How to Build a Windvane

Windvanes or weather vanes are useful as well as decorative. Their earliest manifestations were simple roosters or fish that perched on top of roofs and turned in the direction the wind was blowing. Gradually, simple weather vanes or windvanes became more decorative while maintaining their practicality.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cardboard for template
• Scissors
• Wood or thin metal
• Tailor's chalk or pencil
• Saw or tin snips
• Metal rod
• Washer
• Welder and rod
• Brackets
• Screws
• Drill and drill bits
• Mounting hardware

1. Choose a design for the body of your windvane. Traditional shapes are roosters and fish, but you make a vane in the shape of a ship, mermaid, pig, or whatever you desire.

2. Draw the design for your windvane on a piece of cardboard. Cut the template out with a pair of scissors.

3. Choose the material for your windvane. Either wood or metal is able to withstand the force of the wind.

4. Place the template on the material you choose for your windvane. Trace it with tailor's chalk or a pencil, then cut it out with a saw or tin snips.

5. Create the pole for the windvane. Find a metal rod that is the thickness you like (this is entirely up to you), and cut it to the length you desire.

6. Lay the metal rod on the back of the windvane and decide where you wish to mount it. If you look at pictures of windvanes, you will see that the windvane is positioned on about the upper third of the pole with a small portion of the rod extending up above the windvane. Mark the position of the windvane on the rod.

7. Slip a washer over the rod and weld it in place. The washer will act as the stop on which the windvane will rest.

8. Fasten brackets to the back of the windvane. You may use prefabricated brackets, or fashion your own out of thin metal. Whatever brackets you choose, make sure they are big enough to allow the windvane to turn easily on the pole. If the windvane is made of metal, you can weld the brackets on. If the windvane is made of wood, use screws. Slip the windvane onto the pole.

9. Attach a second washer above the windvane. This will hold the windvane on the pole. Weld it in place, making sure it does not impede the windvane's turning.

10. Secure your windvane to the roof of your building with mounting hardware (see Resources). Follow the instructions supplied by the manufacturer.

Tips & Warnings

• The finish of the windvane is entirely up to you. If the windvane is wood, you can paint it, stain it, antique it, or leave it to change color as it weathers during its exposure to the elements. The same is true should your windvane be made of metal.

References

• Folk Art Weathervane
• Norling Weather Vanes

Resources

• GI Designs Mounting Hardware
• Online Metals