Wind-Works

Hopefully the judges will go ape over these gorilla gadgets..a couple whirly toys for the outside.

First up is a new creation of mine, at least I’ve never seen one…A new style of weathervane. There is a little of the summer contest left on this one too as it is all recycled. Some leftover treated decking, some spare metal parts from the shop and some empty Wal-mart gift cards. Yes that’s right, those little plastic credit cards. As many of you are aware, Wal-mart will give you 3 cents off each gallon of gas if you use one of the gift cards to purchase it. Well, at the Wal-marts I’ve been to many folks just leave the empty gift cards on top of the pumps. I stated picking them up mainly to throw away or recycle and thought, hmm, I wonder if I could ever get enough of these to make something.

Well I only needed four for this project, to make the little wind speed indicator, painted one side of the cards white and the other hunter green and then I used the Gorilla Wood glue to attach them to a small square piece of cedar. I’m not certain about the weight of the entire piece and how that is going to work out so I’ll just test this one out and use it for a little R&D for future vanes.

Second is another wind twirler which I just tacked on as a restore project. My wife’s maternal grandfather built this some time ago and it was in dire need of TLC. See the before shot.

I loosened the end nuts, laid it flat and sanded the entire piece. After tightening it all back up, I staggered each piece top to bottom. Then the Gorilla Wood Glue was dabbed to each step on the under side to hold it all in place.

I finished both pieces off with what I had in the shop; Watco’s teak oil.

They are already up in the yard, so now we just wait and watch for the wind…..come on Gustav..

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX