When the main construction and roofing work has already been completed, the time passes to decorate the house with small details that reflect your style, mood, and personality. To make your home stand out against the backdrop of dull buildings, you can decorate it with an original weather vane. This amusing device, set in motion by the slightest breath of wind, is not only a decorative element, it is also a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Today’s article will tell you how to make a weather vane with your own hands, what materials to use and how to attach it to the roof.

Functions

A roof weather vane is a device used to determine the direction and speed of air flows. The windmill is powered by gusts of wind: when the air acts on the wind vanes, it begins to spin, indicating where it is blowing. The direction is determined by the wind rose, which is an indicator of the cardinal directions.

The force of the wind is shown by the suspended part, deviating from the vertical position under the influence of air masses. They are installed on the roof ridge of a house, on a chimney pipe, even on special installed poles. They perform the following functions:

1. Shows the direction and speed of wind gusts. It may seem that at present this information cannot be useful, however, these indicators are taken into account when performing some agricultural operations (spraying plants with fertilizers and pesticides, when sowing small-seeded crops), when swimming in the open sea, during hang gliding.
2. Decorates the horse. A cat weathervane, an angel weathervane or windmills in the form of other animals and birds contribute to the unique image of the house, making it unique and original. If you order a copper windmill from a craftsman, having developed the sketches yourself, it can become a new family coat of arms and talisman of the house.
3. Scares away birds. The rotating parts of windmills in motion reflect light and sparkle, driving away flocks of annoying birds that are not averse to profiting from berries and fruits from the garden. Shiny weather vanes made of unpainted metal are well suited for scaring away birds. The copper rooster windmill copes well with this task.
4. Repels moles and shrews. The invasion of moles and shrews, which dig long passages underground, destroying root crops, becomes a real disaster for gardeners. To scare away pests, it is enough to install a wind vane, a windmill with rotors, directly into the ground, which produces sounds and vibrations when rotating.
5. Protects the chimney pipe from moisture. A weather vane deflector perfectly replaces a protective umbrella installed on a chimney or ventilation pipe, and a cockerel, cat or owl decorates this element of the roof.

Weather vane device

Initially, weather vanes were installed on the roofs of houses in coastal cities so that, upon leaving the house, one could find out where and with what force the wind was blowing. Nowadays, the device has lost its practical functions and has become more of a fun decorative element with which to decorate country houses And country cottages. Any weather vane consists of the following parts:

1. Housings. This is the base of the weather vane into which the axle is inserted. The housing is fixed to the roof or chimney pipe.
2. Bearing. The bearing is located in the housing; it ensures free rotation of the axis inserted into it under the influence of gusts of wind.
3. Cardinal direction indicator. It consists of two twigs crossed to form an angle of 90 degrees. At the end of each twig there is a letter designation of the direction of the world to which it points. A compass is required to correctly orient the pointer.
4. Axis. The axis is located vertically; it is inserted into the weather vane body through a bearing. To ensure that rotation does not impede anything, you need to select a bearing and an axis of the same diameter.
5. Cap. This is a device in the form of a cone or circle on the axis of the weather vane, protecting the body from moisture penetration and performing restrictive functions.
6. Checkbox. On the axis of the weather vane there is always a flag, a small blade driven by the force of the wind. The flag indicates which direction the wind is blowing. It is in this element of the weather vane that its decorative potential lies. A skilled craftsman can give a flag any shape - animals, vehicles, birds.
7. Counterweight. This is a part located on the opposite side of the flag, necessary for balancing it.

Before you make a weather vane, you need to understand what it consists of in order to select suitable materials and will amount to detailed drawing with dimensions. In the hands of an experienced craftsman, a weather vane can turn into an intricate mechanism with moving parts, acting out a scene with a specific plot and main characters. But to make it yourself, simpler models and affordable inexpensive materials are suitable.

Types of weather vanes

Initially, the weather vane was conceived as a meteorological instrument that determined the direction and strength of the wind. Nowadays it is installed simply for beauty, however, it can still be useful. The following types of weather vanes are distinguished:

When creating drawings for making a weather vane, please note that it must be installed on the roof at a height above 12 m, if you want it to more or less accurately indicate the direction of the wind; for decorative purposes, it can even be mounted on a gazebo or terrace. The recommended height of the weather vane is 70-80 cm, width – about 40 cm.

Materials

Rooftop windmills come in a wide variety of different materials. In most cases, this issue is resolved by the financial capabilities of the buyer. The main thing is that the material used is not afraid of moisture, has high resistance to ultraviolet rays, and also does not weigh too much. Traditionally, windmills are made from:

Important! In order for the windmill to last longer, you should install this decorative element efficiently and competently. Weathervanes installed incorrectly on the ridge of a house vibrate, make noise, and also damage the roofing. In addition, strong winds tear off a weakly secured windmill, which often causes deformation of the roof, as well as injuries.

