Windmill

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Hey guys,I am wanting to make a small (maybe 8') decorative windmill.I believe I'm good on the frame, but cannot find a blade "kit" or out if the box one. I can find ready made for around $70, so I know the blade assembly can't be Thaaaat much. I am looking for a place to get one (blade) and not break the bank, but would also look at plans if anyone has already done one.Everything I'm finding the interwebz is for functioning water moving it electrical generation.Any help with plans or where u can get a cheap blade assembly will be appreciated.Thanks Sent from my Galaxy S3
Reply:Originally Posted by wblewisHey guys,I am wanting to make a small (maybe 8') decorative windmill.Thanks Sent from my Galaxy S3
Reply:i just googled john deere decorative windmills and got a slew of results. some years back i wrote to a guy in lincoln's magazine (the stabilizer) about a small windmill he built in texas and he wrote back with plans and pictures. if my crs isn't acting up too badly on monday i'll see if i can find the plans.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:I could take pics of a 6 or 8 ft ( may have both ) fan section with measurements if needed , to scale down. That is the best i can do for you as i still use them to pump water for cattle and no way in hell do i want one in the yard as much as i have to work on the real ones LOL .
Reply:Originally Posted by Bistineau Like making it with a small generator to power some lights on the windmill, or perhaps since I live on a lake, have it running a small water pump, pumping water from the lake, spraying the water back into the lake.
Reply:Originally Posted by DaeyelThat would be a waste. Better to put a sprinkler on it and use it to water the lawn from the lake.
Reply:8' in height. Lol I usually pick up on those kinds of things. I'm thinking about 24" or so diameter for blades. As far as the frame, I'm good. Plans would be nice to compare what I'm planning to something else.As far as functional, I thought about that, but think the pita it might be would probably outweigh the budget.I do have a pond with fish, thought about water circulation, or maybe small generator to run lights, but maybe later. I was leaning towards in the front yard with maybe a "stick out" and mount the mail box on it. I live out in the country.All is in planning right now. Can find tons of prefab entire kits, but just want the blade assembly. Want to make everything else.Thanks for the help!Sent from my Galaxy S3Last edited by wblewis; 03-01-2014 at 04:09 PM.
Reply:Funny, I was just searching on "windmills" here the other day.  I'll be watching this one!
Reply:Originally Posted by wblewis8' in height. Lol I usually pick up on those kinds of things. I'm thinking about 24" or so diameter for blades. As far as the frame, I'm good. Plans would be nice to compare what I'm planning to something else.As far as functional, I thought about that, but think the pita it might be would probably outweigh the budget.I do have a pond with fish, thought about water circulation, or maybe small generator to run lights, but maybe later. I was leaning towards in the front yard with maybe a "stick out" and mount the mail box on it. I live out in the country.All is in planning right now. Can find tons of prefab entire kits, but just want the blade assembly. Want to make everything else.Thanks for the help!Sent from my Galaxy S3
Reply:Didn't think about a "wagon wheel". Good idea. I'll look into it, thanks.Sent from my Galaxy S3
Reply:Different ideas here--- http://otherpower.com/bladecarving.html   Scale it down to suit.---MeltedmetalLast edited by Meltedmetal; 03-01-2014 at 08:45 PM.
Reply:What about a fan out of a car or truck. Find a junkyard and find a metal fan that is about the size you want. Maybe one out of a big rig. Don't know if it is what your looking for as far as design but it should be cheap and easy.
Reply:I made a small wind mill out of a metal fan blade by welding an old idler pulley from a chevy engine to the center of the blade. I threaded a rod and put it in the pulley with a wedge shaped piece of sheet metal on the other end of the rod. Then a vertical rod with a bearing so that it could turn in the direction of the wind. It turns with very little wind and works good. It's been up for about three years now.Miller trailblazer301gLincoln sa200Miller251Miller spectrum 625Victor oxy-acc2002 Chevy duramax 3500 dually 4x4
Reply:Make your own.I built a windmill several years ago.The fan is about 36" in diameter.I had some old real estate signs made out of 26g sheet.  Drew out the shape I wanted, stacked the signs up 10 at a time and cut them out on the band saw.Use a couple of c-clamps in areas that will be out of the way of the cut to keep thing aligned.  Move them 1 clamp at a time as needed.Made a hub out of some tubing that fit the bearings I was using, and with a jig to set the angle, brazed the blades to the hub.I then ran 2 lengths of 1/8" round around the outside, brazing the tips of the blades to the 1/8" to keep them straight.I am trying to find the pics, but I can't get the Maxtor backup to work.