LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Wooden Fish Weathervanes

7K views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  NoWhiskeyWoodworking 
#1 ·
Fish out of water, moving in the wind

Wooden Fish Weathervanes

Wooden Fish Weathervanes: New here. Thought I would add to the discussion. This chronicles the path that it took to make the wooden fish weathervanes that are moving as the wind blows. This is truly a work in progress. The beginning of this was a search for others that have made, or make, wooden weathervanes, wind art out of wood or any thing that is close to that. I have found LOTS of commercial materials out there that are not so great. Some incredible art from gifted wood sculptures creating weathervane art that must cost in the $1,000s if not $10,000s. As noted below, the fish I have made fall into the rustic genre of outdoor, garden art.

Plant Wood Lawn ornament Tree Terrestrial plant


Wooden Fish
Rustic best describes where I have been and where I am going. So this is a start at putting my exploration out there for others that may or may not be thinking in the same direction as me. I seriously doubt that I have had an original thought that made it into any thing I have made. BUT, I have sampled from the web, built on now decades of tinkering with offset web press maintenance/ daily use, breaks for school, work, kids and life and now somewhat of a return to more time for tinkering with wood, furniture, kayaks, and metal and bikes, I am pretty sure and others, hence, Woodetal, wood and other stuff.
Woodetal@blogspot.net is the domain that was available and kind of described the path for this blog. Kind of an open format, running commentary of a diary to chronicle what I have done, fish and otherwise. I plan on detailing the many steps of Wooden fish weathervane construction. I have built 8 plus at this time. Not that I have it figured out, but I have enjoyed the work and result. More later with better content and format. Fish out of water, moving in the wind:
Plant Wood Fawn Bedrock Trunk

https://www.blogger.com/profile/03157200617281686078
 

Attachments

See less See more
4
#2 ·
Fish out of water, moving in the wind

Wooden Fish Weathervanes

Wooden Fish Weathervanes: New here. Thought I would add to the discussion. This chronicles the path that it took to make the wooden fish weathervanes that are moving as the wind blows. This is truly a work in progress. The beginning of this was a search for others that have made, or make, wooden weathervanes, wind art out of wood or any thing that is close to that. I have found LOTS of commercial materials out there that are not so great. Some incredible art from gifted wood sculptures creating weathervane art that must cost in the $1,000s if not $10,000s. As noted below, the fish I have made fall into the rustic genre of outdoor, garden art.

Plant Wood Lawn ornament Tree Terrestrial plant


Wooden Fish
Rustic best describes where I have been and where I am going. So this is a start at putting my exploration out there for others that may or may not be thinking in the same direction as me. I seriously doubt that I have had an original thought that made it into any thing I have made. BUT, I have sampled from the web, built on now decades of tinkering with offset web press maintenance/ daily use, breaks for school, work, kids and life and now somewhat of a return to more time for tinkering with wood, furniture, kayaks, and metal and bikes, I am pretty sure and others, hence, Woodetal, wood and other stuff.
Woodetal@blogspot.net is the domain that was available and kind of described the path for this blog. Kind of an open format, running commentary of a diary to chronicle what I have done, fish and otherwise. I plan on detailing the many steps of Wooden fish weathervane construction. I have built 8 plus at this time. Not that I have it figured out, but I have enjoyed the work and result. More later with better content and format. Fish out of water, moving in the wind:
Plant Wood Fawn Bedrock Trunk

https://www.blogger.com/profile/03157200617281686078
Very interesting!!!
 

Attachments

#3 ·
Fish out of water, moving in the wind

Wooden Fish Weathervanes

Wooden Fish Weathervanes: New here. Thought I would add to the discussion. This chronicles the path that it took to make the wooden fish weathervanes that are moving as the wind blows. This is truly a work in progress. The beginning of this was a search for others that have made, or make, wooden weathervanes, wind art out of wood or any thing that is close to that. I have found LOTS of commercial materials out there that are not so great. Some incredible art from gifted wood sculptures creating weathervane art that must cost in the $1,000s if not $10,000s. As noted below, the fish I have made fall into the rustic genre of outdoor, garden art.

