Windmill plans??

[RxRatedZ71]

I've always wanted to have a windmill on our property. We have a perfect elevated, rocky outcrop in our backyard. I know you can buy the 8' ones inexpensively at TSC, but i want to build a wooden one that is more to scale. Does anyone know of any free plans online for a reproduction. I know sometimes the Ag schools will offer PDFs of various projects.

 

[SandburRanch]

I've always wanted to have a windmill on our property. We have a perfect elevated, rocky outcrop in our backyard. I know you can buy the 8' ones inexpensively at TSC, but i want to build a wooden one that is more to scale. Does anyone know of any free plans online for a reproduction. I know sometimes the Ag schools will offer PDFs of various projects.

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Free plans online seem somewhat difficult to obtain but about a 3 hour drive to the north west to the small town of Shattuck will put you in a location that has a neat looking windmill museum from what I can see on their web site. And they just might have some information where plans could be obtained.

SHATTUCK WINDMILL MUSEUM

 

[zzvyb6]

For what you would spend on a wooden reproduction, you can buy an old original and stand it up. Ebay has quite a few options. I have several on the property and another one going up soon.

You could try Craigslist, too. Two of mine came from there.

 

[RxRatedZ71]

Great! I've checked CL locally but it seemed the motor heads were in the $1500-2k range. Haven't tried Bay yet. Im sure there is some old rancher out there reading this post thinking he'd s got one laying out in his north 40 that he'd like to get rid of...(hint, hint)

 

[zzvyb6]

Use searchtempest.com to hunt for stuff on CL by zipcode.

For example:

There's one for $975 in Seminole.
One for $750 in Blackwell,
And a complete one in Gateway AR.

Take a trailer and some wrenches and 2 long ropes. Unbolt two legs ompletely. Unbolt the other two legs partially so the remaining bolts act as hinge pins. Tie an end of each rope to the top of the tower. Pull by hand with one rope. Tie the end of the other rope to your truck's front bumper and over the top of the cab. Then have someone back it up slowly, VERY slowly while you gently pull the first rope.

Take the tower apart in two equal length sections and put them on the trailer intertwined (one within the other). The head end probably has ball bearings in the mast cap, so collect them up. Take the fan off to make lifting the parts easy. Then take her home.

Some days I just go out there and stare at them. Its also fun to climb the tower and take a look around. No mosquitoes at 30'.

Here's the next project, as soon as I decide where EXACTLY I want to put her. Has an observation deck. Just bought a used spiral staircase for the interior so the squeamish can enjoy the view (as well as me when I'm too old to climb a rusted out ladder).

 

[TheGoose]

You forgot about the draining the oil part.

They sell a 19' wood tower complete with functional head at a good discount. Look up "American West Windmill", they sell the Aermotor 702 clone, but they have a special 19 foot model that is mostly for decoration but will still pump a small amount of water.

I just set a ~20' tower and 8 ft 702. I like windmills also, someday I plan to have my own.

Use searchtempest.com to hunt for stuff on CL by zipcode.

For example:

There's one for $975 in Seminole.
One for $750 in Blackwell,
And a complete one in Gateway AR.

Take a trailer and some wrenches and 2 long ropes. Unbolt two legs ompletely. Unbolt the other two legs partially so the remaining bolts act as hinge pins. Tie an end of each rope to the top of the tower. Pull by hand with one rope. Tie the end of the other rope to your truck's front bumper and over the top of the cab. Then have someone back it up slowly, VERY slowly while you gently pull the first rope.

Take the tower apart in two equal length sections and put them on the trailer intertwined (one within the other). The head end probably has ball bearings in the mast cap, so collect them up. Take the fan off to make lifting the parts easy. Then take her home.

Some days I just go out there and stare at them. Its also fun to climb the tower and take a look around. No mosquitoes at 30'.

Here's the next project, as soon as I decide where EXACTLY I want to put her. Has an observation deck. Just bought a used spiral staircase for the interior so the squeamish can enjoy the view (as well as me when I'm too old to climb a rusted out ladder).

 

[sfloggie]

Tyler,
I owned 80 acres in Arcadia until 2006. We sold it to Dr Christopher Barry. He put a windmill above an old pump. Call him and ask if you could see it and ask where he got it. He is a diehard scrounger.

Chris is with ST Anthony in OKC and is quite busy, but a great guy with wealth of knowledge about the farm.

Jim

 

[RxRatedZ71]

Man, lots of info to sort through here. I do appreciate all the feedback. Looks like the old era of the windmill hasn't been completely forgotten. Now I just have to find a way to sneak it by my wife. This may be a fly-by-night project. Always easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, right?

 

[RxRatedZ71]

Went today to pickup a windmill kit. The head is from http://windsco.com and it was already assembled by a local dealer. He was trying to get out of the business and had a 5' headkit marked at 40% original cost. I think he was wanting to make some space, seeing as he is moving within the next month. Anyhow, the kit came with a set of detailed, step-by-step instructions on assembling a wooden tower. Mine will be 20' in height when the project is complete. Now, I've got to dig a footing or pad and buy the lumber. Stay tuned for coming pictures. Here are a few from the mfc website.

 

[Willl]

Rx, maybe you could explain something to me.

In the 2 pictures you posted from Windsco, on one head the tail fin is straight out the back and on the other it looks to be sideways.

Are my eyes playing tricks on me ?