Beautiful do-it-yourself weather vane: interesting solutions. DIY weather vane drawings and step-by-step instructions with photos

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To know the direction of the wind, its speed and strength, in a science such as metrology, a special device is used, shown in the photo, which is called a weather vane. It looks like a flag, for the manufacture of which they use various materials, including metal. At the opposite end it has a counterweight. You can make weather vanes with your own hands.

Relatively recently, many home owners installed these devices on buildings, especially in coastal cities, but today they are less in demand. True, in the Baltic republics, which were previously part of Soviet Union, as well as in Scandinavian countries and a number of other European countries they can be seen on many roofs of residential buildings and structures for various purposes. There, it is popular among the population to make weathervanes with their own hands.

In cities such as Tallinn, Riga, Amsterdam, the weather vane has become a calling card. Outstanding local craftsmen have turned making weathervanes with their own hands into a real art. So unique appearance and the elegance of execution, these products have been decorating the Moscow Kremlin in the Russian capital, the city hall building in Riga, and the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg for centuries.

It should be noted that DIY weather vanes have recently become not necessary metrological instruments, but a tribute to national traditions and beautiful toys that can decorate the roof and appearance of a building. From a practical point of view, there is no need for them, since they are now used modern devices showing very accurate results.

To decorate the roof of a building and give it an individual style, you can order this product from a professional or make a weather vane yourself - drawings for it are available on the Internet and in specialized literature. For some craftsmen, a drawing and a sketch are enough.

Small products with moving parts are clearly visible on gazebos, garages, greenhouses, and in addition, for example, a do-it-yourself weather vane with a propeller works well to scare away birds from garden plots.

Manufacturing materials

Most often, you can find a steel or copper do-it-yourself weather vane, which is coated with paint for outdoor work. Forged products are less common. Weather vanes made from scrap materials are rare.

This could be a DIY weather vane made from a bottle, worn-out discs, tin, moisture-resistant plywood, and more. Folk imagination knows no limits and this allows you to make your home original. If wood is used, the moving elements should not be connected rigidly. But you can only use a paper weathervane with your own hands as a toy.

Basic elements of a weather vane

Before you make a weather vane with your own hands, you need to familiarize yourself with its design and prepare materials and tools.

The weather vane consists of the following main parts:

Making a weather vane

You can make a weather vane with your own hands from metal elements in the following sequence:

In principle, such a weather vane for the roof can be purchased, and it will not cost much. For copies of a small series, sellers ask from 2,100 rubles, for a large one - from 4,240. But it is not a fact that the purchased wind direction indicator will fully meet the requirements that the owner of the house places on it.

In this article the reader will find detailed instructions on how to make a simple metal weather vane with your own hands, as well as several drawings. They will help you decide the best option and they will tell you which scheme is best to mount the weather vane on the roof.

To make it more clear what criteria should be used when choosing the size, shape and a number of other parameters of the sample, it is worth recalling that nowadays weather vanes are installed on the roofs of private houses mainly only as decoration. However, not everyone knows that it can effectively protect the chimney pipe from blowing out.

If we are talking about a small country house, then this device is used mainly to perform a security function. A properly made weather vane works well to scare away birds from the area. In the latter case, an additional structural part such as a propeller (or something similar, such as a ratchet or plate) will be very useful.

Let's consider everything possible options materials for the manufacture of a weather vane (taking into account the ease of processing the blanks) and evaluate the feasibility of each of them.

Copper

Doesn't rust.
Does not need painting.

Over time, it becomes covered with a characteristic greenish coating. Consequently, it will be necessary to periodically dismantle the weather vane (flag) and clean the plate.
Copper is an expensive material, and it will not be possible to simply find a sheet sample of suitable size. You'll have to buy it.

Steel

Finding a metal blank suitable for cutting will not be difficult. It is not necessary to buy sheet iron. It’s easy to find a piece that’s the right size for you. A good owner always has something useful in his barn (garage).
Maintenance consists only of periodic painting of the weather vane. But this will have to be done no more than once every 2–3 years.

Plastic

From the point of view of cost, ease of processing and long-term operation, this is an excellent solution. But assembling the entire structure will cause certain difficulties. Primarily due to the complexity of the connection components from dissimilar materials. For example, plastic is metal.

