Vanes & Dials

Weather vanes and dials are often used as part of an outdoor gardening or landscaping theme. Some of them are purely functional while a large number of them are decorative in nature.

The Making And Design Of Weather Vanes

A large number of weather vanes are created from aluminum or copper. Moreover, many of them are designed with a sculpted sculpture, which stands on top of a compass (four directional labels, usually indicated by “N, S, E, and W” for the four basic earthly directions.

More often than not the ornament of a weather vane is of a rooster, blue heron, eagle, or other type of perching bird. Usually the weather vanes that contain a compass are designed to serve both a decorative and functional purpose. However, not all of these may show an accurate measurement of the direction of the wind.

Decorative Versus Functional Vanes

In order for a weather vane to truly measure the direction of the wind it must designed to balance with equal weight on either side its axis. However, the surface area of the unit should be unequal as it is exposed to the wind.

Decorative weather vanes are not really meant to measure the direction of the wind, and are purely for ornamental purposes-as mentioned earlier. In order to be sure that a wind vane does perform the function for which it is intended a homemade one can be created.

Basic Tips For Creating A Home Made Electronic Weather Vane

Some people have created a home made electronic weather vane. This section does not give all the complete steps for creating weather vanes. However, it does give you some idea of how one of these veins is created.

The main function of one type of electronic weather vane is one that uses magnetic switches. It is possible to find these at a local electronic store. If you cannot find these at a local electronic store you might consider searching for one online.

Other items you might need for created this home made include a power switch, battery holder, batteries, plastic cylinder, bottle cap, and bolt. Sturdy plastic or aluminum pipe, as well as other materials might be needed.

In order to find the exact directions for making an electronic weather vane you will want to conduct more research. However, this article has at least given you an idea of some of the items you might need for it.

Traditional Weather Vane Making Tips

You might want to instead just create a traditional weather vane much like the ones described earlier in this article. Some of these are made into designs that children can appreciate. In fact, a child would be able to even create one of these.

For instance, a child might consider making a fish-shaped weather vane. Some of the materials that could be used to make this item would be two clean foam meat trays, plastic drinking straw, strong tape (duct tape is idea), beads (5/8 inch holes). A clay flower pot and a wooden dowel are often used in this project as well.