Another wind pointing thingy

[cumbriasteve]

A little while back, well actually it was 1982 and I am not joking, my wife asked if I could make her a weather vane and finding myself twiddling my thumbs last week it finally got done.

Yes it's aligned and yes it's the old ball bearing in a tube trick

 

[madkayaker]

Fast job that. How are you going to limit its RPM in Cumbrian wind?

 

[cumbriasteve]

Should have seen it spin last week in the storm, will link it to a turbine..free leccy

 

[chunkolini]

Only 30 years in the making, I hope she likes it.
Ballbearing in a tube? I was very sceptical of that one, works a treat though.

 

[strube1369]

Looks great, man. I too used the ball bearing in a tube trick when I made mine.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Yes the ball bearing works well, I am amazed how responsive it is even to the slightest breeze, I did turn the bar end that sits on the bearing down to a pencil shaped point so I suppose there is virtually no friction.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Really nice job,Hope your wife will be well pleased, Bird looks great in silhouette against the evening sky.

 

[Robotstar5]

All you've to do now are the jobs she asked for in 1980,1981,1983......

 

[cumbriasteve]

All you've to do now are the jobs she asked for in 1980,1981,1983......

Don't remind me, still got a new bird table to build before winter, last one fell to bits when the little sods broke the 'maximum of 3' rule.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Really nice job,Hope your wife will be well pleased, Bird looks great in silhouette against the evening sky.

Cheers Gordon, yeah she was happy enough..now thinking of something else probably.

 

[Norm]

she was happy enough..now thinking of something else probably.

Don't worry she will have forgotten about it in 30 years nice job looks great.

 

[dickie bell]

Looks fantastic where would we be without ball bearings eh!

 

[stuvy]

Looks fantastic where would we be without ball bearings eh!

to a grinding hault?

looks nice steve, keep us updated on the bird table (that is if we still use the internet in 30 years time!!!!)

 

[cumbriasteve]

to a grinding hault?

looks nice steve, keep us updated on the bird table (that is if we still use the internet in 30 years time!!!!)

Will do...had a go today but wood is such a difficult medium to weld and typically when I need one, not a tutorial here for any help.

 

[stuvy]

Will do...had a go today but wood is such a difficult medium to weld and typically when I need one, not a tutorial here for any help.

Should i be brave to ask for pics...

 

[cumbriasteve]

Should i be brave to ask for pics...

My first attempt, a tad too much heat I think but penetration is excellent.

 

[Jester]

What kind of welding is that? Stick or Twig

 

[feen]

Ballbearing in a tube? I was very sceptical of that one, works a treat though.

Do please explain....

JF

 

[chunkolini]

Making a wind powered thingy using a bearing on top of a bar inside a tube is the recognised way of allowing it to turn.
I could not see this simple thing working. I figured bearing races would be needed.
When I made my first one it wold not turn. So I put a ball bearing out a pushbike headset on top of the bar. Perfect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Bxh5Dgjco&feature=plcp
The one on the left has a bar slid inside a tube with a bearing on the top. The one on the right has a bar welded onto the sculpture sat on top of a bearing at the bottom end.
Both work beautifully and simply and cheaply.

 

[cumbriasteve]

What kind of welding is that? Stick or Twig