Secret Method of Making 3 Blade Whirligig Propeller Hub - How to DiY

[@MadelineStkitts]

Hi, I appreciate your time and wonderful class with beginners like me.😊 👍🏼 From Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 God bless you

[@gwheyduke]

Thank you muchas!

[@michaelmarchione3408]

This is another great how-to from you. I watched all your earlier shows on making hubs and blades. I learned a lot! It is good that you are showing this again for new viewers who might not see your older videos. Great content George! Take care!

[@gwheyduke]

Thank you very much!

[@ericlewison3227]

the way you explain ... makes it more complicated than it really is...wow!

[@gwheyduke]

The demonstration was intended to explain all of the possible angle and blade configurations available in order to animate any given kinetic wind driven mechanism as well as the mathematical geometry required to determine blade spacing relative to hub disc size.

[@robertpatterson149]

Im about to try and make one. Love you videos. What length and shape blade do you recommend one the 2 1/2 hub with 3 blades?

[@gwheyduke]

Three blades, each about 4 1/2 - inches long would work fine. You can make the blades 2 inches wide. Longer blades usually begin turning sooner in lighter winds but rotate more slowly. I've made them 6 or even 8 inches long. Good luck with making your whirligig.

[@jamesmartin7559]

Good job thank's for the information I have been doing mine the hard way I really appreciate info 👍

[@gwheyduke]

Glad to help

[@bobmarske3103]

Easy to follow process . . . I prefer to mark the angles on the wood stock before I cut the hub, then run the pilot drill through the center point

[@gwheyduke]

Yes, that's a good idea, then you have an accurate center point.

[@LawrenceRichardson-t3p]

After seeing this video and many others; I figured out the math and made my own jig; the first try was your 8 prop. Turned out pretty good I think.

[@LawrenceRichardson-t3p]

Site won't let me post a picture of it though 🥺

[@gwheyduke]

Glad to hear it worked for you.

[@luisferreira434]

Hello When cutting the slots on the hub,how many cutting blades you have for the size of blades Thankyou

[@gwheyduke]

guys are making their own dado stack by putting two thin cutting (.040) blades from Harbor Freight together sandwiched with 2 pieces of card stock to come up with the desired thickness

[@luisferreira434]

Thankyou so much Have a nice weekend

[@winstonsmkr]

Such great explanations, thank you for the tips

[@gwheyduke]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JK-eo1rr]

What thickness of wood are the blades ? Do you cut them to the desired thickness on the table saw ? When cutting the grooves in the hub, how do you get a wider cut than 1/8" ? My table saw has a 1/8" kerf. Love these videos ! Thanks !

[@gwheyduke]

Thanks for your comments. Yes I use a table saw. The blades are about 3/16-inch thick. Originally just used to run the hub through multiple passes to open up the slot. Then found a "cheap-o" wobble dado blade for $20 bucks, it's thinnest setting is 3/16-inch. Works pretty good. Some guys are making their own dado stack by putting two thin cutting (.040) blades together sandwiched with 2 pieces of card stock to come up with the desired thickness.

[@something3441]

Is there an issue or risk I should say with the sawblade hitting the metal hinge? Great video! Thank you

[@gwheyduke]

If the fixture is set up correctly, hitting the hinge is unlikely.

[@luisferreira434]

How tick is the saw blade to cut the slots in the hub Thankyou

[@gwheyduke]

found a "cheap-o" wobble dado blade for $20 bucks, it's thinnest setting is 3/16-inch. Works pretty good. Some guys are making their own dado stack by putting two thin cutting (.040) blades together sandwiched with 2 pieces of card stock to come up with the desired thickness

[@matthewyoder2085]

How did you determine the height of the table saw blade? Thanks for the great info!

[@gwheyduke]

Usually just hold the blank hub close to the blade and move it up until it is slightly below the center hole. Maybe about 1/8-inch to 3/16 or so on this size hub. Leave enough wood to give it some strength.

[@matthewyoder2085]

@@gwheyduke thanks a million!

[@raypowell2076]

@@matthewyoder2085 20:11

[@something3441]

I'm still trying to hone in on my settings. I obviously wasn't center as mine looked like the one you showed that didn't have a through cut on the rear. Another issue I'm having is, I'm using 1/8 for my whirlygig blades. With one saw blade the slot it too small with 2 the slot is too big. How are you getting such a good fit? Thanks in advance. Love your video

[@gwheyduke]

Getting the hub slots the exact size can be difficult. You can try different saw blades. Some are thicker than others. Some builders stack two blades together to form a specific thickness dado cut. Another trick is to simply run the hub through the saw blade multiple times to open it up.

[@bradbrown2168]

Can I buy a bunch of 120 and 90 hubs? Don’t have a set up.

[@gwheyduke]

What size hubs do you need, and how many? I have a just a few left. You would need to make your own blades; the slots are approximately 3/16-inch width.

[@josephgrzelak5165]

What size is hole saw

[@gwheyduke]

The hole saw is 2 1/2 inches.

[@davidlawson6198]

What am i doing wrong? Ive raised the blabe to it max without hitting the bolt, ive made adjustments with the angle and where im cutting center of bolt but they all come out not cut all the way thru on the back

[@gwheyduke]

Hmmm... sounds like you don't have your hub blank centered over the saw blade. Try sliding the hub one way or the other, make a couple of test cuts with a shallow cut on a piece of scrap wood that is the same thickness as your hub blank.

[@thomasberner435]

THANK YOU!!!!

[@gwheyduke]

You are welcome

[@timhicks2866]

Is there an advantage, other than less material for blades, to having 3 blades over 4?

[@gwheyduke]

For simple whirligigs the answer is no. For airplane propellers or Wind turbines the optimum number of blades is determined by the aerospace engineers for each particular application. 4 blades are probably used most often with whirligigs because it's easy to cut a square hub with the individual blade slots while keeping them exactly 90 degrees. Also with four blades they seem to balance out easily. 👈 hope this answers your question.

[@Louisvilledc]

Instead of a table saw, could hubs be made with a chop saw or miter saw?

[@gwheyduke]

Yes absolutely, this has been done.

[@oldsloane]

I cannot believe how little info available for building 90 degree peg gears on youtube.

[@gwheyduke]

Yes, it's true.

[@JimBeshears]

Hi, we are having g a whirligig contest on our Saturday night maker interview livestream, Let's Talk Shop with Russ. Would you like to come on the show S a guest?

[@gwheyduke]

I would love to, need some more info though. Specific date and time?

[@mjl2966]

Sorry but I do not understand what use you get ?

[@gwheyduke]

These hubs are used to make Whirligig propellers with three blades. You can use them to make wind spinners and various types of whirligigs such as a windmill or airplane. 🙂

[@donnahenderson511]

Please can you help a useless female 😂... Is this possible to do using say a mitre blick and hand saw... I am desperate to make a small scale whirligig but do not own any power tools, apart from basic hand drill etc thank you... Super info vids

[@gwheyduke]

You can make a propeller hub using a hand saw and a miter box it will work. The slots for your blades don't have to be a perfect angle, it will still work ok. Starting with Square hubs make it easier to cut the slots by hand.

[@donnahenderson511]

@@gwheyduke thankyou for replying, much appreciated,