into the wood. For best results, paint the hull in several coats with intermediate drying times.
Step 4
Make a propeller. The number of blades affects the appearance and the complexity of manufacturing. In the simplest case, you can use an appropriately sized propeller from a model aircraft. Drill the center hole of the propeller for the existing bearings and, if necessary, shorten the blades, and also insert the bearings into the propeller. Then balance it if possible. To do this, place the propeller on the weather vane, secure it with a nut and position the propeller horizontally. If it turns, then use sandpaper to grind off a little material from the blade that tends to go down.
Step 5
Assemble the weather vane stand. Take a suitable shovel handle and drill a deep hole in one of its ends. Glue the pivot shaft into it. When the glue is dry, paint the rack and place the finished weather vane on top of it. Secure it with a nut.
Step 6
Balance the weather vane. To do this, with the help of lead weights, ensure that the front or tail parts do not outweigh and the body is in a state of balance horizontally. This ensures that the weather vane will always show the correct wind direction.
