How to Make Homemade Wind Turbine Blades

While it's common to find PVC pipes used for creating wind turbine blades, PVC can be harmful to human health and eventually to the environment. Bamboo, on the other hand--if you can find it locally--is a durable, safe and sustainable alternative for making homemade wind turbine blades.

Things You'll Need

• 2 pieces of large bamboo: four inches in diameter, 24-48 inches long
• Measuring tape
• Saw
• Angle grinder with sanding disk or sanding block

Instructions

1. Cut the bamboo lengthwise into thirds.

2. Mark six inches up the stalk from one end.

3. At the end opposite your mark, cut two inches along the circumference and down the stalk to the marked point at the other end.

4. Sand the blades into a wing or airfoil shape.

Tips & Warnings

• To save time, use a circular saw.

• Be extremely careful when handling the blades once they are attached to the turbine--if the wind starts to blow the blades can spin at very fast speeds.

References

• Sustain Lane