DIY water mill wheel. How to make a water mill with your own hands

It is known that a suburban area is necessary not only for work, but also for a good outdoor recreation. gardeners decorate household territory fountains, stone figurines, lamps. A small do-it-yourself water mill will be a great addition to these details.

It is known that a suburban area is necessary not only for work, but also for a good outdoor recreation.

You can look at the water endlessly, it gives a chill on a hot day, and the murmur coming from the garden calms and distracts from the hustle and bustle. Modern technologies allow summer residents to independently create such a decoration for their site.

Types of water mills

This device was known in ancient times, the following types of it are distinguished according to the type of wheel orientation:

vertical;
horizontal.

In the first case, the mechanism is driven by a water wheel located in a vertical plane through a gear mechanism, and the horizontal orientation implies the absence of such a principle.

According to the purpose of use, water mills are flour-grinding, sawmilling, and also created for paper production and needs. textile industry. However, at their summer cottage, they perform only a decorative function.

The mechanism of the vertical water mill is driven by a water wheel located in a vertical plane through a gear mechanism.

A complete water mill consists of the following parts:

wheel with blades;
chute, axle and hinges;
wheel frame;
frame.

Such a device has been mentioned in ancient books and other sources since time immemorial, it was built over the centuries to process grain into flour. So, the product was lifted up, from where it was poured into the millstones along the chute, and people collected the finished raw materials for baking bread in bags.

Despite the invention, the process of grinding grains still remained a difficult task. advanced device natural water from the reservoir directs to the wheel, and the force of the falling liquid sets in motion the blades of the wheel, which rotates the axis of the mill.

Water Mill, decorated with plants will give suburban area mystery and perfectly complement it

Today, you can create a smaller version of this device with a little imagination and effort. There are many decorative options water mill, for example, it can be made from materials available to all: stone, wood, broken brick. Some gardeners make not only a wheel, but also a house with a roof, which is a straw or reed, such a composition fits perfectly into general form site.

The case, located next to the structure, can be used as storage for garden tools. In addition, the water flow makes it possible to obtain energy, so with the help of a mill it is possible to light a path or water a garden. A water mill, decorated with plants, especially conifers and shrubs, will add mystery to the suburban area and complement it perfectly.

DIY water mill (video)

The principle of operation of the water mill

As a rule, water for this device comes from a reservoir - a river, a pond or a reservoir through a pipe, moving to the wheel. Its powerful flow drives the blades of the wheel, which rotates the axle. The full-size water mill is designed in such a way that the passage of liquid is controlled by sluice gates that prevent flooding. The decorative device works on a similar principle. The wheel is fed with water from above. dacha reservoir, the force of the falling liquid acts on the blades, and it begins to rotate.

Water is supplied through a hose, one end of which is placed in a pond, and the other is brought to the roof of the mill. The pump distills the liquid, thanks to which it circulates in a circle and makes the wheel move.

Water from the country reservoir enters the wheel from above, the force of the falling liquid acts on the blades, and it begins to rotate

Ways to create a water flow

To ensure a constant supply of water to the mill wheel, you can use the following solutions:

drain;
site irregularities;
pump installation.

In the first case, the device is located under the gutter from the drain, so the mill will only work if it is raining outside. But to create a falling stream of water, some summer residents adapt the unevenness of the site, for example, a natural alpine hill.

At a short distance from the mill, a place is created for collecting liquid, which will be fed through the chute to the wheel. But you can make unevenness with your own hands from improvised materials - stones, bricks and compacted earth, a hose is installed inside the structure, which supplies water. Installing a pump in a reservoir involves the flow of fluid under pressure to the wheel, thereby ensuring its constant movement. It can be a shallow pond, a well or a tank.

At a short distance from the mill, a place is created for collecting liquid, which will be fed through the chute to the wheel

Style decisions

A decorative watermill is a great decoration for a modern garden, there are many options for decorating the site and the surrounding area. Typically create beautiful device It’s not difficult, it all depends on the imagination and diligence of the summer resident.

For example, rustic country style involves the use of wooden parts. It is recommended to build a small bench or gazebo next to the mill, and a tiny flower cart or wooden animal figurines will also look spectacular. Sunflowers, daisies and cereals can be planted near such a water mill, which will add flavor and rustic charm to the composition.