Making a weather vane with your own hands

Before you make a weather vane with your own hands, you need to choose a material that will withstand the effects of precipitation. Wood, even if coated with paint, will lose its aesthetic appearance and darken within a year.

To create a more durable weather vane, you need to use galvanized metal. Before starting work, you must make a schematic drawing, showing the height of the weather vane, the shape and dimensions of the flag. Work is performed in the following order:

1. To make the body, take a metal pipe with a diameter of 13-15 mm and a length of 130 mm. A bearing of suitable diameter is inserted into the upper part of the pipe.
2. Take two strips of narrow strips stainless steel and fasten them in the middle part crosswise in order to make a compass rose. If your skills in working with metal are sufficient, then you can cut out letters indicating the cardinal directions. Or you can paint the tips of the signs in a symbolic light: north - blue, south - red. The position of the winds is attached to the body by welding, checking with the compass.
3. You need to cut a flag from a sheet of galvanized steel or copper. To make this easier, you need to transfer the drawing to tracing paper with correct sizes. This pattern is applied to a sheet of metal and traced using a marker. The flag is cut along the contour using a hacksaw or metal scissors. You need to cut slowly, slowly, so that the edge of the figure comes out smooth, without jagged edges.
4. The axis of the future weather vane is made from smooth reinforcement. In order to protect the bearing from moisture penetration, a cap or funnel made of stainless steel is welded to the axle. Some people prefer to use a rubber seal for this purpose.
5. A flag is fixed to the top of the axle using several screws and nuts. In order for the flag to be positioned horizontally, it must be balanced so that its weight to the right and left of the attachment point is approximately the same.
6. Then you need to lubricate the bearing with grease to facilitate the movement of the axis, and assemble all the parts of the weather vane together.

If you are an advanced craftsman, you can complicate the design of the weather vane with the help of vertical propellers that set the figures on the flag in motion. To add volume to the weather vane, you can use embossing, because steel is enough soft material to make its surface embossed.

After you have made the weather vane, all that remains is to secure it to the roof surface. The easiest way to do this is with metal corners or plates. The main thing is not to damage the waterproofing of the roof to prevent leaks.

If you install it on a ridge or chimney pipe, you can avoid unpleasant consequences. Please note that if the installation is performed poorly, the mechanism will resonate and create noise that scares away birds, but irritates others.

Video instructions

Knowing the direction of the wind can be useful, because it is not for nothing that wind indicators - weather vanes - have been installed on almost all roofs for a long time. There are very simple models - just an arrow that shows where the air flow is directed. There are entire works of art - three-dimensional models. We will talk further about how and what to make a weather vane with your own hands.

What to make a weather vane from

Wind direction indicators are made from a variety of materials. The main thing is that these materials are durable and can withstand weather conditions well. These conditions are met following materials:

The most durable, naturally, are metal weather vanes. But cutting sheet metal- a difficult task. Thinner sheets - 2-3 mm, you can also try to cut them with a jigsaw with files good quality. And then you will have to stock up on them in large quantities. All other materials are cut with a bang by this tool.

Where to get it or how to make a sketch

Sketches for a weather vane can be found with dimensions, or you can create them from a suitable picture. To do this, any picture you like must be loaded into one of the photo editors, enlarged to the desired size and printed. This trick can be done with COREL.

Another option is to open the drawing in AutoCAD, outline the contours with half lines. You will get the desired outline. It can be increased to the desired size.

If you are not very comfortable with computer programs, you will have to work with your hands - draw the drawing into small squares, then transfer it to paper on a large scale.

How to make a weather vane

Glue the finished sketch of a weather vane in natural size, printed on paper, onto a piece of material of the required size. Transfer the contours to the material using any available method. You can do this:

Using the marks, we restore the contour. On some materials this can be done with a pencil or marker, for metal - only with the same punch.

Next, you need to cut out the body of the weather vane along the resulting contour. You should choose a tool for cutting a weather vane depending on the type of material. In most cases, a jigsaw is suitable. For softer materials you can also use hand file. For metal 2-3 mm thick, you can also try to cut a weather vane using hand saw or jigsaw. True, it will take a lot of time. The metal is thicker, even the most powerful jigsaw will not take it. For such a case, you can use a welding machine and a large chisel. Straight and not very rounded areas, you can try to cut them with a grinder.

After the “body” of the weather vane is cut out, the edges are processed until smooth. To do this, use needle files, files, and sandpaper. If you have a grinder, the process can be speeded up by installing sanding discs of different grain sizes.

How to make a turning mechanism

In order for the weather vane to perform its actions, it must be movably fixed. And so that at the slightest wind it turns. To do this, the “body” of the weather vane itself is attached to the rod, and bottom part to the roof or chimney (if they make a weather vane - a chimney cap with a weather vane). These two parts are connected movably - using bearings or other similar connections.

Using a ball

You can find any bearing and weld two parts of the “holder” to it. You can make a turning mechanism without a bearing, but with a ball of a suitable size or cone.

