There is an opinion that a weather vane on the roof is a fashionable European attribute that will never take root in our latitudes. I am ready to vouch that this is not so, it is enough just to open a history textbook, starting from the 15th century. And in the illustrations there will be no settlements of Dutch merchants, but ordinary village houses decorated with "birds".
Weather vane from A to Z
What is a weather vane (niderl.Vleugel), sailors are well aware - it was from sailing ships that this original and useful thing gradually migrated to the roofs.
In Rus', the weather vane was known under other names: a zhirouette, a nose, a chameleon, a spinner, a bag, an anemone, and others. They accurately convey the essence of the device and refer to the arrow - the rotating part of the device.
Vertun is essentially a real lightning rod, especially if the building stands straight. The wire running from the body to the ground and further to a depth of one and a half meters can keep electrical appliances working and life.
It is customary to consider the standard sizes of a fat vest to be from 400 × 800 to 770 × 1200 mm, although creativity is difficult to keep within limits and the numbers can change in any direction. The weight of the product ranges from less than 1 to 10 kg - weight + windage can create serious loads on the roof.
The cost of weathercocks occupies a fairly wide range depending on the material, as well as the originality of the performance. If the price of a factory sample ranges from 3-10 thousand rubles, then manual work can only start at $300.
Usually weathercocks are:
| Illustration | Production material |
 | Copper. The ideal option, but so that it does not turn green over time, the finished fat-free product is treated with acid (nitric and sulfuric in a ratio of 1x1), then with a chromic acid; |
 | stainless steel - coated with titanium nitride, gives a gold or blue color, a colorless varnish will retain the natural color of the metal;
|
 | Plywood. Short-lived and require regular updating of the protective coating of varnish / paint; |
 | Plastic. As a rule, these naive bottle windmills are appropriate on the country roof. Experimenting with a plastic panel is also not worth it - in the sun and in the wind, the material will quickly become brittle. |
What does the vertun consist of
Weathercocks differ from each other only in figurines depicting birds, animals, fairy-tale characters and even genre scenes. The rest of the weather vane device is similar, looking down from top to bottom you can see:
- figurine;
- arrow;
- wind rose;
- axis;
- frame;
- base with braces.
Sometimes confusion arises: where should the arrow point - downwind or towards it? Answer: The direction of the arrow should be against the airflow, indicating which way the wind is blowing.
The secret of the rotation of the weather vane
The “fidgetiness” of the fat cap depends on the size of the surface of the decorative element (a solid surface catches the wind better than an openwork one). To create good windage, approximately 2/3 of the area of \u200b\u200bthe figure should be shifted from the center to the plumage.
In order to avoid misalignment, the axis did not flounder in the body and the finished product was sensitive to the direction of the wind, it must be balanced.
To balance, you can:
- weight the arrow with a decorative element that has a minimum windage: a climbing plant element, curlicues;
- use a traditional counterweight - a ball, placing it closer to the tip of the arrow.
Having suspended the finished structural element on a rope loop and balanced it, the central axis is marked on the body - the place of attachment of the axis of rotation. Balance and windage are the guarantors of the correct operation of the spinner.
Anemone device: highlights
The weather vane must match the image of the house, so sometimes primitive weather vanes cannot be used so as not to violate the architectural style. In favor of a do-it-yourself weather vane on the roof, its undeniable uniqueness speaks, which cannot be said about serial models.
The manufacture of a weather vane includes the following steps:
- the figure is cut out and attached to the arrow;
- the finished element is welded to the axis of rotation;
- a wind rose is attached to the fixed body - cross-shaped rods ending in letter designations;
For an 8-ray rose, 4 more rods half as short as the main ones are attached between the main rods along the bisectors. Wind direction designations will be slightly different as shown in the picture.
- the axis of rotation is inserted into the body;
- the body is fixed to the base with struts;
- the assembled weather vane is adjusted vertically in level;
- the base is attached to the roof;
- a special protective coating is applied to the finished weather vane.
