Making a Copper Weathervane Review

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Making a Copper Weathervane ReviewMy wife and I enjoy going to craft shows and have finally settled on two favorites, the Philadelphia and the Smithsonian shows [links in first Comment]. Of course, if a show runs at the same time we happen to be in the area, we usually stop by to see artists new to us. But the Philadelphia and the Smithsonian shows are juried and almost always have the very highest quality available.
Chesterbooks is a topflight source of books about crafts, and the owner introduced me to this beautiful example of DYI books now being released It contain 290 color images, 25 detailed line drawings, and clear simple text describing how to make a hand-hammered copper weathervane.
I've been working on a close replica of the rooster weathervane shown on the cover for three months -- it's a great project if you don't have a great deal of time to spend at one time but can leave the tools and work in progress on a work bench for the moment when opportunity and inspiration strike. I've spent about 20 hours altogether on the project and at this rate should be ready to test my rooster in the March winds next spring.
I decided on the rooster because I liked the design and because the photos and descriptive text would help guide my novice hammer strokes. But Helmreich has a variety of other suggestions, some of great beauty or humor, and another excellent collection of possible subjects appears in Folk Art Weather Vanes: Authentic American Patterns for Wood and Metal.
Helmreich adds a bit of history to his instructions, and I've enjoyed consulting other resources along the way. The OED teaches, for example, that the word is a form of "fane" (a flag or banner) and ancient, and has a nice collection of early references:
c1386 CHAUCER Clerk's T. 940 O stormy poeple..ever untrewe..and chaungyng as a fane.
1483 Cath. Angl. 122 A Fayne of a schipe..ubi a weder coke.
c1510 BARCLAY Mirr. Gd. Manners (1570) Biv, Varying as fanes erect vnto the winde.
?1635 H. GLAPTHORNE Lady Mother III. i. in Bullen O. Pl. (1883) II. 142 Light faines erected on the tops Of lofty structures.
1773 J. NOORTHOUCK Hist. London 611 The turret..from its top rises a ball that supports the fane.
Weathervanes are mentioned in Mesopotamian writings, and the Chinese also write about strings or flags being used to read wind direction in writings dated to the 2nd Century B.C.
"Weathervanes have a simple design, but in order to function, they need to be perfectly balanced on their rotating axis. They also need an unequal area on each side that the wind can blow against. Additionally, weathervanes must be located on the highest point of a structure, and away from other tall buildings or structures that may affect wind direction. As the weathervane spins to reduce the force of the wind on its surface, the end with the least surface area turns into the wind, and thus indicates the wind direction." Getting the balance exactly right is thus very important, and Helmreich is invaluable in guiding my efforts.
One bit of history I would like to learn more about: a papal edict in the 9th century A.D. ordered that every church in Christendom must be adorned by a cockerel, a symbol to remind Christians of Peter's betrayal of Christ: "I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." (Luke 22:34). Apparently, the cockerels were not intended as weathervanes, but eventually they took on that function.
This last tidbit may be a bit of historical fiction, or true enough. By next March I hope to have finished my cockerel and have learned the truth of its history. Either way, I'll have enjoyed this beautifully produced book and the technieques it has taught me. I already have.
Robert C. Ross 2009Making a Copper Weathervane OverviewFolk art subjects used in American weathervanes are shown, including domesticated and wild animals, birds, occupations, patriotic themes, and transportation. Create your own design or use the complete set of plans included to produce a traditional rooster weathervane. Using basic tools (tin snips and hammers), ageless techniques, and sheet copper available at your local sheet metal shop, this book will teach you how to make a weathervane that will serve your roof for years. Whether you are an experienced metal worker, or a woodworker who is looking for a challenge, this is the book for you.Using over 290 crisp color images, 25 detailed line drawings, and concise text, Bruce Helmreich guides readers through the steps necessary to build a hand-hammered copper weathervane. This step-by-step guide transforms a sheet of copper into a fully functioning weathervane.

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