To make a rotary vane mechanism, you will need two metal pipes different diameters or a pin of a smaller diameter and a pipe of a larger diameter. Moreover, they must be selected so that one fits into the other with minimum clearance(2-3 mm).

The weather vane body is attached/welded to the wider pipe. Moreover, it is necessary to make sure that upper part the pipes turned out to be sealed. The lower tube or pin is used to attach the cardinal direction indicator. This is what is attached to the roof. Its upper part should also be welded or sealed.

If you don’t have a welding machine, you can use wooden plugs - they are driven tightly into the pipe. For reliability, you can lubricate the walls universal glue. But this option - with wooden plugs - cannot last too long. Frequent turns will wear away the wood, so after a while the rotating mechanism of the weather vane will have to be restored.

When assembling the weather vane, a ball from the bearing is placed on the installed pin, and the weather vane body with a welded pipe is placed on top. For smoother rotation, you can add oil to the mechanism. After this, you can consider that you have already made a weather vane with your own hands. True, you still need to secure it, and this is far from easy to do - working at heights with a heavy and bulky product in your hands is quite a challenge.

With a machined cone

If you can’t find a ball of the right size, but you know a lathe or you can work with metal, you can grind a cone that will replace the ball.

The weather vane assembly scheme itself remains the same: we attach the body to the upper pipe, and fix the lower one on a pole, roof ridge, etc.

Final revision

In order for a metal weather vane to serve for a long time and at the same time have a presentable appearance, it must be carefully painted, having first prepared the surface well. To begin with, using sandpaper remove rust completely to bare metal. Then we coat it with automotive primer (you can also use a rust converter). After the primer has dried, you can paint it.

Winged horse - why not decorate your home

We take paints for exterior work. All automobile ones are perfect, but oil-based ones, such as hammer ones, are also suitable. They give an interesting effect. You can also try painting it powder paints, but they require special conditions — high temperature. Otherwise, the coating will quickly fall off.

After applying the paint, leave the product to dry for two days without touching it with your hands. Such paints take a long time to dry (with the exception of powder paints), and after “testing” stains remain. If you are satisfied with the quality of the painting, you can install the weather vane in place.

Homemade weather vanes of varying complexity: photo reports

When making a wind direction indicator with your own hands, many questions arise. The design is simple, but there are many options. For example, the swivel assembly can be made in different ways, not to mention the shape and size of the housing. Everyone chooses what they like best. In order to form at least a general idea of ​​how you can do this useful for a country house or garden plot device, we will give several examples of homemade weather vanes with step-by-step photos.

Based on a bearing from a VAZ pump

The bearing was taken from an old VAZ. Based on the size of the bearing, pipes were found - one of which this bearing fits into. We install a stopper in this pipe so that the bearing does not fall inside; after installing it, we weld it. From pipes of smaller diameter we make a cross, to which we will then attach letters indicating the direction of the cardinal points.

We weld another piece of thin pipe to the top of the bearing. This will be the rotating part, to which the body of the weather vane will then be attached. We weld two short sections of pipe perpendicular to this pin - we will weld the cut weather vane to them. To protect the bearing from moisture and dust, we use a boot from the steering rod, pulling it before we started welding the rotating part.

A cat is cut out of an aluminum sheet 2 mm thick, the letters are made of galvanized steel. We'll spray paint them with bright red auto enamel, and the cat with black.

All that remains is to weld/attach all the parts to assemble the weather vane.

A homemade metal weather vane on a bearing is ready. Can be installed on the roof.

The simplest weather vane in 5 minutes from scrap materials

When hunting, fishing or dacha, you may need a wind direction indicator. You can make a very simple model literally from nothing. You will need:

• plastic or paper glass (preferably large capacity);
• thick wire (you can use aluminum or steel);
• plastic screed;
• a washer with an internal diameter not less than the diameter of the wire.

The manufacturing process is very simple. First of all, carefully, without damaging the walls, remove the bottom. You can remove it from a paper cup, but you will have to cut it off from a plastic cup. Next, stepping back from the wider edge about a centimeter, we make two holes in the walls, located one opposite the other, and thread the wire. We bend one edge of the wire so that the wind indicator does not fall off.

We make a weather vane with our own hands from scrap materials

From the opposite side - from below - we put a washer on the wire, raise it to the level of the glass, leaving a very small gap (a few millimeters). We take the tie, tighten it, fixing the washer at the desired level.

That's all, we made a simple weather vane with our own hands. Of course, it is very short-lived, but long-term service is not always necessary. And it will correctly indicate where the wind is blowing.

Video on the topic

Photos of weather vanes and ideas for sketches

The most common themes for making a weather vane are a cat, a rooster, an eagle, and a ship. They are the most common. There are many options and variations. But there is very non-standard ideas. Perhaps, looking at them, you want something original.