The decorative watermill is a great decoration for a modern garden.

Fachwerk is a unique style in which the frame of buildings is visible from the outside. To create such a solution, the summer resident will need white and brown paint, roof tiles and thin slats. The millhouse should be painted in White color, then stick decorative strips, breaking the surface into small squares and triangles. As a result, the facade will look very unusual. And next to the mill, you can put a brown bench or plant white flowers.

Today, many summer residents become fans Japanese style. The design of the water mill in this case will be consistent, the main decorations are stones, water and plants, and the house should be dark color. If desired, you can build a stone tower or bench, as well as plant dwarf trees around the device. The wheel is decorated with sand, pebbles or pieces of shells.

How a water mill works (video)

Making a mill for the garden with your own hands

First of all, you need to draw a sketch of the future device or find it on the Internet. As a basis, you can use various items, for example, wheels from a bicycle, car or toys. But you can make a mill wheel with your own hands, using the following materials:

solid wood or moisture resistant plywood;
metal tube;
nuts and screws.

Fachwerk is a unique style in which the frame of buildings is visible from the outside.

To create the base and other parts, you will need tools such as an electric jigsaw, Circular Saw, hammer, screwdriver.

First you need to create 2 wooden disks of equal diameter, between which the blades are attached, which can be made of plywood, attach them at regular intervals. In the center of the wheel, you need to mount a piece of a metal tube for the axle, with which it will be attached on one side to the mill body, on the other - to the support, it is assembled from wooden bars. They should be installed firmly enough with the help of fasteners.

Flowing water attracts people, you can watch it endlessly. She calms and inspires. But on hot summer days, the water radiates coolness. To get such pleasant feelings, a water mill is being built, it is very easy to make it with your own hands. The main thing is to take into account certain recommendations.

What is a water mill?

Long ago, watermills were used to grind grains and make flour out of them. For this, the energy of water was used. But times have changed, so such a mill is used to decorate a summer cottage. This design adds charm to the site. The water mill is equipped with a wheel that rotates with the flow of water. It is installed on the shore of the reservoir.

What are the features of a water mill?

The summer cottage exists not only to plant a variety of vegetables and fruits on it. It is also used for recreation. For this reason, the owners are trying to decorate the territory in order to be as pleasant as possible on it. For this, a water mill can serve. She will decorate the site, and the water that murmurs will give peace. Such a mill becomes an excellent addition to the entire territory of the cottage.

But some people use this design not only for decoration, but also for the implementation of certain functions. But for this there must be a natural water flow. Any body of water that is on the site will generate energy that can be used, for example, for lighting.

It should be understood that this is not a powerful source. He is not able to light the whole house. But small lamps will glow with it at night.

What is needed for construction work?

Making a mill does not prohibit fantasizing. Therefore, they are used different materials. The mill can be made of stone, broken bricks. But for such structures, you need to make a foundation. Many people make a wooden windmill with a house. The roof is made from straw or reeds. Such a structure will harmoniously fit into the rustic design.

For the construction, you can use boxes, boards, tiles that are no longer needed. Worth lacquering wooden material to keep it for a long time.

In the house, which is being built near the mill, windows and doors are made. Initially, it is recommended to engage in the design of the model. To do this, it is worth deciding on the material from which the structure will be constructed. You also need to get screws, a hammer, glue and other necessary tools.

Step by step instructions for making

The construction of a water mill includes the following steps:

Water drop design
Building a house, after which it should be installed in the right place
wheel start

If there is no natural flow of water, you can make it artificially. To do this, you can choose one of the options:

The installation of the mill takes place under the gutter. In this case, the rotation of the wheel will occur when the street it's raining. But you don't have to wait for the right ones. weather. In order for the wheel to rotate, a hose with water is used, which enters the roof with a pump. When it flows through the pipe, the wheel will turn. In the future, water can be sent to the garden.
If the site has some irregularities, then you should take advantage of this. The relief is used to make a falling stream. On a hill, a container is deepened into the ground, which will be filled with water. A mill is installed near such a container.
If the area is flat, then you can start creating Alpine slide. This will require earth and cobblestone. A water hose is installed in the middle of such a building, which will create a flow of water.

