Any whirlygig experts out there?

[pheasantplucker]

I've always been drawn to whirlygigs. Have a hankering to start making some of my own. Anyone have any references for plans and techniques? Anyone else into them? Have pictures of any you've built or own? I'd like to see them.

[Wisconsin Ann]

I've always been intrigued by them. Your post got me to thinking about how they're made and what unusual ones are out there. I've seen pattern books/singles at Woodcraft shops and on DIY sites for scroll saws.

Found a couple of sites you mite like to visit:

These are mostly wire for the mechanism...look like they'd be pretty easy to build using a fan blade (or cut a tin can in petals) a pvc tube, and a metal cut out with a hinge for the top part.

This guy has some pretty unique ones.

Bunches of books for building and patterns

[morrowsmowers]

Try these folks:

http://www.meiselwoodhobby.com/Home.aspx

Ken in Glassboro, NJ

[Nevada]

Here's mine.

YouTube

[jd4020]

I love theones they had on the movie Twister. The character, Aunt Meg had them on her house and in her yard. I especially liked the one that made the soft sounds as it turned.
My dh made me a wind mail for our garden some years ago. The stand is steel, but he used old air conditioner fans for the turning blade part. They worked pretty good, but over the years, I suppose since they were only aluminum, the wind has torn them apart. Last year, before it finally fell apart in tow pieces, unfortunately, a little ong bird flew into it. we found it on the ground. I would like the blade part replaced, but not at the expense of more birds. So I'm trying to think it out using the plastic soda bottles as a more lighter weight blade.
I'll check out these sights, thanks.
jd

[pheasantplucker]

Thank you all for your responses...Lots of inspiration here for me.

[sammyd]

My father-in-law makes a lot of them. For Christmas he made the wife one of a Nubian goat and the ears were the whirly part. We got an Indian paddling a conoe and a really angry looking rooster with the ruff of his neck as the whirly part. He doesn't do the ones that require a crank though. At least not yet.
He gets his plans from the library and I did buy him a book last year but I can't remember the title.
He will make the whirly parts from wood, plexiglass, or lightweight fiberglass paneling. the plexiglass didn't hold up too well.

[heather]

Here's a video of one from the Children's Museum in Pgh

looks like the quality isn't that great - sorry

there are dogs jumping & cows & sheep, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO6Zzrvmgp8