VAWT Made From Wood Siding

6 Mar , 2013 Video

This video and blog post is about a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) made from mostly a wood called Western Red Cedar. It has contains images from the first attempt 2 years ago and video update of of the second attempt with modified blades/airfoils. It’s a fun project to work on, especially when it’s in your living room/workshop and the parts can be obtained as cheaply as possible. Sometimes you can come up with clever ideas to achieve the impossible!The parts where various materials for around the shop:- Blades (and struts) from 1 x 8 Bevel cedar siding lumber

– Hub- the top and bottom wood circle from a cable spool

– 1 inch outside diameter aluminium shaft

– Hub- 1 inch Floor flange

– Hub- 1 inch x 1-1/2 inch Reducing Bushing

– Two rare earth ring magnets (ebay), thin vinyl sheet for the blade scoops and assorted screws.

One of the blade scoops was on the VAWT was damaged slightly when it “moved” by a family member.

Future plans: Brace the struts, upgrade the shaft, create a better mount and somehow add a generator. Hopefully with the second tower in the making, I get the chance to test it out.

Shaping the blades

Adding struts to the hub

Right angle bracket for the blade

Close up of cedar strut. Cut from the thicker section of a 1 x 8 cedar siding plank

Shows how it was joined

High tech level system for blades. Sits on a spine of a VHS tape case.

Birds eye view of the blades shape and mounted

Sandwiched the struts between the plywood cable spool

Shelf bracket for more support

Top of dismantled cable spool

Another shot of the shelf bracket. Wanted to allow space for blade angle, etc.

Shaft, locking collar and magnets inserted on the shaft. Ah, yes, I did add an extra bearing just underneath the reducing bear. Maybe a bit of my over engineering!

The reducing bushing fits nicely into the floor flange. Tighten and you have the plywood, struts all wedged together. Plus the shaft and slide inside.