You can attach a weather vane not only to a ridge or a pole - you can install it on a pipe

Stork - to happiness and wealth

Favorite hobby: fisherman can be seen from afar

Wooden weather vane - you can also make it yourself

Today, a weather vane mounted on a roof is more a tribute to tradition than a practical device. In order to make it you need to have minimal metalworking skills.

You can decorate your house, always be aware of the direction of the wind and surprise your neighbors if you make a weather vane with your own hands. For this, it is advisable to use sheet copper. The main elements that make up the product are the body and the axle. The weather vane is driven by the force of the wind.

Why do you need a weather vane?

The main purpose of a weather vane is to report the direction of the wind. However, it is believed that the rooster-shaped device can serve as a talisman for the home. According to Feng Shui, weather vanes promote installation good relations with neighbors.

If you decide to attach the product to your roof, the first thing you should do is make drawings of the propeller. Its presence on the weather vane will allow you to assess the strength of the wind. However, it is worth taking into account the fact that vibration may occur from it through the structures. Most often the product is used to decorate the roofs of various buildings located on a summer cottage. Such an element will become a harmonious addition.

Work order

• First you need to build a support. Take a pipe. A piece equal to 12.5 cm is cut from it. The diameter should be about 1.3 cm. A thread must be made in the upper part of the pipe so that a lid can be put on it.
• A bearing is placed inside the pipe. It is important that it fits correctly.

• The weather vane on the roof must be installed firmly. For this, it is recommended to use steel strips. They are mounted to the side of the device, but so that the rotation of the product occurs without interference.
• Special attention attached to the housing cover. It will not be difficult to make it from steel, the main thing is that it fits perfectly into the pipe thread.
• A similar product has a wind rose. Often it looks like thin steel sticks with letters attached to them, indicating the cardinal directions.
• To prevent moisture from entering the housing, a cap is mounted on top.

Photo gallery

Features of roof mounting

It’s not enough to make a weather vane with your own hands; you need to correctly install it on the roof. First, the body is filled with lithol or grease. Then, according to the compass, the direction of the wind rose is adjusted to the cardinal points.

There are several mounting methods:

• on the chimney cap using metal strips;
• welding a round flange to the end of the body;
• installation using clamps or flat plates.

It is quite simple to understand that everything is done correctly - the product should rotate freely around its axis even in light winds. In this case, you can install a vertical plate on the weather vane, its deviation will show you the strength of the wind. After you have installed the weather vane with your own hands, you can also install a lightning rod. Fasten one end of the steel wire to the product, and ground the other one and a half meters.

Now you know how to make a weather vane. To ensure that the device does not fail for a long time, the bearings must be lubricated at least once a year.

Weather vane as a decorative element

Most popular decorative form products - rooster. But this does not mean that you should stop at this option. At the moment, you can find drawings for products of completely different shapes. For example, nothing prevents you from making a product in the form of characters from fairy tales, insects, zodiac signs, an airplane, a ship or animals.

You can add any dynamic elements to the weather vane design. This could be the figure of a horse that moves from a pecking bird or from a propeller. This delicacy will be appreciated by all the neighbors in the area.

Moving parts will be visible on low buildings. They are great at scaring away birds. You can install weather vanes of this type in garages and greenhouses. The product will decorate.

Materials

Now it’s clear to you how to make a weather vane with your own hands, but the question remains about what the product can be made from. As a rule, copper or steel is preferred. At the same time, the outside of the finished device is coated with paint. It is rare to find forged products. But in fact, you can make a weather vane from scrap materials.

So, the material can be CDs, plastic bottles, tin and moisture resistant plywood. If you prefer wood, it is worth remembering that when connecting parts you do not need to fasten them tightly. Otherwise, the dynamics will be disrupted.

The simplest weather vane model (video)

The first mention of a weather vane dates back to the pre-Christian era. On the Tower of the Winds in Athens there was the oldest weather vane depicting a figure of the ancient Greek god of the seas and depths, Triton. The author of the design is considered to be the Greek astronomer Andronikos of Cyrrhus. For centuries, the weather vane performed the same function assigned to it - it showed the direction and speed of the wind. Today, the weather vane is no longer perceived as an anachronism, but is a kind of talisman of home ownership and stylish decoration for roofs, which completes the architectural appearance of the building. Just like thousands of years ago, the weather vane conscientiously fulfills its meteorological mission.

The principle of operation of the weather vane and its functions

How often do people think about the question of what wind is blowing today and what is its speed? Hardly. But in windy weather, watching the fancy fouettes of a weather vane is interesting for both adults and children. In addition to its main meteorological function (indicating the direction and speed of the wind), the weather vane has other tasks:

• protects the chimney from air masses entering it, thereby preventing smoke from entering the living room;
• decorates the ridge of the roof of the home, being an extraordinary element architectural decor;
• is a kind of talisman and guardian of the hearth and well-being.

