A weather vane is a tool that is used to tell the exact direction in which the wind is blowing. You can buy them in all types of styles, but for those who are more interested in the artsy look, it is possible to make a weather vane on your own with a bit of work.

Selecting and Preparing the Wooden Shaft

Get a 12-inch piece of wood about one to two inches thick on all sides. Use a small saw to cut a slit in each end of it, about half an inch deep.

Preparing Your Vane

Find a nail that is at least half an inch longer than your piece of wood is thick. Hammer the nail all the way through the piece of wood at the midpoint, so that the head of the nail and the wood are flush with one another. There should be about a half an inch of nail protruding from the bottom of your piece of wood.

Making Your Head and Tail

Use a small square of sheet aluminum or a disposable baking dish to cut a head and a tail out for your vane. The tail should be a rectangular piece of aluminum and the head should be in the form of an arrow. These should be longer from top to bottom than your piece of wood is thick. Slide the head and tail into the slits you made at either end of the wood piece.

Attaching the Dowel

Fasten a wooden dowel to the nail protruding from the bottom of your piece of wood. You may have to have someone hold one end of your weather vane while you fit the dowel onto the nail. Place a washer on the nail before doing this so that you have some room for your weather vane to spin on the dowel.

Creating the Compass Rose

Out of the same sheet of aluminum that you used to make the head and tail, cut out a circle of aluminum. Using a razor blade or a Sharpie marker, divide the circle into four sections and label them North, South, East, and West appropriately. You can also substitute with the letters N, S, E, and W. Using another long nail like the one you used to fasten your dowel on, fasten this compass rose on top of the weather vane so that when it spins to show the direction the wind is pointing, you can easily tell the direction.

Mounting Your Weather Vane

Mount your weather vane somewhere outside where it will see plenty of wind. The top of a fence or a shed in your yard are perfect areas to mount your weather vane. When the wind picks up, observe it and see which direction your arrow is pointing. That is way the wind is blowing.

Source:

Franklin's Forecast: Making a Weather Vane

Enchanted Learning: The Compass Rose

More Information:

Denninger: What is a Weather Vane

Reach Out Michigan: Make Your Own Rain Gauge