When making a weather vane with your own hands, it is advisable to use steel blanks (plates, pipes, and so on).

Dimensions of components

There are no standards for the construction of weather vanes. There are only generally accepted, recommended dimensions that are worth recalling (for a residential building, in cm).

Wind vane (flag): length – 75±5, width (aka height) about 40.
Housing (stand). Line segment steel pipe. Length – within 14±2. As a rule, a three-inch one is used.
Axis. Reinforcing rod, smooth, cross-section 10 mm. Length - about half a meter.
Plug for the stand. A metal “penny” in which a hole is drilled in the center along the diameter of the axis. A more complex option is a lid that screws onto the top of the case.
"Rose of Wind". This device helps determine the direction air flow, and the additionally installed propeller (or plate) is their intensity (speed). The simplest model consists of 4 rods of 6 mm, with a length of approximately 18 - 20 cm.

For country house, verandas and the like, the dimensions of the weather vane are reduced. Their choice depends on the linear parameters of the “object”. The main criterion is compliance with its dimensions. It is pointless to mount a device that is too large, as well as a miniature one, from any point of view.

The procedure for making a weather vane

Let's consider one of the simplest, and therefore most common, DIY assembly options. In this design there are 2 rotating parts - an axis and a wind vane, which are rigidly fastened together.

Assembly Features

Probably the most difficult thing will be to make a cover for the weather vane stand. To simplify maintenance of the structure, it is advisable to screw it onto a piece of pipe. Consequently, you will have to cut a thread (external) in the upper part of the body, and an internal one - on the rim of the lid. As already indicated, in its center there is a hole for the rod.

Based on the diameter of the pipe, you need to find the one that is driven into it. It is necessary to adjust the cross-section of the lower part of the axle so that it can be installed using the “hard fit” method into the inner ring of the supporting part.

The “wind rose” rods are fixed on the lid so that they form a regular cross. If precise definition The direction of the wind matters to the owner; corresponding shaped elements are also welded to their ends. These can be Latin letters indicating the cardinal directions, or any other symbols understandable to the master.

Once all structural parts are ready, assembly begins. The rod is inserted into the inner ring of the bearing and pressed. After checking that it is vertical and can easily rotate, the lid is screwed onto the body.

It’s hardly worth dealing with the manufacture of the weather vane itself. The choice of material has already been said, but the type and shape of the product made from a metal plate is all at the discretion of the master.

What to consider

No matter how the axle is ground to the cover, a small gap will still remain. Consequently, moisture will get inside the pipe. To avoid this, a “round piece” with a diameter slightly larger than that of the weather vane body should be welded onto the axis, slightly higher.

Roof mounting methods

Clamps (flat plates).
Using a flange connection.
By fixing a vertically oriented exhaust (fan) pipe on the hood.

It turns out that there is nothing complicated about making a weather vane with your own hands. And it won’t take much time for this. Good luck with your design!

One of the elements that is beyond the control of man and fascinates him is the wind. It has aroused admiration for the forces of nature since ancient times. If it cannot be subdued, then you need to try to use the energy of the air masses for your own purposes. To do this, you need to know more about their behavior. A simple and functional device (weather vane) can determine the direction of the wind in relation to the cardinal points, show the speed of movement of air masses, create original decoration roof and the entire house, become a watchman, scaring away birds, and also play the role of a talisman, protecting the roof from the penetration of evil spirits (in any case, that’s what the belief says). Our distant ancestors already knew how to make a weather vane with their own hands from wood. Over time, it becomes a real work of art.

DIY weather vane: components

For reference. A decorative element for home decoration can have a different shape: a weather vane on the roof can be found with images of animals, angels, fairy-tale characters, etc. There are accessories on the roof in the form of a family coat of arms or an entire composition depicting some action when exposed to wind.

Main design details:

the central vertical axis of mounting on the roof, rotation is performed around it;
weather vane - an element indicating where the wind is blowing from; it is fixed on the main axis;
pins crossed in the horizontal plane with a designation on them in letters representing the sides of the horizon;
a metal plate in a vertical hanging position (counterweight), changes its angle under the influence of wind.

For a weather vane to become a real calling card of the house and its owner, the element must be made and installed correctly.

Empty plastic bottles: use as intended

Four empty plastic containers can become a material for making a simple weather vane. You will also need a cutting knife, a metal rod, and a pole used as the axis of the structure. Make a weather vane from plastic bottles Let's start... by collecting empty containers.

Bottles are cut differently. For two of them, the upper part (with the stopper) is cut off for further use, almost half the length of the container. The bottoms are also not thrown away, but are used together with two others, cut off from the remaining two bottles. The result is two cut “tops” and four bottoms the height of a 200-gram glass.

On each of the four containers sharp knife At an angle of about 45 degrees at the cut line, we make one cut at an angle in the form of a hangnail. This is a kind of fastener to which the weather vane parts will cling with the same burr. With the upper parts of the bottles, prepared in advance, proceed as follows:

the plug of one of them is unscrewed;
in the center of it, using a knife or a hot rod, a hole is made - a groove for the axis on which the entire structure will be supported;
a plug with a hole is screwed onto the neck.
the other “top” remains without a lid.

The weather vane is assembled in the following sequence. First, the two tops are joined using cut surfaces with pre-cut grooves. Like a nesting doll, they are connected to each other by easily screwing one into the other. They attach the resulting “body” with oblique cuts at the junction of the bottom. They should be located around the volumetric body in one direction.

A rod, branch, metal rod - anything that can be used as an axis - is threaded through the bottom hole of the bottle. The top limiter will be the bottle cap, into the hole of which the axis of the weather vane will fit tightly. The structure is ready. Can be installed in a convenient place. When the wind blows, the light plastic blades will begin to rotate.

Propeller in a weather vane design

1 – Carlson figurine made of tin or plastic;

2 – propeller made of tin;

3 – axis (bar Ø 8-10);

4 – rotation unit (wheel);

5 – clamp for fastening the rotation unit;

6 – roof ridge;

7 – bells (5 pcs.);

8 – disk bracket for fastening bells.

It is known that a device consisting of several blades mounted on an axis of rotation is capable of propelling an airplane or other vehicle. Therefore, the question of how to make a weather vane with a propeller with your own hands so that it rotates beautifully on the roof arises for any homeowner. The whole complexity of the device lies in the manufacture of these same blades. All steel parts are improvised means: a block, nails, a piece of tin from an old trough.

A small piece (cube) measuring 50 x 50 mm is sawed off from a square block with a hacksaw.
On each of the 6 faces, diagonals are drawn using a ruler and pencil; at the place of their intersection is the middle.
The drawn diagonals will be the places where the blades are inserted. A through hole is drilled in the center of their intersection on one of the planes.
A piece of tin is marked along the width of the block with metal scissors, strips of 4 pieces 150 x 50 mm are cut off - these are the future propeller blades. The edges of the finished strips can be turned to sharpening machine to remove hangnails.
Each blade is visually divided into 5 parts: the fifth part (one of the edges) is bent. To do this, use pliers to bend the edge of the blade (1/5 part) at a right angle. As a result, you get 4 blanks “G”-about different shapes.
The resulting tin blanks are placed diagonally on the side edge of the previously sawn-off cube. Proponents wooden structure pieces of tin (corners) are marked with a pencil and cut with scissors along the edges of the cube.
As a result, the “L”-shaped blank with the cut side, which will be fixed on the wooden cube, turned out to be acute. The remaining three blades are trimmed using the cut out template.
The first blade is fitted to a wooden workpiece so that the outer edges and external corner exactly coincided with the faces of the cube. Then the tin is tightly fixed to the wood with nails or screws in at least 2 places.
A similar operation is carried out on the other three faces. In the end it turned out wooden beam OK square shape, sheathed on 4 sides with blades located strictly orthogonal to it (at right angles).
With correct marking and proper alignment on a nail inserted into a through hole as an axis, the structure should rotate freely under the influence of wind.
The piece of wood from which the cube was cut will serve as the axle. At one end it is sharpened into a cone. A long nail is driven into it through a square blank with blades.
A cut is made from the other end, cut at an angle of 45°. The tail part is inserted into it: a plate cut from the remaining piece of tin. She will always turn the weather vane in the direction of the wind. The 140 x 190mm plate is attached to the block with nails or screws in 2 places. It turns out to be a weather vane.

