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How to Make a Wooden Turbine

A turbine is a machine fitted with blades or paddles made from wood or metal that, when connected to a generator, converts physical sources of energy (wind or water) into electrical energy. Turbines are a good source of alternative energy in rural or sparsely populated areas. Wood turbines are also generally easier for a beginner to make, since wood or lumber is easily available and relatively inexpensive.

Things You'll Need

Red cedar boards, 2 inches thick
Drawknife
Bandsaw or skill saw
Hammer
Chisel
Plane
Plywood, 1/2 to 1 inch thick
60 woodscrews
Tape measure
Polyurethane glue
Linseed oil

Instructions

- 1
  
  Use a hand saw to taper the blades.
  
  Use the hand saw to taper the blades by cutting each piece of wood along the width so the ends are narrower and the blade gets wider toward the middle. You can make each blade from a single piece of wood or from smaller pieces of wood laminated together with polyurethane glue.
- 2
  
  A good bandsaw turns pieces of wood into tapered blades.
  
  Repeat Step 1 along the blade's thickness, so the blade is thinner at the ends and gets wider toward the middle.
- 3
  
  A wind turbine uses the same principles of aerodynamics as an airplane.
  
  Carve the tapered blades, front and back. You can use the drawknife for this. The blades should be flat on one side and rounded on the other, like airplane wings. You will probably have to use your planing tool to get this just right. When finished, the thickest part of the blade will be about 1.5 inches.
- 4
  
  Low-angle view of a wind turbine.
  
  Assemble and attach the finished blades to two plywood hubs, one on the front and one on the back, to hold them together. The hubs should be 1 to 2 inches wider than the blades. Place one screw to attach one of the hubs into each blade on the front or the back side. It doesn't matter which side you do first, as long as you do all of one side before the other. Use the tape measure to make sure the space between each blade is the same from tip to tip. Use about 10 screws (or as many as you need, but 10 is usually enough) to finish attaching the hub securely to each blade on that side. When you are satisfied that the first hub is securely attached to the front (or the back) of each blade, attach the second hub to the opposite side of each blade.
- 5
  
  Turbine blades take a beating from the elements.
  
  Spread linseed oil generously on the front and back of each blade, to protect the blades from the destructive effects of wind and sun. A thick coat of linseed oil placed on the blades once a year should be enough to protect them.

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