According to the teachings of Feng Shui, weather vanes promote the flow of positive energy into the house, promote mutual understanding with neighbors and friendly relations within the family.

Types of weather vanes and their symbolic meanings

If noble townspeople decorated their houses with weathervanes in the form of a family coat of arms or a knight on horseback, then ordinary people increasingly depicted their belonging to a certain profession on the spiers. Above the shoemaker's workshop one could see a weather vane-shoe, and above the bakery a loaf of bread. With the development of artistic forging, weathervane figurines began to acquire an exquisite appearance and carry a certain meaning. Animals, birds, ships, zodiac signs, fairy-tale and even biblical characters were depicted above the chimneys. Often a wind rose with the Latin initial letters of the cardinal directions (W, N, E, S) was attached to the bottom.

The compass rose helps determine wind directions

The most common weathervane figurine was a rooster, which symbolized vigilance and fighting spirit, and also protected the house from enemies and fires. In England, the weather vane is still called the “weather cock.” Roosters began to appear on the roofs of Catholic cathedrals back in the 9th century by decree of the Pope in honor of the Apostle Peter.

A rooster on the roof of a house symbolizes fighting spirit, courage and brilliance

Nowadays I see weathervanes on private houses less and less often. As a child, when I went to the village, I met the most different options, but, as a rule, the cockerel predominated. Although, once even a dragon was caught, but he did not stay in his place for long. One day there was a strong wind, the dragon was blown off, and I never saw him again. The weather vane must be attached taking into account such bad weather.

Stepan

https://nashdom.online/kry-sha/otdelka-kry-shi/flyuger-na-kryshu.html

The cat was just as popular. The freedom-loving animal was the keeper of the hearth and comfort. It was believed that the cat protected the home from otherworldly dark forces and brought happiness and good luck to the family.

The cat is friends with the brownie and protects from dark forces

The griffin weather vane combines the qualities of a mighty king of beasts and a vigilant eagle - courage, wisdom and observation. The griffin has a sharp mind, healthy calculation and rationalism.

The griffin combines the courage of a lion and the wisdom of an eagle

People with an active lifestyle and immense energy decorated their homes with figurines of horses. The horse is a symbol of a noble family and nobility.

A figurine of a horse above the roof of a house speaks of the nobility and active life position of its owner

The dragon in Chinese mythology has always been the bearer of wisdom and the keeper of secret knowledge. He is responsible for business success and financial well-being a family who decided to decorate their home with his image.

The dragon will provide you monetary well-being

Storks and swans symbolize chastity and grace, devotion and love, mutual understanding and support. Families who had long dreamed of children and procreation decorated their homes with storks. The figurine of a stork is especially popular in Scandinavian countries, where it symbolizes the hearth and patronizes travelers.

A figurine of a stork is installed on the roof by people for whom family values ​​are important.

Figures of angels and images of biblical characters on weathervanes symbolize faith, connection with the Almighty and the spiritual world. They bring happiness, kindness, warmth and comfort to the inhabitants of the house.

An angel weather vane will give family comfort and peace of mind

The buildings of port cities were crowned with ship weathervanes, and later every sailor considered it an honor to decorate the spire of his house with a sailboat flying on the wings of the wind.

The ship on the spire of the building symbolized unstoppability, courage and naval glory

Weather vanes with propellers look impressive even in light winds. The additional movement of the blades adds weightlessness and mobility to the design.

By the speed of rotation of the blades you can judge the speed of the wind

Thus, in addition to its main purpose, the weather vane is a mirror image inner world its owner, acts as a symbol of the home and an element of architectural art.

It always seemed to me that the richer and more respectable the house, the more interesting not only its idea should be, but also the accompanying “accessories”. It’s not for nothing that they say that everything new is well forgotten old. I believe that a weather vane is a roof element that will give individuality to your building. Moreover, you can experiment with sizes and shapes, the main thing is to know the meaning of these symbols.

Alena

http://proroofer.ru/aksessuary/flyuger-na-kryshu.html

Do-it-yourself weather vane from a variety of available materials

You can make a weather vane with your own hands from scrap materials. But based on the properties of the materials, a structure made of metal is much stronger and more durable than figurines made of plywood or wood. Weather vanes made of plastic are less susceptible to rain, snow, frost or sun, but are inferior in brightness and style. metal structures. Although any weather vane, made with soul and imagination, will delight you and your children, neighbors, guests and random passers-by.

The weather vane is a simple structure consisting of a horizontal “Wind Rose” scale, a body, a counterweight and a weather vane, located on a vertical movable axis.

You can use plywood, plastic or sheet iron as a weather vane.

Metal weather vane

Before you start making a metal weather vane, you need to transfer the image of the figure onto the sheet using a sketch. Ideal material for such a weather vane is sheet copper.

The image you like must be transferred to a sheet of metal

Draw a figurine of a weather vane at your own discretion or download a sketch from the Internet - this will save time and expand the horizons of your imagination. The pictures for the weather vane amaze with their diversity and creativity.