In the finished weather vane with a tail and propeller, you should find the center of gravity. This is done experimentally. A thin block is placed somewhere in the middle under the finished structure. If the weather vane is moved towards the tail, the bar moves towards the propeller and vice versa. Thus, gradually moving, there is “ golden mean": both parts must remain in balance. In this position, a place is marked on the wooden beam, where a hole is then drilled for the holder. By connecting the vertical axis of the fastening and the weather vane, we obtain a finished structure.

Chimney Decoration

To enhance efficiency chimney, and also to protect it from precipitation and debris, you can design and install a weather vane deflector with your own hands. The height of the structure should be in a ratio of 1.7 to the internal cross-section of the chimney. The width of the deflector is 1.3 diameters smoke channel. Galvanized iron sheets, copper or stainless steel are suitable for manufacturing.

First, on thick cardboard, a sketch is made in expanded form of all the parts: cap, cylinder, diffuser. Using the templates made, these parts are cut out on metal. The entire structure is assembled together, the individual elements are fastened together bolted connection, either welded or fixed with rivets.

The finished product is installed at the end of the smoke channel using a ring with bearing unit so that the housing rotates together with the deflector visor. A weather vane on the chimney pipe will not only provide constant influx fresh air into the room, will effectively remove flue gases, but will also become a real decoration of the roof.

Airplane on the roof: an original weather vane in our own design

Wind direction and speed can be determined in different ways. For example, by making an airplane weather vane with your own hands. A mock-up of an aircraft with a length of 500 mm and a wingspan of 300 mm is preliminarily designed and manufactured.

Please note. Material for aircraft should be light: foam plastic, plywood, etc. This will allow the aircraft to rotate freely on the axis of the rod.

A weather vane with a pole is attached to areas unprotected from the wind. Or installed on the roof. Two supports are taken or made with a hole in the middle of 5 mm: from wood, wire, metal plates, etc. The brackets are placed among themselves so that there is a gap of 20 cm between them. A rod is passed through the holes drilled in the support-brackets. It can be a thin tube, iron or wooden rod.

A nail (piece of wire) is attached to the top point of the rod. An airplane is strung on it - a toy model. The plane is at a slight angle to the axis. When wind occurs, the flow blows onto the wing, the aircraft with the rod rises to a certain height, which will be identical to the wind speed. If desired, you can install a graduated scale. Then, when the device rises up, you can read the approximate wind speed.

To decorate your yard with an original weather vane, you need to be smart, use your imagination, put your hands to work, and then it will become the exclusive calling card of your yard.

Many owners are trying to find a highlight for the exterior of their home, but there are not many such devices. A weather vane is ideal for this. It simultaneously performs both practical and aesthetic functions.

Features of a weather vane with a propeller

This device can be of different shapes, most often the weather vane has the shape of a domestic or wild animal, an angel, fairy tale hero, airplane.

A weather vane is not only a functional device, but also a decoration for the roof of a house.

Selecting material for making a weather vane

The main criterion when choosing material for a weather vane should be the ultimate purpose of its manufacture. But despite this, it is recommended to choose the material that will make the structure a decoration of your home for a long time. A weather vane can be made from almost any material, but each of them requires different instruments and equipment.

Wood weather vane

Quite light and easy to use construction material, which does not require specific tools and skills. Suitable raw materials for a weather vane High Quality. Before use, it is recommended to impregnate the wood with mixtures to protect it from dampness and harmful insects. However, such a product will not last long.

This material is durable and resistant to any mechanical stress. Most often, black or stainless steel. The second type is resistant to corrosion and has long term service, but still requires proper maintenance and timely repairs. This can be a problem because the weather vane is installed in a place where repairs are quite difficult.

Steel has high anti-corrosion properties, which is why a steel weather vane can most often be seen on the roof

This durable metal, which can withstand even hurricanes. It's quite easy to work with. Additionally, a layer of silver can be applied to the surface of a copper weather vane, for which reagents that are used in making photographs are ideal. This metal is resistant to corrosion, making the product long time can be exposed to rain and will last a long time without repair.