Plant Wood Lawn ornament Tree Terrestrial plant


Wooden Fish
Rustic best describes where I have been and where I am going. So this is a start at putting my exploration out there for others that may or may not be thinking in the same direction as me. I seriously doubt that I have had an original thought that made it into any thing I have made. BUT, I have sampled from the web, built on now decades of tinkering with offset web press maintenance/ daily use, breaks for school, work, kids and life and now somewhat of a return to more time for tinkering with wood, furniture, kayaks, and metal and bikes, I am pretty sure and others, hence, Woodetal, wood and other stuff.
Woodetal@blogspot.net is the domain that was available and kind of described the path for this blog. Kind of an open format, running commentary of a diary to chronicle what I have done, fish and otherwise. I plan on detailing the many steps of Wooden fish weathervane construction. I have built 8 plus at this time. Not that I have it figured out, but I have enjoyed the work and result. More later with better content and format. Fish out of water, moving in the wind:
Plant Wood Fawn Bedrock Trunk

https://www.blogger.com/profile/03157200617281686078
Like them thank you for sharing these
 

Attachments

#4 ·
Wooden Fish

Wooden fish weathervanes: Fish Story
This may not be a fish, rather an icthyosaurus that paddled the great Basin in Nevada/Utah and the rest of the world forever ago. This is a photo from Burning Man, 2013 that was created and installed at the festival as a moving interactive HUGE kinetic sculpture. Imagine a 50 foot long suspended marionette that could be moved by pulling on the ropes. That and it was lit at night giving it the presentation shown. It was wooden, apparently from take offs from some fossilized remains from a location in Nevada. The forms were assembled from what appears to be plywood, laminated and assembled. The key thing here is that it moved, not so much from the wind, but it moved. Burning Man (BM) is very cool and a worthy bucket list item for anyone who appreciates the effort that goes into making something for the joy of making. Kind of the gratification of completing something yourself.
Extinction Marine biology Electric blue Fish Midnight


Not that the Icthyosaur was a scale that I was after, but it led to wind and kinetic related interests sparked by Burning Man. But, BM was something that you participate in and my SO at the time, my significant other, now more significant as a full-on wife, planned to return as a participant, not just an observer. We had the logistical needs, a trailer, generator and knowledge of what was needed to participate and really participate. In preparation for our participation, I began to run down the accessories for a wind based kinetic something. Bicycle wheels, chains, gears were an easy transferable skill as I had worked on bikes for years, wheels had the easy adaptation to a windmill type of structure. Wheels with some sort of vane attached to the spokes for wind movement and transfer of the movement via a cassette on the wheel, transferring the movement by chain to other wheels. So, wind was the energy and bicycle wheels, chains and cassettes was the medium.
Now I needed the wheels. Craig's List provided the name of a guy that knew a guy that worked at the waste management facility and he collected stuff that he could sell. That guy sold a bunch, 40 bicycle wheels, with cassettes and front wheels, in various conditions, most without tires to the guy from Craig's List. He was a Burner and we struck a deal and I went home with 40 (+ or -) wheels. That started the process. What ended the process was the inability to get tickets. We failed on the lottery system and there was no way I was going to pay $1,000 and MORE for one, let alone two tickets. So, that ended the immediate drive to do something with the wheels.
Still in anticipation of BM I tinkered and dug around on the Internet and found many others all over the planet had been using bicycle wheels in a "re-purposed" project. Some were not much more than an effort to generate power with the wheel acting as the driving force to turn a small generator using tape or cone type of attachments to harness the wind and create movement.