Step-by-step instructions for making a metal weather vane

1. Using metalwork clamps, secure the sheet of metal with the image of the figurine on a workbench or stable table. Cut out the image along the contour with a jigsaw.

   
   The image of the figure, applied to a sheet of metal, must be carefully cut out with a jigsaw

2. Clean out rough edges and burrs using a metal file or grinder with a grinding wheel.

   
   You can clean up any uneven spots left by a jigsaw using grinding wheel and a file

3. Finer processing in hard to reach places pass using a fine file.

   
   Fine processing is carried out by hand with files

4. Make holes for the eyes and nose with an electric drill with a drill with a diameter of 10–12 mm.

   
   Holes for the eyes and nose are made with a drill

5. Using a needle file and a semicircular file, give the holes a completed shape.

   
   The exact shape of the eye holes can be given by processing their edges with a file.

6. Make a cat's nose from rolled metal, rounding the edges with a grinder.

   
   To make a nose, the edges of a metal rod are rounded, and then a fragment of the required length is cut off

7. Weld the cat's nose and whiskers using a welding machine.

   
   For connection metal parts electric or gas used welding machine

8. Using a jigsaw, cut out two fragments along the contour: the arrow and the tail.

   
   The details of the “Compass Rose” arrow are cut out with a jigsaw

9. To make a swivel joint, drill 12 mm diameter holes in the ball and cover.

   
   To make the hole exactly in the center, secure the required part in a vice

10. Weld the lid, rod, ball, arrows, and weather vane figure to the base of the rotary hinge. Traces welding seams process with an angle grinder grinding wheel.

    
    After welding, you need to clean all connecting seams with a grinder

11. Insert a metal ball lubricated with any thick lubricant between the support rod and the stand. This will provide the weather vane with the necessary mobility from a slight breeze.

    
    The ball treated with thick lubricant will provide the weather vane with sufficient mobility

Video: stainless steel weather vane

Weather vane made from plastic bottles

If you don’t have the extra money to buy a weather vane, you can build one from plastic bottles. Even a child can make the simplest weather vane. We will need the following materials and tools:

• plastic bottle;
• strong knitting needle or rigid wire with a diameter of 1.5–2 mm;
• fixing bead;
• wooden block;
• scissors and pliers.

Making your own weather vane from a plastic bottle: step-by-step instructions

Video: weather vane made from a plastic bottle

Weather vane made of CDs

A weather vane made from CDs is also not an expensive pleasure, especially if you use old unnecessary discs to make it. Choose the number of blades at your discretion (from 2 to 6). You can, of course, use all the disks that you have lying around unclaimed, but is it worth it? The basis for fixing the disk-blades will be a wheel from a scooter, baby stroller or roller skate.

Step-by-step instructions for making your own weather vane from CDs

1. We make cuts in the wheel at an angle of 30–35 degrees in the designated places. The number of cuts must match the number of blades.

   
   To make cuts, the wheel must be securely secured in a vice.

2. We fix the discs in the wheel epoxy glue.

   
   The CD is mounted into the cut using epoxy glue

3. From wooden block we make a rocker arm for the weather vane: on one side we cut a cut for the disc-tail.

   
   The disc is inserted into the sawn cut and reinforced with wire

4. WITH reverse side we strengthen the wheel with blades.

   
   The weather vane head is secured to the rocker arm using a self-tapping screw and a screwdriver

5. Determine the center of gravity on the rocker arm.

   
   The center of the rocker will be attached to the main pole

6. We drill a hole in the center and attach it to the base of the structure (pole) using a self-tapping screw without a thread at the head.

   
   A self-tapping screw at the head without a thread will provide the weather vane with a good response to the wind

7. For better mobility, we place a nut and washers of the appropriate diameter between the pole and the rocker.

   
   Make sure that the rocker rotates easily on the base.

8. We install the weather vane on suitable place and catch sunbeams.

   
   Children will appreciate the sunbeams that will appear in abundance due to the reflection of the sun's rays from the discs on the weather vane.

When installing a CD weathervane, be careful not to damage it on building corners, roofs, or chimneys.

Video: CD weathervane

Weather vane made of wood and plywood

A simple wooden weather vane made of wood and plywood can be made by any dad who has the skills to use a jigsaw and a hammer.

So, we will need:

• plywood isosceles triangle measuring 20*30 cm;
• two equilateral triangles: 7.5*7.5 cm and 12.5*12.5 cm;
• jigsaw and glue.

Step-by-step manufacturing instructions are as follows:

A weather vane made of wood and plywood must be coated with a water-repellent primer and varnish or paint that is resistant to precipitation and temperature changes.

Video: wooden weather vane with propeller

There are many weather vanes that the youngest designer of your garden plot or cottage could make. Paper cups, plastic tubes, sheets of colored paper and even pieces of colorful fabric will work for this. You can even have a competition to see whose weather vane is better. Let's hope that little hands can handle a paper cup faster than daddy's with sheet metal.