Copper is highly resistant to weather conditions, so it is best suited for making weather vanes.

Plastic structures

Plastic is modern material, characterized by high strength and resistance to sun rays. Another advantage is ease of processing. Plastic products can be sawed, glued, soldered, and the properties of the material do not change.

The plastic weather vane can be made in any color; it is highly durable and resistant to sunlight

Plywood

To make a weather vane, only multi-layer waterproof plywood is suitable, but you need to be prepared for the fact that such a product will not last long. Dyeing the material will help artificially increase its service life, but for a very short period of time.

To make a weather vane, you can only use multi-layer waterproof plywood

Tools for making a weather vane

The list of tools for making this device is quite simple:

metal scissors;
hacksaw or saw;
sandpaper of different fractions;
electric drill;
Bulgarian;
office tools, for example, ruler, pencil, glue.

Basic elements of a weather vane

Regardless of what shape your weather vane will be, it must contain certain elements, the main ones being an axis and a flag with a counterweight.

Vane body and axis

The body serves as a support for the entire structure. Both steel and brass pipes with a diameter of 1 inch are suitable for its manufacture. The body has a strictly vertical axis - a rod, usually made of steel reinforcement.

The main function of the support rod is to hold the windmill. The diameter of the reinforcement is about 9 mm, this is enough to withstand strong winds and any other mechanical load that will act on the weather vane.

The weather vane body is the support of the entire structure

Flag with counterweight (wind vane)

The main part of the device located on the vertical axis. The flag shows which direction the wind is blowing. The counterweight serves to balance the flag and is located on the opposite side. The main difficulty in the manufacture of this element is that the flag and the counterweight must be located evenly on both sides of the axis, that is, have the same mass.

Of the entire structure, it is the weather vane that is of artistic value. Experienced master is able to produce a part of any shape without disturbing the balance between the flag and the counterweight.

When making a weather vane, it is important to maintain an even distribution of mass on both sides of the axis

Protective cap

The protective cap has the shape of a circle or a cone and is located on the axis of the weather vane, most often directly above the body. Its main function is to protect the housing and bearings from moisture and dirt.

Rose of Wind

A cardinal direction indicator consisting of two rods crossed at an angle of 90°. As a rule, the rods are attached to the top of the lid in a stationary state. At the ends of the pointer, letters are installed to indicate the cardinal directions. To fix the element in the correct position, you need to use a compass.

To set the cardinal direction indicators in the correct direction, you need to use a compass

Bearings

They are located inside the body and ensure free movement of the supporting rod under gusts of wind. Inner diameter parts is 9 mm.

Fasteners

The choice of fasteners depends on the material used and the method of fastening. These can be corners, overlays, bolts, rivets.

Propeller

It helps determine wind speed. You can make the propeller yourself from plastic and wood or use ready-made parts.

It is the airplane with the propeller that looks most organic, because in original design this detail is also present. And it’s much easier to model this shape than others.

The plane is ideal for making a weather vane with a propeller

Drawing of an airplane weather vane with a propeller

A weather vane is usually located on the roof, so high aesthetic demands are placed on it - by its appearance they will judge not only the taste of the owner of the house, but also his wealth. Therefore, it is very important to design the structure correctly, while showing maximum imagination and creativity. The drawing of the future model should be as detailed and accurate as possible.

The drawing of the future aircraft model should be as detailed as possible and with exact dimensions

Step-by-step instructions for making an airplane weather vane

This device will become the hallmark of the house only if the element is properly made and installed.