Wood Plant Natural landscape Landscape Trunk


This is the end of this Blog:
https://www.blogger.com/profile/03157200617281686078
 

Attachments

#5 ·
Wooden Fish

Wooden fish weathervanes: Fish Story
This may not be a fish, rather an icthyosaurus that paddled the great Basin in Nevada/Utah and the rest of the world forever ago. This is a photo from Burning Man, 2013 that was created and installed at the festival as a moving interactive HUGE kinetic sculpture. Imagine a 50 foot long suspended marionette that could be moved by pulling on the ropes. That and it was lit at night giving it the presentation shown. It was wooden, apparently from take offs from some fossilized remains from a location in Nevada. The forms were assembled from what appears to be plywood, laminated and assembled. The key thing here is that it moved, not so much from the wind, but it moved. Burning Man (BM) is very cool and a worthy bucket list item for anyone who appreciates the effort that goes into making something for the joy of making. Kind of the gratification of completing something yourself.
Extinction Marine biology Electric blue Fish Midnight


Not that the Icthyosaur was a scale that I was after, but it led to wind and kinetic related interests sparked by Burning Man. But, BM was something that you participate in and my SO at the time, my significant other, now more significant as a full-on wife, planned to return as a participant, not just an observer. We had the logistical needs, a trailer, generator and knowledge of what was needed to participate and really participate. In preparation for our participation, I began to run down the accessories for a wind based kinetic something. Bicycle wheels, chains, gears were an easy transferable skill as I had worked on bikes for years, wheels had the easy adaptation to a windmill type of structure. Wheels with some sort of vane attached to the spokes for wind movement and transfer of the movement via a cassette on the wheel, transferring the movement by chain to other wheels. So, wind was the energy and bicycle wheels, chains and cassettes was the medium.
Now I needed the wheels. Craig's List provided the name of a guy that knew a guy that worked at the waste management facility and he collected stuff that he could sell. That guy sold a bunch, 40 bicycle wheels, with cassettes and front wheels, in various conditions, most without tires to the guy from Craig's List. He was a Burner and we struck a deal and I went home with 40 (+ or -) wheels. That started the process. What ended the process was the inability to get tickets. We failed on the lottery system and there was no way I was going to pay $1,000 and MORE for one, let alone two tickets. So, that ended the immediate drive to do something with the wheels.
Still in anticipation of BM I tinkered and dug around on the Internet and found many others all over the planet had been using bicycle wheels in a "re-purposed" project. Some were not much more than an effort to generate power with the wheel acting as the driving force to turn a small generator using tape or cone type of attachments to harness the wind and create movement.

Wood Plant Natural landscape Landscape Trunk


This is the end of this Blog:
https://www.blogger.com/profile/03157200617281686078
That is so cool!

Cheers, Jim
 

Attachments

#7 ·
Epoxy and Varnish

Wooden Fish Weathervanes
Part Four: Epoxy and Varnish
Epoxy as a wood coating has volumes of writing about applications and pitfalls. Getting a reasonable temperature to work in is the challenge. Heat of the summer and the coating dries really fast. Cold, below 55 degrees, and curing can take days.
First Epoxy the EMT: The EMT is the first time to get epoxy. The tubing is hollow so it needs to have a washer for the insertion Sanding between coats is nice and avoiding drips is the goal. With all that said, I just want to get 3-4 coats of epoxy down, as few sags as possible and sand once-twice to smooth out before the varnish coat. My wooden kayaks are entirely different. I carefully sanded and assured all was as sag free as possible. The fish are an outdoor installation that will see lots of conditions. So, a few sags does not offend my sense of perfection.
I crafted simple stands to assist in the epoxy and varnish stages. A pine 4X4, dado blade on the table saw, cut a depth around 2" and the width of a 2X4 and I have a base. The EMT is inserted into the underside of the shape. The tube is hollow so a washer needs to seal the EMT from the epoxy. I have found that a .05 cent coin is the perfect size for the washer. After lots of time in the big box hardware section and lots of leftover washers I found the solution. I was paying .13 cents for an imperfect fit that I taped to end of the EMT to insert in the shape. That worked. BUT, the nickel is the perfect friction fit. Tap in the nickel into the EMT, rough up the OD of the EMT with a file/60 grit sandpaper, prep some epoxy, coat the hole with epoxy and insert the EMT. If you have extra epoxy from the batch, coat the shape with the what is left.
Automotive tire Wood Trunk Font Gas

