How to Build Sheet Metal Weather Vanes
A weather vane is a device you can use to find the direction the wind is coming. You can often find a weather vane at the top of a barn or farmhouse, because farming can be affected greatly by the wind’s course. You can make your own weather vane out of simple materials like sheet metal and wood. The use of a broomstick as the post of the weather vane will allow you to plant it almost anywhere and still allow it to get a lot of exposure to the wind.
Things You'll Need
- ½ x ½ inch wooden rod, 12 inches long
- Hand saw
- Nail
- Hammer
- Sheet metal
- Marker
- Glue
- Washer
- Broom stick
Instructions
-
-
1
Make a 1-inch deep cut at each end of the wooden rod with a hand saw.
-
2
Stand the rod so the cuts at the end are standing vertically. Insert a nail vertically into the middle of the rod with a hammer and turn the nail until the rod can be spun smoothly.
-
-
3
Using a marker, draw a 3-inch wide, 2-inch tall triangle on a piece of sheet metal.
-
4
Draw a trapezoid on the sheet metal. A trapezoid is a four-sided shape with a pair of parallel sides. Your trapezoid should have a 3-inch base, 3 inches tall and with a flat top.
-
5
Cut out the shapes drawn on the sheet metal with the saw and put a dab of glue on each of the cuts on the end of the rod.
-
6
Insert the smaller triangle into one end of the rod. The pointed end should be facing out.
-
7
Fit the flat top triangle into the other end of the rod. The wider end of the triangle should be facing out.
-
8
Attach the weather vane assembly onto the broomstick. Place a washer on top of the broomstick. Then hammer in the end of the nail of the weather vane onto the top of the broomstick. Bang the nail down until it is almost all the way in the broomstick.
-
9
Put your weather vane outside or on an elevated area where it could catch the direction of the wind.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Paint the rod and broomstick a nice color to make it match your home.
Make sure you place the weather vane so that nothing obscures it from the wind.
References
- Photo Credit Weather-wise image by Alphaba from Fotolia.com
