Water Wheel

[loghouse511]

Does anyone, have any experience with building a water wheel, that you can share? About a 6' wheel. Thanks

 

[davedj1]

depends wether you want an overshot or an undershot.
what are you going to power with it? How much water do you have available?
are you going to build a penstock? or just a sluce?

 

[loghouse511]

Thanks, for your reply. The wheel will be, more for "looks " than practicality.

I, am going to pump water out of my pond, to the wheel, to act as an aerator for the pond.

I assume this would be an overshot?

Thanks, again

 

[davedj1]

well in that case I would 1) make it as light as possible and 2) use a good bearing system (weather tight). Maybe two sides made of some galv tin, 26 gauge or so, the cross pieces could be made of maybe cedar or oak (would hold up well to the weather). Make the base out of pt wood and set it right on the bottom of the pond, maybe weight it down with some cement blocks?
Keep in mind that in the warmer months this will probably warm your water up a little.

 

[Localmotion]

Here is a real good link about someone in the UK who built their own water wheel to provide power - it has photos and quite a bit of detail, so might be useful...

Building a Waterwheel - Hydro

Hope it helps you...:thumbsup:

 

[moored4]

Becareful of what kind of wood and metal you use if you have fish in your pond!

 

[ken4831]

Look at a local cable t.v. company's cable spool that is fiberglass and the spools are about 4' across smooth one side and splined on other I turned mine inside out and used cedar 1x6" boards to hold the water on a over shoot method to turn. made a bearing for 2" center hole out of plastic pipe so far no problems in turning 1" inch of flow will turn the wheel.
away from area so unable to send pictures but could if needed.
ken

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Thanks, for your reply. The wheel will be, more for "looks " than practicality.

I, am going to pump water out of my pond, to the wheel, to act as an aerator for the pond.

I assume this would be an overshot?

Thanks, again

That would be a cool aerator. If you're turning the wheel anyway you ought to find something to power with it.