From the material that I have read pennies are considered lucky and added to the weathervane. The number may represent the people in your family, dates of birth on the coins, number of cars? Or maybe just a weight to balance the weathervane. So, the nickel is not out there too far. When installing, I used a rat-tail file to ream/reduce the ridge/burr created by the tube cutter. Once that is done, the installation is tight. The nickel at the top of the tube will rest against the top ( or bottom depending on your view of the world ) of the forstner hole. That and it will have epoxy sealing around it. In the final installation, a single bearing will be inserted in the EMT tube, on top of the rebar. The result will be the bearing inside the EMT, between the nickel and the rebar. That gives the bearing a tight pivot point that is solid-metal nickel, bearing and rebar. It works well and should last indefinitely. Add occasional lube, grease and the system is maintenance free.
Wood Varnish Wood stain Hardwood Flooring

Try and have the EMT level and plumb. When the epoxy sets, you are ready for the first coat of epoxy. Here are the re-purposed redwood shapes, EMT mounted on bases for easier epoxy and varnish application, indoors. The base for each allows for the shape to pivot in the wood base/EMT connection. No fins yet. Just the drilled hole for the EMT in the underside. The slots for the fins will be added after the epoxy and varnish are dry, cured and complete. Epoxy and varnish drip. I have paper rolled and cut below to catch the drips and assure domestic semi-tranquility.
Plant Wood Natural material Wood stain Hardwood

Coat the Shape in Epoxy: The bases work for a solid support while coating with epoxy and varnish. In the past I suspended the shapes from the chandelier over the dining table for days while I was coating. Not the best move for household harmony. BUT, the temperature was controlled and it worked. I moved to larger shapes and the chandelier was going to have too much weight and household harmony too much at risk so I needed a solution.
Product Wood Ruler Gas Hardwood


The photo shows the 4X4 mounted on the 2X4s, drilled for the EMT to be inserted. I will probably drill a matching hole for the rebar to allow a bench/table top installation. Not ideal, but for some purposes just fine.

By now you have the idea that this is a bit of a project. It is. With the epoxy and varnish steps complete-and that can take days with a 24 cure/dry cycle for epoxy/varnish/ sanding and coating-you can begin to consider the Finishing. The application of the fins, shape, size and shape of the fins.
Part Five: Adding Fins
 

Attachments

#8 ·
Shaping the Shape

Wooden Weathervanes: Fish Story
Part Five, Shaping the Shape
Rough Shape: There is a fish under the wood, hiding, waiting to be lured out and set free. But, the fish will not emerge without some coaxing and more time. Sanding, for me is the best way to get there. So, in preparation for the sanding, consider a couple of time-saving options. At some point in time the fish will be mounted and installed somewhere. To get there will be epoxy, varnish and some type of fin material.


EMT and leave room for the epoxy. The hole MUST be plumb and level. So to get to that needed point, a watchful eye on the clamping of the shape to the drill press table is required. Having it square, level and plumb is important otherwise your fish will have a list, left, right, forward or back. I like the fish to appear to be level to the ground and the rebar mounting spire level and plumb.



