Introduction: Wind Hooters for Your Yard
Its wintertime and the wind is blowing. Make these "Wind Hooters" instead of wind chimes to add errie sounds to your yard. You can turn them off at night by turning the slots away from the wind (if they bother your neighbors).
Step 1: Cut the Slot
Peel off the label and cut a slot lengthwise down the bottle about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide and about 5 inches long. You can use a 2 liter soda bottle or even smaller bottles for the windhooter.
Step 2: Drill the Cap
Drill a small hole in the cap for mounting the windhooter down. I used a strip of 2 by 2 and mounted down several bottles.
Step 3: Insert a Screw
Insert a screw in the hole and use this to hold down the bottle. The end of the bottle needs to be capped or it won't hoot.
Step 4: Mount in a Row
Mount several bottles in a row on a 2 by 2 piece of wood. Tie down the strip on a fence, railing or pole in your yard.
Step 5: Adjust Slot in the Wind.
The sound is best if the wind blows across the slot.. You can turn it off by twisting the slot away from the wind. Narrow slots or smaller bottles make higher notes. Experiment with different bottles and slots.
Step 6: Video
Step 7: Credits
I got this idea from Plastorgan. This is a great project for the kids. Also check my webpage for more about the Windhooter.
Participated in the
Keep the Bottle Contest
38 Comments
11 months ago
Will laundry soap bottles work also
14 years ago on Introduction
Why not add a swivel to your cap and then place a tail at a 90 degree angle to the slot (like a windmill). That way when the wind blows the bottle will automatically orient itself in the winds and start howling.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
That would work. You can cut up a second bottle for the vane and use sheet metal screws to attach them.
Reply 2 years ago
Or hot melt glue.
I had the same idea of making a windvane effect - but the idea to use bottles for the parts is great!
13 years ago on Introduction
A good tip for cutting these bottles or aluminium cans, is to fill them with water and freeze them solid. Once frozen, your scalpel can cut exact shapes into the plastic and ice easily.
Reply 7 years ago
Nice tip, I wonder if filling them with fine sand would work too? Maybe tape up the cuts and holes as you work to hold the sand until done!
Reply 7 years ago
that is an excellent tip! Of course I read it only AFTER struggling with three bottles lol. Definitely heeding your advice next time!
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Wonderful tip!! Thanks.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
love that tip
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
It is a good tip as it makes cutting a whole lot safer and surer.
8 years ago on Introduction
awesome
10 years ago on Step 7
Made 3 today! a 2 liter, a 1 liter and a 20 ounce... all I need now are a 3 liter and a 16 ounce, lol. Put them on my Halloween Shed way up in the pasture behind my house and over the hill-perfect to annoy the neighbors up that way I can't stand!
Reply 10 years ago on Step 7
Should sound plenty spooky at night!
10 years ago on Introduction
I made many of these to annoy my neighbors. They worked great!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Good job. Wind Harps work too. I turn mine out of the wind most of the time to keep my neighbor happy. But it is fun hearing it when the wind picks up.
12 years ago on Introduction
Our house gets this sound with very little wind, all on its own! It was strange when we first moved in, but now I rather like it.
13 years ago on Step 6
Sounds errie,my window does it when we get a noreaster,no matter how warm I am the noise will still give me a chill.
14 years ago on Step 6
I love it! Simple and fast, this will be a great addition to my yearly yard haunt to add spooky sounds in the graveyard. I can put them inside one of the mausoleums with a fan to blow across them and make spooky sounds. Thanks much!
14 years ago on Introduction
This is so easy, I will have to try this, thanks for posting!
14 years ago on Introduction
Cool! My friends and I go through a lot of two-liters, so I've got enough bottles to experiment with. We've been having a heckuva wind here lately so it shouldn't be an issue, but for when thigs go back to sanity, any idea what kind of wind velocity you need to have them work?