For the construction, it is necessary to acquire a pump that has sufficient power to pump water from the reservoir. For this, the distance from the mill to the water source is also taken into account. When a water drop is created, then you can begin to build the structure itself. The mill has a simple device. To do this, you need a house where a water pump and a wheel that moves with the help of water are hidden. But many people do without a house. They are limited to a simple design.

To create a wheel for construction, the following methods are used:

For the design, they take an ordinary wheel from an old bicycle.
A spool is used that is designed for winding wire
The wheel is built from boards that are nailed to each other
Apply part of the pipe

It does not matter what materials were taken for the construction of the structure, the following rules must be observed:

Must have blades
A pipe must be present in the center of the structure to create an axis around which the wheel will rotate
A wheel with blades is being built
Parts can be attached by any convenient mechanical methods.

Two pillars are being built. On them, the axis should be fastened by a movable method. For such manipulation, bearings are used. To arrange the supports, they make a house. To do this, use a variety of materials that the owner chose. The house can be wooden, brick, etc.

The chute is brought to the top of the wheel. Water will flow through it. If the blades are made from wood, then it is worth coating them with a varnish that repels water. If they are made of metal, then it is worth smearing them with paint that protects against corrosion. Channels are built so that water flows to the garden or elsewhere. There is a registration of the site near the mill. For this, plants are planted, tiles are laid, etc.

Application features

It is worth noting that the mill should harmoniously fit into the summer cottage. It must match its size. If the area is small, then the mill should not be huge size. The house, which is located near this design, can be used to store a variety of things. Here you can put toys for children, garden tools.

Some people design a windmill in order to use a stream of water. Unwinding, the design allows you to receive energy. Therefore, with the help of a mill, you can illuminate the paths at their summer cottage. But the main purpose of the design is the decoration of the territory. It can also be used to water the garden, which is very convenient for those people who grow various crops in the beds.

So, a water mill is a great addition to a summer cottage. With its help, you can transform the territory, decorate the cottage, create a pleasant atmosphere for relaxation. It is not necessary to pay builders for the construction of such a structure. You can do it yourself.

The manufacture of such a structure as a decorative water mill is within the power of anyone who seriously intends to turn their yard into an exquisite and cozy place, causing admiration and aesthetic pleasure. A water wheel rotated by a playful stream, drops of water sparkling in the rays of the sun, you rarely see a sight as amazing, charming and bewitching.

You can watch the water flow forever. It is not only beautiful, but also gives inspiration and peace, life-giving moisture and coolness on a hot summer day. You can get all these pleasant impressions and sensations without spending special money on it by making a water mill with your own hands. For this, only a reservoir and the necessary materials and tools are needed (Fig. 1).

The historical significance of the mill

Figure 1. Tools for making a water mill.

In ancient times, water or windmill was essential element economic activity any village. It served for threshing grains into flour, was useful in many other types of industry. The mills worked on the same principle: wheat and other grains were ground by massive millstones, which were set in motion by wind or water flow. After that, the finished product ground into flour was collected in containers and scattered into bags.

Many legends and superstitions were associated with the water mill, and the miller himself was almost associated with a sorcerer who controls the elements with the help of magical powers. And although in our age high technology no witchcraft is needed to create this type of water structure, but it all looks really magical.

Now there is no need to build a mill to get flour, because it is in the store. This simplifies the construction of such a structure, since it is not necessary to design and construct complex millstone mechanisms. It is enough to confine ourselves to a decorative water wheel. It is this that gives the landscape the spirit of centuries-old history and charm so beloved by many. rustic classics(Fig. 2).

The water mill is an integral part of the global cultural heritage, equally inherent in both Western and Eastern civilizations. The mill evokes pleasant and warm associations with the delicious aroma of fresh hot bread, the picturesque view of cozy village huts, and reminds of a long-gone fabulous antiquity. With my own hand touching history is an invaluable pleasure.

Water mill device

Figure 2. A water mill will fit perfectly into the landscape suburban area in rustic style.

The basis of a decorative watermill is a wheel located on the banks of a watercourse, such as a river or stream. The water wheel has blades distributed along the perimeter of the circle at equal distances from each other.

The water flow is fed to the blades using a special chute, which is located above the wheel from above, which leads to its movement. The wheel rotates freely around its axis due to the hinge (Fig. 3).