The example above shows the EMT from the underside installation. The EMT is exposed @8 inches. No real reason. Rebar is not as attractive as EMT? The length appears to assist in the play/wiggle of the outside of the rebar diameter and the inner diameter of the EMT. The longer length appears to allow for free spinning so my needs are met. If the EMT is installed out of balance, the fish will always list/tilt. No doubt the weighting will favor one direction more than another no matter how precise you are on the balancing, drilling and siting of the rebar in the ground. There are just too many variables in the installation. But, if the shape is level to the ground, it is more aesthetic.
Balancing the Shape: Pretty straight forward and not scientific. Pick a fulcrum, the edge of a 2X4 and place under the shape, and balance away. Mark the balance point, invert and get the shape level and plumb on the drill press and adjust the depth of the forstner bit and that is done.

Detail of the EMT installed in the forstner bit hole, plumb and level and epoxied in. The EMT could be quite long as some I have and this appears to be a compromise in length. The long and short EMT applications all spin free and smooth. I have tried different methods of installing the EMT: After the varnish and before final sanding. Before final sanding works best as the flat dorsal part of the shape aids in the location of the hole and a nice flush/level installation.

Installed Rebar and EMT: Level and Plumb. The shape is weighted pretty well and the result is a fish that moves in the wind.
Quick Recap: The glue-up and rough shape has been completed. A 3"depth drill for the 3/4OD EMT site is located for the EMT epoxy install. Now, back to shaping.
SANDING: I use a Delta 6" belt/12" disc combo sander to get to the desired shape. Lots of sanding is a certainty. BUT, cedar and redwood are soft so fresh sanding product and the shape is good to go. Using a dust collection system certainly aids in the process.
Next: Part Seven: Adding Fins
 

Attachments

#9 ·
Adding the Fins

Wooden Fish Weathervanes
Next: Part Six: Adding Fins
My sequencing was off on the installments. I posted a video that became the next in order. Some of the files are too large on the photos so, rather than edit, I am culling through the photo directories to find smaller files. Editing would probably be faster. So here is the next installment. If you want to see the BLOG here is the link. http://woodetal.blogspot.com/

Part Six: Adding Fins
Wood Wood stain Hardwood Varnish Creative arts

Just the wooden shape alone does not provide enough surface area to move the fish in the wind. Adding fins give the needed leverage to point the fish into the wind and react to small changes in the breeze. If you just want the fish as a static display with little movement, small or no fins will get you what you want. I am sure some aeronautical engineer could explain the dynamics of pressure on the tail fin, weight and drag to define the perfect shape and size to move the fish into the wind. For me, I have found that larger tail fins that extend above and below the fish appear to turn the fish into the wind and move with light winds.
Wood Fixture Flooring Wood stain Hardwood

The sheet metal shown is BEFORE muriatic acid and the rusting process. The visible flatterning of the corrugated surface is from driving over the metal over days. Once flattened, it is ready to have the desired shape cut out.
Plant Wood Wood stain Natural material Hardwood

Plant Creative arts Tints and shades Art Wood

Wood Gesture String instrument Art Thumb


Sheet Metal: Recall that you have been driving over the galvanized sheet in the garage for days now. Your tires and weight of the car have flattened the corrugations to a manageable flat surface. It is not too soon to start considering your use of muriatic acid to strip the galvy protection from the metal allowing it to rust and have a nice rustic appearance. I guess you could apply whatever paint on the fish and fin for whatever look you want. I like the wood tones of red cedar and redwood combined with rust patina on the corrugated metal for my application.
If you are considering muriatic acid to strip the galvy, go to the big box, sheetrock or concrete sections and find a big tub for mixing texture mud/concrete and buy some muriatic acid-paint section. You will need that big area to lay the fins while the acid removes the galvy. More later. For now, consider the shiny, paint or rustic finish:

The The above show three different tail fin selections. NOTE: This is important. The corrugation ribs add some rigidity to the metal. Orienting the fin with the ribs horizontal to the ground assures the tail does not flex in the wind. If you want the tail to flap in the wind, then consider an articulated shape, hinge in the tail area to give some additional movement. Hinging could be a simple pin hinge allowing movement. That adds another dynamic to the shape, materials and wear. So, I am opting for simple. Finally, consider the lower/pectoral fins. They add some finish and scale to the fish. The above show one, two and three pectoral fins. The dorsal fin is a must IMHO.
Plant Wood Natural material Fawn Tool

