How do you build a weathervane?

Question

I'd like to build a weathervane, the traditional kind with an animal on top, wind directions (NSEW). I can't find anywhere to purchase the hardware which will allow it to turn, or any instructions on how to build this myself with items from the hardware store. Seems to me a metal rod and some widgets could do the job. But how?

Answer 1

Ok,. I will go through this step by step. This on was a canadian goose.

1) Draw and cut out profile of goose in flight. neck stretched.  

     Just the profile of body.

2) At the gooses tail you want to extend it with a piece of sheet metal or similar. Attach tail however. This is your rudder. When the wind blows the tail flap will spin the vein and gooses head will poit into wind.

3)Go to a skate board store or try hardware. Get TWO sealed bearings. The inner hub spins independantly of the outer circumfrential. These are your wing bearings. Get axle that fits that inner hub. wood doweling s fine.

4)I think the cheapest and easiest way for the vertical is this. Get pipe how ever tall you want. Then you will need a second piece of pipe that can fit INSIDE the first long pipe. This smaller one will be going into the belly of the goose. Watch your dementions. Body too thick and its heavy and dangerous and wont rotate. Pipe to thin and might bend.

5) Now , go back to the larger pipe, this will be straight up with small pipe sleeved. You want small pipe to go down into large as much as possible. At some point you need to drill a hole through the larger horizontally. Your going to place a s***w and fasten. This is the stop for the small pipe, it can't go lower and you need enough reserved on top to mount goose on.

6) In the center of the swan body you will drill a hold large enough. The outter race. One on each side the doweling is your axel for that. Break it down. Get heavy grease and put it on small pipe for larger sleave. You should have all but the wings. A couple ways. Make them like broad airplane propellers, You could get large pinwheels and fix them to the axle. With the propeller one it looks like a frantic goose in flight, both sides a blurr. Other than routine lube No one says it has to be A goose, the principle same.

Answer 2

U already have the answer on that last sentence of urs.  Some farm equipment outlets still carry these knick knacks.  Try www.tracters.com.