Metal weather vane

It is performed in the following sequence:

Cut a pipe 120 mm long. Make small holes in it for fastening to the support with rivets or bolts. The holes must first be tapped.
Insert bearings from each end into the pipe, securing with welding. Additionally, the bearings can be fixed by heating the pipe into which the bearing must be inserted. After the pipe has cooled, the bearings will sit quite firmly in it. Fill the pipe itself with grease.
Bearings help the weather vane to easily rotate around its axis
Close the top of the pipe with a cap, which can be a plastic plug. Now you need to seal this place with insulating tape. A layer of felt gland must be laid between the cap and the body.
Now you can start making the weather vane. You need to make a drawing on paper, which then needs to be transferred to a steel sheet. Remember that the dimensions of the aircraft must be proportional to the body parameters. It is recommended to make a product with a length of 400–600 mm and a height of 200–400 mm.
It is very easy to cut steel sheets with special metal scissors
After the airplane figurine is ready, you need to attach it to the supporting rod using clamps or welding. The last step is the installation of the propeller. It must be installed on a weather vane or on a supporting rod. In the case of an airplane, it will look more harmonious on the weathervane. For fastening, it is recommended to use a bolt, which must be placed between two washers. To reduce the noise of the weather vane, it is recommended to place it on a bearing.

Weather vane made from plastic bottles

You can make an airplane weather vane from plastic bottles. To do this you need:

Collect empty containers and wash them thoroughly. For a weather vane in the shape of an airplane, 4 bottles are enough. Cut off the top part of two bottles with the cork halfway. As a result, you should have 2 cut tops with cork and 4 bottoms, the height of which is 5 cm.
You need to cut off the top and bottom of the bottle
On each bottom at an angle of 45°, make cuts in the form of burrs, which will serve as fasteners.
The bottom of the bottle must be cut into strips
Now you need to work with the top parts of the bottles. You need to unscrew the plug in which to make holes for the axle. This can be done with an awl or a hot rod. Screw this plug back. Leave one top part of the bottle without a cork.
Use an awl to make holes in the plugs for the axle.
Now you can start assembling the weather vane. The two upper parts are connected with cut surfaces facing each other. This process is reminiscent of collecting nesting dolls. It is necessary to attach the bottoms with cuts, placing them around the body in one direction. Now you need to thread a rod or metal rod through the bottom holes of the bottle, and place the bottle cap on top of it. That's it, the plane's weather vane is ready. Install it in a suitable place.
A weather vane made from a plastic bottle does not look very aesthetically pleasing, but it performs its functions effectively

Video: weather vane airplane made from plastic bottles

For a homemade weather vane, you can use scraps of plywood. In addition to this material, you will need:

nails or screws;
flat beads - 3 pieces;
special glue for plywood;
small wooden block;
protective paint.

All work on the manufacture of a weather vane from of this material are performed in the following order:

Video: DIY wooden weather vane with a propeller

The propeller can be made from any material

The manufacturing process is as follows:

Prepare a wooden block with a side of 5 cm. Draw diagonals on each face of the cube and mark the place where they intersect. Drill a through hole in one of the planes.
On a sheet of tin, mark segments equal to the width of the bar. Cut strips measuring 15x5 cm. There should be 4 such strips. Process the edges of each strip with a sharpening machine.
Each strip is roughly divided into 5 parts. Bend one of them with pliers at a right angle. As a result, you should have four L-shaped blades. Place each piece diagonally on one side of a wooden cube with a hole.
The protruding parts of the sheet must be cut off so that the part that will be fixed is acute.
Now the blades need to be fixed with screws in two places.
Sharpen another wooden beam at one end into a cone, and attach the cube with blades to this side using a nail. This propeller can be installed on a pre-made weather vane.

Video: DIY tin propeller

Remember that when installing a weather vane on the roof, you need to ensure that the waterproofing of the latter is not damaged, otherwise leaks cannot be avoided. It is also not recommended to install a weather vane on a ridge or chimney pipe. Incorrect installation may also cause the device to make a lot of noise, scaring away birds and irritating others.

For a long time, humanity used weather vanes to determine the speed and direction of the wind. This can be either a simple flag installed on some elevated area or a more complex design, equipped with a rotating arrow and a tube, thanks to which the wind speed is determined. The rotation of the weather vane occurs due to the fact that air masses press on the flag, trying to take the most optimal position. In this case, the counterweight takes the direction of the direction the wind is blowing. Often such a device is equipped special points, which show the direction to the cardinal points. It is thanks to them that wind speed observations are made.

If you want to make a weather vane with your own hands, it is not so difficult; for this, as a rule, tin, wood, plastic or metal are used. At the same time, the appearance of the device can be performed as a full-fledged work of art.