This is an attempt at a Koi representation. Four pectoral fins, a BIG dorsal fin and a curved long tail. The tail has lost some of the rigidity from the shape. I have seen it deflect in light winds, nothing serious. The other fins probably assist in heading the fish into the wind. Muriatic acid and a rust etch to start the rusting. The glue line is visible in the middle of the shape. Western red cedar, knots and all. The fish, wood alone is probably 44".
Next: Part Seven the shape and installation of the fins.
 

Attachments

#10 ·
Adding the Fins

Wooden Fish Weathervanes
Next: Part Six: Adding Fins
My sequencing was off on the installments. I posted a video that became the next in order. Some of the files are too large on the photos so, rather than edit, I am culling through the photo directories to find smaller files. Editing would probably be faster. So here is the next installment. If you want to see the BLOG here is the link. http://woodetal.blogspot.com/

Part Six: Adding Fins
Wood Wood stain Hardwood Varnish Creative arts

Just the wooden shape alone does not provide enough surface area to move the fish in the wind. Adding fins give the needed leverage to point the fish into the wind and react to small changes in the breeze. If you just want the fish as a static display with little movement, small or no fins will get you what you want. I am sure some aeronautical engineer could explain the dynamics of pressure on the tail fin, weight and drag to define the perfect shape and size to move the fish into the wind. For me, I have found that larger tail fins that extend above and below the fish appear to turn the fish into the wind and move with light winds.
Wood Fixture Flooring Wood stain Hardwood

The sheet metal shown is BEFORE muriatic acid and the rusting process. The visible flatterning of the corrugated surface is from driving over the metal over days. Once flattened, it is ready to have the desired shape cut out.
Plant Wood Wood stain Natural material Hardwood

Plant Creative arts Tints and shades Art Wood

Wood Gesture String instrument Art Thumb


Sheet Metal: Recall that you have been driving over the galvanized sheet in the garage for days now. Your tires and weight of the car have flattened the corrugations to a manageable flat surface. It is not too soon to start considering your use of muriatic acid to strip the galvy protection from the metal allowing it to rust and have a nice rustic appearance. I guess you could apply whatever paint on the fish and fin for whatever look you want. I like the wood tones of red cedar and redwood combined with rust patina on the corrugated metal for my application.
If you are considering muriatic acid to strip the galvy, go to the big box, sheetrock or concrete sections and find a big tub for mixing texture mud/concrete and buy some muriatic acid-paint section. You will need that big area to lay the fins while the acid removes the galvy. More later. For now, consider the shiny, paint or rustic finish:

The The above show three different tail fin selections. NOTE: This is important. The corrugation ribs add some rigidity to the metal. Orienting the fin with the ribs horizontal to the ground assures the tail does not flex in the wind. If you want the tail to flap in the wind, then consider an articulated shape, hinge in the tail area to give some additional movement. Hinging could be a simple pin hinge allowing movement. That adds another dynamic to the shape, materials and wear. So, I am opting for simple. Finally, consider the lower/pectoral fins. They add some finish and scale to the fish. The above show one, two and three pectoral fins. The dorsal fin is a must IMHO.
Plant Wood Natural material Fawn Tool

This is an attempt at a Koi representation. Four pectoral fins, a BIG dorsal fin and a curved long tail. The tail has lost some of the rigidity from the shape. I have seen it deflect in light winds, nothing serious. The other fins probably assist in heading the fish into the wind. Muriatic acid and a rust etch to start the rusting. The glue line is visible in the middle of the shape. Western red cedar, knots and all. The fish, wood alone is probably 44".
Next: Part Seven the shape and installation of the fins.
Great looking fish!
 

Attachments

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top