How to Build a Flying Goose Weathervane
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Children and adults alike enjoy watching a colorful weathervane spin slowly in the breeze or round and round on a windy day. You can make a flying Canada Goose weathervane for your yard in an afternoon with simple materials and a good plan, outlined below.
Step 1 - Draw the Outline of the Goose on the Board
On the 1x12x24 board, draw the outline of the goose. Make sure the wing hangs well below the body. It will catch the wind and turn the weathervane on its mount.
Step 2 - Cut Out the Outline with the Jigsaw and File the Edge
Carefully follow the outline of your weathervane with the jigsaw blade. Stay a little outside it to retain the shape. Use the electric sander or coarse-grained sandpaper by hand to round off the edges and give it a more 3-dimensional shape.
Step 3 - Add the Details of the Wing, Head, and Back
Use the wood carving tools to add the feathers to the wing, back, and tail. Carve in the eye and a slit for the beak of the Canada Goose. Add the details on both sides of the carving, to make your goose appear to have two eyes and two wings.
Step 4 - Drill in the Mounting Hole for the Weathervane
Find the balance point of your Canada Goose weathervane. Hold it balanced on your hand, then shift it backward and forward to the point where you can balance it on one finger. Drill the mounting hole at that point. The hole should go up half the depth of the goose from the balance point toward the top of its back. Drill this hole as vertically as you can make it, for the best spin effect.
Step 5 - Test the Weathervane on the Mounting Pole
Thrust the 1/4 inch mounting pole into the ground and set the weathervane on it to test the spin. Drill the hole about 5/16 inch or slightly larger as needed to ensure the Canada Goose weathervane will spin freely in even a mild breeze.
Step 6 - Paint and Varnish the Canada Goose Weathervane
Brush on two coats of white acrylic paint over the entire surface of the weathervane on both sides. Paint the brown wings, edging the feathers with white and black at the wing tips. Paint the black head and neck of the goose last. Allow it to dry thoroughly between coats of paint. Apply two coats of clear varnish when dry to protect the paintwork.
Step 7 - Set Up the Weathervane
Place the weathervane on its 1/4-inch mounting pole in your garden, or drill it into a fence post, with plenty of room for it to rotate 360 degrees.