In Europe, many city houses have long been decorated with original and interesting weather vanes, made in the form of various fairy-tale characters, buildings, birds, ships, animals, etc. The somewhat simple functional design and unique appearance have contributed to the great popularity of such products among owners of country houses and country houses, where weather vanes for the most part act only as decoration.

Stages of weather vane production

If you are going to do everything yourself, then first of all you will need to prepare a small sketch of the product. To do this, use marked or special graph paper. Also, if necessary, you can draw the figure on a natural scale.

To make a weather vane, you will need the following tools and materials:

Welding machine;
80mm steel ball;
Metal sheet 1.5-2 millimeters thick;
Chisel;
Copper pipe with a diameter of 18 millimeters;
Hammer;
Round 12mm rolled metal;
Wire 3 millimeters in diameter;
Metal drills;
Steel pipes 12, 22.5 or 25 mm in diameter;
Electric drill;
5 cm pipe 60 mm in diameter;
Electric jigsaw;
Rolled metal in the shape of a square with sides 15 by 15 mm;
Files;
15mm ball from ball bearing;
Grinder or angle grinder, or angle cable machine;
A metal plate 12 millimeters thick with sides 60 by 60 mm.

Next, we will look at the process of making a weather vane with your own hands. It is worth noting that if you wish and have all the listed materials, tools, as well as drawings, you can complete the work within a day. The videos and photos presented in the article will help you understand the tips and work order.

In general, work on making a weather vane can be divided into the following stages:

Preparation for the main work.
Cutting blanks.
Arrow preparation.
Execution of a rotating device.

Important! Working with metal elements and materials should not be neglected safety precautions. Welding should be performed in a well-ventilated area, away from flammable materials. During work, it is recommended to use fairly thick clothing made of natural fabric, a protective shield and gloves.

Drawings and sketches

The most popular drawings and sketches for making weather vanes are sketches of figures of a cat and a rooster. With help size chart you can copy the image onto the surface of a metal sheet, enlarging it to the required dimensions along the way.

Arrows are marked on the image, thanks to which the direction of the wind, as well as the dimensions of the rotating unit, can be determined in the future.

Work order

Let's take the figure of a cat as an example.

First of all, the outline of the future weather vane is displayed on the surface of the metal sheet. Before you start cutting out the shape, you need to secure the sheet well to eliminate the possibility of it moving during work. For this it is better to use locksmith clamps, through which the material is securely fixed on the workbench.

You can get rid of the formed burrs after cutting with a grinder and a grinding wheel. For processing hard to reach places It is better to use a thin wide file.

Lock securely metal product on a workbench, then drill small holes in it for the mustache, eyes and nose. You can use drills 12-15 millimeters in diameter.

You can achieve the characteristic oval shape for a cat's eyes using a needle file or a semicircular file. With their help, the holes made are gradually expanded to the desired size.

Steel wire with a diameter of 3 millimeters must be cut into pieces of 100-120 millimeters. Next, a 10-20 mm indentation is made, after which it is necessary to make an L-shaped bend. As a result of these actions, we will obtain blanks for the weather vane.

To make the nose, a 20-mm round rolled metal will be useful. Next, using an angle grinder, the edges of the rod are rounded.

To replicate the features and shape of a cat's nose as closely as possible, you need to use a chisel. To do this, appropriate marks are made on the workpiece.

The next step is to cut out the prepared fragment of the required size.

It is necessary to install the nose welding machine: in front, a mustache is inserted into the holes made, which are then welded from the back.

After finishing welding work don't forget to use grinder for processing seams. As a result, you should get the most smooth and even surface possible.

The work is carried out in the same order if you are planning to create a weather vane in the shape of a rooster with your own hands.

The next step is to move on to making an arrow, which will indicate the direction of the wind. Contours are drawn on the surface of the workpiece, according to which a figure is then cut out using a jigsaw.

The base of the boom can be a pair of square rods 15 by 15 millimeters. Moreover, one element is welded to the tip part, and the second - to the tail. After welding, the surface is carefully cleaned.

To make a rotating unit, it is necessary to drill holes with a diameter of 13 mm in the steel ball and the cover of the future weather vane. After this, the lid is welded to a 5-centimeter pipe.

