ROTATING WHIRLIGIG

We all have to be aware of wasting energy,and this Instructable was forwarded to show you how to save energy by using throw-away plastic bottles. There is a lot of raw plastic materials being not recycled. It just goes into a garbage pile . I have used plastic drink bottles for whirligigs and also old CD discs which are also re-cyclable.The resulting devices I use in the garden or my trees as ornaments that twist and rotate in the wind.

THIS INSTRUCTABLE WILL BE ENTERED IN THE US OF EFFICIENCY CONTEST. So vote.

Step 1: Parts and Layout

1-A couple of old cd discs can be used or any round piece of plastic about 1/32 thick.
Beverage bottles- I used a water bottle about 2 inches diameter and 8 inches long after cutting off the top . A scissors can easily cut down the length .I used a strong shears for cutting the bottom.
Best string is a 1mm dia.plastic cord I found in an craft store for under a dollar. It should be stretchable. Stretchable string gives a counter-rotation after the wind winds -up the string and stops.
Glue can be hotmelt but I used Goop Glue. It is slow in cure [one hour] but very strong. I also use fish line illustrated here.

Step 2: Preparing

This is a general description of the Step . The bottle should have the top cut off. I used a pocket knife. Clear adhesive tape also helps locate the bottom 1/2 bottle on the cd disk.Apply glue liberally.

Step 3: Assembly

Final assembly is straight forward. I use a pen to approximately draw 3 lines equally spaced.then I applied goop and positioned the bottom on the line. I taped it down, Remove tape later.Then add 1/2 bottles 2 and 3 , Add glue along the center axis all way to top open end.Add a second cd if you wish.This cd adds a little weight and keeps the spin even in a high wind. I added a wire but it is not needed.Just use a washer or a big knot in the plastic string.The string can be 1 to 3 feet long to hang from a tree or a hook rod. To add a cd You may have to evencut the three bottle ends and glue at interface to cd..

Step 4: FINISHING

After the glue dries in about 3 hours for Goop, I applied semi-clear paint on the plastic outside .I also cut a cd into 1 in. squares and glued them inside of each bottle . This provides a mirror reflection at night time as the pieces reflect light from porch lites asit rotates in the wind.
Due to the concave construction the device will rotate in the slightest wind.
I glued magnets to top cd. then added LED light blinkers. I glued small magnets to the blinkers too.
There is no limit to the kind of Rotators one can device from plastic bottles. Large one or two liter bottles can give the device a high speed rotation. I am going to attach a small motor -generator to one of the large rotators and light LED lights on the top.This should be quite a sight at night.
I also made a two vane rotator [see picture] . Use only one bottle.