Weather vanes that can be built with a minimum of material and time

How to properly install a weather vane on a roof

At first glance, installing a weather vane may seem like a complicated and difficult job. After all, the mount must be quite strong in order to withstand the pressure of gusty winds. The main danger is that working at height involves unforeseen risks and must be carried out with a safety rope and a reliable partner. Weather vanes are mounted on roof ridges, on chimneys or chimney caps (deflectors).

Of course, you can make the fastenings yourself, but it is much safer to purchase ready-made ones in hardware stores. Moreover, fastener designs are designed for different types of roofs. With such brackets, attaching the weather vane to the roof ridge will not be difficult. The most common type of fastening for gable roof Easily fixed to the ridge using self-tapping screws and a screwdriver.

Using a ready-made mount, installing a weather vane on the roof ridge will not be difficult

If it is necessary to strengthen the weather vane on a level horizontal surface or pitched roof, use a special flat mount.

The bracket is secured with four self-tapping screws on a horizontal surface

For sloping roof A special bracket is suitable for mounting on movable legs, fixed to the roof using nuts and bolts.

The hinged mounting of the legs allows you to fix this bracket on a roof with different slope angles

For correct installation weather vane required:

• using fasteners, align the mounting hole for the weather vane rod vertically;
• use a compass to set arrows indicating the cardinal directions (wind rose);
• if necessary, install a bearing at the base of the weather vane to allow the structure to slide smoothly depending on the wind direction;
• secure the weather vane to a fastening device suitable for your roof type.

In order for the weather vane to rotate easily, the rotation unit must be generously lubricated with thick lubricant and protected from moisture. This will improve the accuracy of wind direction readings and increase the service life of the structure.

Video: how to install a weather vane on a roof ridge

If you are not very constrained cash, purchase a weather vane with an image that is most suitable in style and design. Do not forget that the weather vane also protects the home and emphasizes the originality and subtle psychological traits of its owner. But the design made with my own hands owner, will delight your family and passers-by. Imagine, invent, design and enjoy!

A weather vane is a meteorological instrument used to determine the direction of the wind, as well as its speed and strength. It is a metal flag with a counterweight at the other end. Rotating around its axis, the device rotates under the influence of wind. The compass rose is installed on the same axis.

Of course, wind parameters nowadays are measured with special electronic devices, so an ordinary weather vane is often used as decorative detail on the roof of the house.

No one can accurately guess when people began to use weather vanes. The oldest one at the moment can be considered a weather vane, made by a Greek astronomer a little over 2000 years ago. It crowned the Tower of the Winds in ancient Athens and also had a symbolic meaning.

Weathervanes were very popular in the Baltic and Scandinavian countries. In coastal port cities, it was necessary to determine whether the wind would allow a ship to dock. To this day, they decorate the roofs of buildings, striking with their variety of shapes and, at times, being real works of art, but only as decoration.

Types of weather vanes

According to their functional significance, weather vanes are divided into the following types:

• Meteorological instruments. Precisely balanced wind vanes that measure wind direction. This also includes Wild weather vanes, which allow you to determine wind speed. The design of the latter includes a propeller or plate that swings under the influence of air currents. The propeller also serves to scare away birds;
• Chimney weather vanes . Protect chimney from blowing wind, preventing smoke;
• Decorative weather vanes . Artfully crafted weather vanes are commonly used to decorate a home and add personality to a home, adding a unique flair. They are mainly figurines of animals, mythical creatures or birds, but there are also very original ones, reflecting the tastes of the home owners.

Often all of the above types are contained in one device.

Symbolism of weather vanes

Over the past centuries, the weather vane has become the subject of legends and served not only as a decoration for the building, but also as a kind of amulet. According to the eastern teachings of Feng Shui, a weather vane helps to establish warm friendly relations with neighbors.

The most popular are weather vanes with the image of a rooster, especially in Russia. The rooster symbolizes vigilance. In folk legends, he could scare away evil spirits, protect the home from fires and other disasters. In Christianity, the rooster is considered a symbol of St. Apostle Peter.

In Asian countries, weathervanes in the form of dragons are often found. The dragon personifies wisdom, and a weather vane with its image also serves as a talisman.

When choosing a weather vane figurine for your home, it would not be superfluous to ask what this or that image means. For example: a cat serves as a symbol of home comfort, an eagle is called upon to protect from enemies, a lion represents strength and power, a ship represents determination, a stork represents a family hearth.

It is not necessary to strictly adhere to any canons. You can choose the figure you like. If you wish, it is not at all difficult to make a weather vane with your own hands.

Materials for making a weather vane

To create a weather vane, it is preferable to use metal: sheet steel or copper. This design will last a very long time without losing its attractiveness or deteriorating from exposure environment. Forged products look very impressive.