Flats are created on both sides of the steel truss - this is the name given to small recesses designed for a more secure fit of the ends of the arrow. Next, a rod with a spherical component is attached to the base of the turning unit, after which the attachment point is processed by welding.

As soon as the ball and arrow are fixed together, you can proceed to fastening the product. To fix a weather vane with a spherical part, a semicircular cutout is made at the base of the workpiece. Obviously, this area is welded at the end.

During the welding process, metal splashes should be avoided on the surface of the figure. To do this, the element should be covered with a sheet of tin.

In the process of doing the work with your own hands, it is very important to accurately compare all the elements of the future weather vane with each other, while the angle between rotating mechanism and the arrow itself must be equal to 90 degrees.

Reliability of installation of the figure is ensured thanks to the fastening areas where the hind legs must be welded to the base of the pointer, and the front legs directly to the steel sphere.

For support you need to use a piece of round rod, thanks to this the weather vane can rotate freely under the force of the wind.

Make sure that the support rod fits exactly into the pipe, after which you can weld the edges of the elements.

Next, the ball necessary for the free rotation of the cat figure should be lubricated with any viscous mixture, after which all that remains is to insert it into a wide pipe. At the end there is a brass or copper pipe.

Upon completion of the weather vane assembly, the element is painted and decorated, if necessary, and then placed on the roof of the house.

Video instructions for doing the work yourself

Below we invite you to watch video lessons on how to make a weather vane with your own hands. In this case, work may be limited lightweight design, or by creating a more complex element with lighting and a generator. The choice is yours. In any case, a neat and thoughtful weather vane can stand on the roof for many years, bringing joy every day and regularly showing the direction of the wind.

Varieties

A folk sign that speaks of good luck if you meet a chimney sweep on the street is reflected in the weather vanes that began to be produced in the form of this character. Of course, today such a meeting is hardly possible, and therefore a figurine of a windsock with the contours of a chimney sweep will help to attract at least a little luck into your home.

Successful placement of weather vanes is possible if there is a cottage with a large number of passages and turrets on the roof. IN in this case DIY elements will perfectly complement the appearance of the roof of the house.

The eagle, personifying the sun and sky, subconsciously indicates greatness, strength, speed and power. When you see such a weather vane, you involuntarily feel a sense of high status and independence of the owner of the house.

The horse symbol can be recommended to people who adhere to active life position and remain purposeful no matter what. And if you adhere to nobility and prudence in all your decisions, then this symbol will indicate this to everyone around you, while remaining a rather elegant and uncomplicated decision.

A griffin placed on the roof of a house indicates that the owner is in a struggle between good and evil, that he is overcome by both shadow and light. In addition, a weather vane in the form of a half-eagle or half-lion testifies to the vigilance, belligerence and strength of the owner, helping to protect the home from evil forces.

The Old Russian boat goes well with large structures that have a large number of stairs, doors and windows. The choice of such an element indicates the owner’s desire for new knowledge and considerable mental capabilities.

From time immemorial, the owl was considered a symbol of patience and wisdom, and therefore if you want to use such a weather vane, then you should take a closer look at whether your character matches the established image. Moreover, even if you don’t exactly look like an owl, then installed element will contribute to a small push towards self-improvement.

Religious silhouettes can be seen quite rarely, and therefore, if you decide to install such a weather vane on the roof, be sure to think about the meaning that will be conveyed to passers-by from the new structure. As a last resort, you can use a heroic character.

A windsock in the shape of a ship that will later sail across the sky is a wonderful and at the same time romantic addition to the appearance of the house. However, when deciding to create such an element with your own hands, be sure to evaluate own strength, since the upcoming work in this case can hardly be called simple, since it will require long and precise measures.

Looking away folk tales, you can notice that Baba Yaga, although she was always considered a negative character, in reality she always remained positive. It is worth noting that this image remains great solution both from an aesthetic point of view and a constructive one, because the broom acts as an excellent windsock.

Often, a weather vane made in the shape of Baba Yaga is placed on the lid in conjunction with the Black Cat, which is a direct advisor and companion to the fairy-tale character. At the same time, originality and beauty new composition will cause admiring glances from both little passers-by and adults.