"TJ"

Thank you all for your inputs. I should have explained the problem more in debth. I have made numerous weathervanes (that's how i started my little business) using the methodes you suggests and they work fine. However, once in a while I design one that wont adhere to the rules?? Thus I'm starting to believe it is in the designs themselves although that should not matter if the balancing is done correctly,..I think. I usually move the pivot point "slightly" ahead of the balance point and use mostly 7/16 rod for the stand with a ball bearing on top and 1/2" pipe for to fit over and to swing in. I believe like JB, that a point on the shaft would do nicely in most cases though. The 1/16 space difference btwn rod and pipe, is too sloppy and the weight of the vanes tend to make the heavy end of the vane tilt and possibly interfere with its operation thus, I weld a washer, with a 7/16th's hole, at the bottom of the pivot pipe, to compensate for the slack. One thing I have not tried is to make the point larger and I will experiment with that. Thanks again guys//tj

Hello, first time here. I sometimes have problems balancing unconventional metal weathervanes. eg. various ships, larger animal images..... weight and size varies some times, 5 lbs and plus. Although the wind sensitivity may be reduced due to increased weight, the balancing principal should still apply,,,, correct? - or why not? Also, (from something I read on the web) please enlighten me, how can you have an unequal surface area (of the image) but balanced weight on the pivot piont? Regardless of material used, if the image is balanced, isn't there equal amounf of weight each side of the balance point regardless of the design? I am including a link to some "working" Vanes in order to explain "unconventional" regards//tj