Wood and plywood structures also work, but they suffer from precipitation and temperature changes. To extend their service life, they are coated special composition and varnish.

Quite often lately plastic has been used to make weather vanes. It is lightweight, non-corrosive and impervious to precipitation. But his life is relatively short.

The simplest weather vane can be made from plastic bottles or CDs. Of course, such a device can decorate a modest garden house, a greenhouse or a shed, but not a solid cottage.

Required Tools

The material chosen for the weather vane determines the set of appropriate tools for its processing, including everything necessary to install the weather vane on the roof.

Possible set of tools: ruler, drill, various drills and files, emery, hammer, soldering iron, jigsaw (for working with wooden parts, plywood or plastic). Depending on the complexity of the design, a lathe and anvil may be required.

Main parts of a weather vane

The weather vane design includes:

• bearing axle;
• flag with counterweight;
• frame;
• a cap that protects the housing from water;
• compass rose showing the 4 cardinal directions

Before you make a weather vane with your own hands, you need to select or carefully draw up a drawing of the weather vane. This will help avoid errors and inaccuracies in the design.

The weather vane can be any size; there are no strict rules. But basically they stick to the size 70 x 40 cm (for a cottage).

Making a weather vane from metal

• To construct the body, a segment is taken metal pipe, about 130 mm long and 13 mm in diameter, in the upper part of which a thread is cut. A bearing with an internal diameter of 9 mm is installed inside the lower part of the pipe. It is advisable to use a bearing with a closed housing that is not susceptible to moisture;
• A rod made of smooth reinforcement, 450 mm long and 10 mm in diameter, is used as the axis of the weather vane. The rod is sharpened to a diameter of 9 mm at lathe or using sandpaper. Adjustable to bearing size;
• To make a wind rose, metal rods (preferably steel) of small diameter are taken. They are welded at right angles to the housing cover and end with letters indicating the 4 cardinal directions;

• On inside the lid is carved, then the lid with the compass rose is installed on the weather vane body;
• The rod of the structure is fixed in the hole in the cover and fixed in the bearing. Then the ease of rotation of the structure around its axis is checked;
• To prevent atmospheric moisture from penetrating inside the case, a special cap is fixed above the lid;
• The axle is adjusted to right size and a decorative flag is attached to it - the main decoration of the product. This is done by welding, but you can use bolts or rivets.

Figurine for a weather vane

The most interesting creative moment is to make a weather vane flag figurine.

The size is selected individually, taking into account the dimensions of the entire structure as a whole. For windage, the figure should be somewhat stretched along the horizontal plane.

The design you like is cut out of paper and glued to the material from which the figure will be made (metal, plastic or plywood). Then it is cut out with an appropriate tool (for example, metal scissors).

The edges of the product are carefully processed with a file. Metal flags are often embossed.

How to properly install a weather vane on a roof

Immediately before installation, the product body should be filled with lubricant (for example, grease).

The height at which the weather vane is mounted must be at least 10 m from the ground, at the highest point of the building. The weather vane is attached to the ridge of the roof or to the cap of the stove (or ventilation) pipe. Since the structure is constantly subject to loads under the influence of wind, it is advisable to carry out installation and strength testing with special care.

An important point is the orientation of the weather vane to the cardinal points. A compass is used to determine them.

Attaching the weather vane to the pipe cap

Stove hood or ventilation pipe– the most convenient place for fixing the weather vane. In this case, the thickness of the metal of the cap itself must be 1.5 mm or more!

A bracket is installed in the cap. For this, a strip of steel 2 mm thick is used, bent at both ends by 30–50 mm. The bracket is secured with rivets.

In advance drilled hole cap, insert the threaded vane axis at the very bottom, and attach it to the bracket using a washer and nut.

Attaching a weather vane to a roof ridge

In order to secure the weather vane to the roof ridge, you will need 2 strong, bent at an angle, metal plates.

When installing, you must act carefully so as not to damage the roof or break its tightness.

Simple DIY weather vane

Not everyone can afford luxurious cottages decorated with exquisite wrought iron weather vanes. For the humble country house you can build a weather vane from inexpensive materials, showing your own imagination with minimal material costs.

For decoration summer cottage you can make an animal figurine driven in the wind using a propeller.

To make such a device, you can take plywood, if possible, moisture-resistant. The propeller wheel is made of tin, the edges are bent to form the blades. The parts of the device should not fit tightly together to ensure easy rotation of the weather vane. The resulting product can be painted.

How to make a weather vane with your own hands from plastic bottles

The most “budget” option is to make a weather vane using two plastic bottles.

One bottle is cut and a propeller is made, the second is used to make a weather vane. Next, the parts are strung on a metal rod and installed in the right place.

Regardless of the complexity of the weather vane design, its creation and installation must be approached responsibly, then the device will function correctly and not only provide aesthetic pleasure to its appearance, but also be useful as a meteorological instrument.