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Weathervanes

This weathervane was designed for the San Pasqual Elementary School, San Pasqual Valley, CA,
July, 2003.  The Fleur-de-lis is their school emblem.  It was made by sandwiching brass in the center,
copper in the middle on both sides and brass on top, both sides -- with brass acorn nuts holding the
assembly together.  The layering gives the Fleur-de-lis more of a 3D look and makes it stronger.

The bottom of the Fleur-de-lis is attached to the upright column by inserting it into a sloted short
stainless steel bar (to eliminate electrolytic corrosion), held secure with brass rivets.  The stainless
bar was threaded to screw into the steel pipe (just barely showing in picture below).
 

The picture below shows the assembled weathervane prior to installation on site.  The upright portion
is made from plumbing parts (to acknowledge the valley's agricultural history).  The arrow is steel tubing
with the head and feathers made from gilded brass, attached with stainless steel (again to eliminate
electrolytic corrosion), to acknowledge the Native American heritage of the region.  The shorter portion
of the arrow was weighted inside with lead to help balance it.

The compass letters are brass, held with copper tubing attached to stainless steel screws which were
welded to a steel ring, with a set screw so it could be oriented correctly and then held firmly in place.
The arrow pivots on a shaft that is inserted into two sealed ball bearings, secured in section of pipe
designed to shelter them from the weather.

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More to come