Old Fan Blade Windmill/Pinwheel for Yard - Want to Make One
June 2, 2020 8:33 AM Subscribe
Would like to repurpose/recycle an old fan blade into a windmill for the yard. I just need some ideas what to use as buffer between the blade and the rod I'll be using. Tried finding a tutorial on this but nothing. So what can I use that doesn't require welding?
Response by poster: I have the blade, the pole - just need to connect them both with enough space between the blade and the pole for it to spin and not wobble. There's some kind of connector or spacer that I need and don't know what it is. This is what it should look like.
posted by watercarrier at 9:36 AM on June 2, 2020
posted by watercarrier at 9:36 AM on June 2, 2020
You probably need a bearing of the appropriate diameter —bearings are specifically designed to allow things to spin freely on axles.
posted by mekily at 9:52 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by mekily at 9:52 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Yeah, it sounds like you'll need an axle and bearing of some sort to get the blade to rotate freely, and then some way to mount the bearing onto a rod perpendicular to the axis of rotation. (though you talk about the blade spinning/wobbling so maybe you are partway there already?) The exact details would depend on how large/heavy the blade is - the heavier the blade, the better the bearing you'll need.
posted by btfreek at 10:38 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by btfreek at 10:38 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Is there a hub on the fan blade at all?
Without any sort of metal work I'd attach a couple of wood bearing blocks to a length of dimensional lumber. The bearing block can be shaped with a cone to space out the blade from the mount.
posted by Mitheral at 10:43 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Without any sort of metal work I'd attach a couple of wood bearing blocks to a length of dimensional lumber. The bearing block can be shaped with a cone to space out the blade from the mount.
posted by Mitheral at 10:43 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Sugru might be useful here; I could see fashioning a bearing or hub, the connector for your vertical rod and horizontal blade shaft, and also a shaft cap (so the blade doesn't come off) entirely out of this stuff. Plus it's insanely handy for tons of other stuff.
posted by winesong at 12:19 PM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by winesong at 12:19 PM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
How much does the fan blade weigh?
Most hardware stores will have an aisle with specialty fasteners and such, and will have a drawer of bearings, like this. And I'd use two part epoxy glue for a strong bond.
posted by at at 12:54 PM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Most hardware stores will have an aisle with specialty fasteners and such, and will have a drawer of bearings, like this. And I'd use two part epoxy glue for a strong bond.
posted by at at 12:54 PM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: It's very lightweight plastic blades - weight maybe a few ounces. Thanks everyone will try to find the bearings and how to get them to adhere all together. Much obliged!
posted by watercarrier at 5:21 AM on June 3, 2020
posted by watercarrier at 5:21 AM on June 3, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by btfreek at 8:57 AM on June 2, 2020 [1 favorite]