How is the moving part
You can come up with a weather vane drawing yourself, copy it from a photograph / nature, or search for sketches on the Internet. For lack of skills, it is better to start with a flat figure, because a three-dimensional one will require special molds for casting.
In this case, the halves are:
- driven into the recesses of the mold with a rubber mallet;
- cut out;
- get drunk.
When assembling volumetric fragments of a figure, the accuracy of the joints is important so that moisture does not penetrate into the cracks. It is better to start independent work with a flat weather vane - in a sense, it will be easier for a beginner to cope with such a task.
The drawing is transferred to a metal sheet and cut out with everything that is at hand:
- scissors for metal;
- plasma cutter;
- laser;
- jigsaw;
- grinder.
Protect your hands with gloves. Treat sharp edges and burrs immediately with a file, because such cuts are extremely painful and take a long time to heal.
The arrow is made of a metal rod, to the ends of which the plumage, tip and, if necessary, a counterweight are welded. The center of gravity of the weather vane can be found by hanging it on a rope loop, through which the axis of rotation will pass.
A propeller instead of a tip will noticeably revive the spinner and drive the birds away.
In another version, a sleeve is located on the wind vane, which is put on a fixed axle fixed on the base. In any case, the weather vane must be free to rotate around its axis.
How to ensure the rotation of the weather vane
The rotation knot is usually done independently and is of two types depending on the weight of the architectural element or the desire of the owner:
- articulated;
- bearing.
What does a hinge joint look like?:
- on the marked area of \u200b\u200bthe center of gravity, the sleeve is welded with the hole down;
- turning the figure over, an iron ball of a suitable diameter is lowered into the sleeve;
- using a syringe, a metal-plating lubricant is squeezed onto the ball, for example, MS 1000;
- in the same position, a rod is inserted into the sleeve - the axis of rotation;
- the weather vane is turned over to its previous position, excess grease is removed.
By itself, the option is not bad and the ingress of moisture into such a mechanism is excluded, only such a model does not reach the ideal fit. Weathercocks on the roof according to the second option are a little more complicated, but at the same time high sensitivity to the wind and smooth rotation are achieved. To do this, you need a threaded stud M12 / M16 (usually 1 m long), bearings, a bushing.
Such a rotation unit is a pipe body with two bearings inside - top and bottom, providing the axis of rotation with ease of movement. A protective cap made of stainless steel / rubber gasket on the axis will protect the joint from precipitation.
For home craftsmen, we offer a feature of the old masters of the “pre-bearing” era, which will well complement the modern mechanism:
- a plug is placed in the lower part of the body, in which a conical recess is machined in the middle;
- a small cut is made at the end of the axis, where a pointed piece of a drill / tap is welded.
According to this principle, the arrows of some compasses are arranged, and in this case the weather vane will receive additional balancing. His move will become so light that he will feel the gentlest breeze.
How is the support
The body is attached to the base of the support, additionally fixed on the sides with struts to reduce lateral loads. Also, the support serves as a holder for the wind rose - metal rods / strips with indicators of the cardinal points.To avoid misunderstandings, their correction is carried out using a compass or GPS navigator of the phone.
Depending on the type of roof, an appropriate support is selected (there are ready-made ones on sale). To adjust the fit to the roof surface, you need to bend the horizontal plates. In more expensive models, adjustment is made using bolts.
You can make a homemade support:
- from a quadrangular profile / pipe, half cut into strips, holes for self-tapping screws are drilled in them;
- weld / screw the angles to the body.
The support is attached at the highest point on any roof of the house, regardless of its configuration, with self-tapping screws, or on a wooden ridge beam. The weather vane should rise above the ground by an average of 6-12 m, while taking into account the height of the house.
Whether a weather vane is really necessary, everyone decides individually. For more information on how to make a weather vane at home, see the video in this article. If you have any questions, ask in the comments and I will definitely answer.
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