Types of Weathervanes

Weather vanes are architectural instruments that can be generally observed on top of any gothic building. Weather vanes are perhaps one of the few things that have sustained the test of time, and are still as much in style as they were hundreds of years ago. Although the basic concept has remained the same, new methods to craft weathervanes have been developed. Weather vanes crafted through different techniques have similar appearances, but there are some fundamental differences between these techniques that decide whether a weather vane will survive for decades, or weather away in only a few years.

Weather vanes can thus be classified into four different types, based on their manufacturing technique:

   

   ²  Casted

   ²  Machine pressed

            ²  Mold crafted

            ²  Freehand crafted

Let's look at more details on each type, and understand why the huge difference in cost between two seemingly similar weather vanes.

²  Casted

This is perhaps the simplest and the least expensive way of creating weather vanes. The motif to be created is first carved out on wood or plastic. Fine sand (mixed with a bonding agent such as clay) is poured into the wood or plastic model, and solidified. This creates a hollow structure (or cavity) that is then filled with the molten metal. After cooling, the sand mold is broken away, the cooled casting is cleaned, finished, and painted. Metals such as bronze, zinc, and iron are used to create cast weather vanes. In modern days, aluminium is used that is lighter and cheaper, but also short lived. Custom designs can be created, though these can be costly.

²  Machine pressed

These weather vanes are manufactured by placing a thin sheet of copper in a machine that has molds in the shape of figures to stamp out the parts of a motif. These parts are then soldered together to create the complete motif. Motifs are polished or painted. Machine pressed weather vanes can be produced in bulk quantities, and are easily available in almost every store that sells weather vanes. These cannot be custom-made. Machine pressed weather vanes are cheap, but may not last long.

²  Mold crafted

The method of mold-crafting was used extensively during the late 19^th century, and many of the antique weathervanes that you might find in antique shops were made by this method. The method is similar to machine pressing, except that the pressing is done by hand-hammering. Carved wooden figures are used as molds, and copper sheets are carefully hand-hammered into these molds to produce the parts, that are then assembled together. The weather vanes are either polished or have a Blue Verde finish. Mold-crafted weather vanes have a fine texture, and detailed carvings. Some of the antique weather vanes are highly collectible, and can cost thousands of dollars.  

 

²  Freehand crafted

Freehand crafting without the use of molds is an art that is generally delivered with unparalleled attention to sculpting details. Depending on the artist’s vision, and the buyer’s imagination, almost anything can be crafted out using this technique. Freehand crafted weather vanes are among the finest in the world, and boast of quality that can last for generations. Most of these increase in value with age, and many become family heirlooms. These pieces can be available directly from the artist, or at museums and galleries. These pieces of art generally have the signature of their creator engraved on them, just like a painting. These weather vanes come with a bronze or stainless steel post, and a brass or bronze compass point.