Whirligig

[RickR]

I think I might want to make a few whirligigs, just for fun. Anyone have any tips, tricks, plans, or book recommendations to offer before I get in too deep.

 

[Mike Davis]

I made a few a long time ago. For outdoors you need good brass and Stainless steel or aluminum hardware. I used white oak for the wood, red cedar would be lighter and probably last as long or longer.
Enamel paint is a great finish.
May have some books but can't remember which ones, It's beed 30 years since I fooled with them.

 

[Rushton]

Simple, all hand tool propeller toy by Paul Sellers:

 

[bobby g]

Check out this book by Anders Lunde.

Action Whirligigs: 25 Easy-to-Do... book by Anders S. Lunde

He has published other books too.
Have fun!

 

[Berta]

I have made a few.

 

[TBoomz]

have always been partial to using spar varnish for whirlys and weathervanes. There's a channel on Youtube. Some fella has for last 5? years recorded a whirlygig festival in Nova Scotia, canada. Good start for ideas. And the Diresta [sp?] channel guy shows process of making two whirlys - w/a different take on the "man chopping wood".

 

[Ptofimpact]

I think I might want to make a few whirligigs, just for fun. Anyone have any tips, tricks, plans, or book recommendations to offer before I get in too deep.

I have made some over time, various wood, used steel rods from HD for shaft, designs just made them up or used Images from searches. The Pizza guy was for a friend with Pizza Parlors called Big Apple. Cutting the angles on the Hub for propeller blades was a pain, and Bending the Rod for the motion as well.

 

[pop-pop]

In Wilson, NC one can see many whirligigs. All metal but inspiring for wooden ones.