However, garden plots running water are extremely rare, a natural watercourse is a real luxury.

Even artificial pond not everyone can afford. And the presence of a reservoir for work decorative windmill is an necessary condition. Therefore, first of all, you need to make sure that there is a constant source of water on the site. You can serve it up with submersible pump(Fig. 4).

The stylistic concept of the windmill

Figure 3. The principle of operation of a water mill.

The water wheel is a full-fledged decorative object, it can be adjusted to almost any style. Based on personal aesthetic tastes and preferences, the arrangement of a water mill can be done in a different manner. For example, in a magical and fabulous Slavic spirit or in the style of severe medieval Gothic. You can even give it an ultra-modern futuristic design - it all depends on your imagination.

In any case, you need to think over the style of the future structure in advance, not forgetting to take into account not only your desires and fantasies, but also the general design concept of the garden plot, so that the structure fits well into the surrounding landscape without causing aesthetic disharmony. For example, a rough and massive rustic-style mill will contrast strongly with classical sculptures, luxurious fountains and sophisticated architecture of buildings. And a colorful gazebo in a fabulous style will visually outshine a modest and neat oriental mill.

For different styles landscape design external design mills should be considered separately. For a rustic (country) style, artificially aged wood is excellent as a material for making a wheel, which is ideally combined with log cabins and other wooden structures. A variety of decorative trifles will not interfere: windows, shutters, doors. The Japanese style, on the contrary, implies conciseness and restraint in everything, so the mill should look neat, natural stone is suitable as a building material.

Construction of a watermill model

Figure 4. Scheme of a submersible pump for a water mill.

Before building a full-sized mill, it is worth considering whether its dimensions correspond to the area of \u200b\u200bavailable space. On standard garden plot, not distinguished by particularly impressive open spaces, a huge structure will look ridiculous and out of place. Instead, it is recommended to assemble a smaller miniature model that will fit perfectly into the design of a not too large yard. Drawing with exact dimensions(in centimeters), on which you can accurately assemble the building, is shown in the diagram (Fig. 5). To build a water mill model, you may need the following materials:

paving slabs with dimensions of 75x50x5 cm;
cobblestones for the pavement (gray cubes in the diagram);
bituminous tiles;
brass threaded rod;
aluminum corner;
bushings, nuts, screws, dowels, nails;
mounting rails made of wood;
plywood;
special glue and protective impregnation for wood.

The following tools will also come in handy:

Figure 5. Drawing of a water mill.

jigsaw;
circular saw (grinder);
hammer, screwdrivers;
wet sponge;
pencil.

Stone cubes (bridge cobblestones) are laid in a row along the edges of the pavement slabs, the solution is applied and smoothed from above with a moistened sponge. Wooden slats using an electric jigsaw, they are sawn in accordance with the dimensions, then the supporting structure of the structure, similar to a frame, is formed from them. The joints are glued with wood glue, the corner elements are fastened with a half-tree cut. All wooden assembly elements must be impregnated with a protective solution so that the building can withstand many years of downtime. open sky bathed in rain and snow. The formed frame, supported by braces, is attached to the base with screws. Then the frame windows are filled in pieces shingles, cut with a grinder to the appropriate size and fixed with silicone glue. A drawing is applied to the plywood sheets with a pencil rims, then cut out with a jigsaw desired forms details.

Pieces of an aluminum corner cut into equal parts are glued to one of the two rims, imitating water intake blades.

The interval of their placement must match the spokes of the wheel.

Next, you need to make a support for the resulting water wheel. It must have high reliability, therefore, after gluing, it is recommended to strengthen the structure with screws, and drive an aluminum bushing into the axial hole. The wheel should also be carried out carefully and reliably, since the durability of the entire structure depends on its quality.

The axis of the mill is a brass rod, on which a spacer sleeve should be put along with an aluminum tube, which will strengthen the attachment to the wall. Then the previously assembled wheel sits on the axle. The same sleeve is needed to separate the wheel from the support so that there is a gap between them. Then the axis is screwed with a nut, for which the rod must be threaded. The upper half of the mill frame must be sheathed with wooden slats.

In the lower half, wooden corners are attached to the corners with glue. This is necessary for the correct alignment of the details of the building. With a knife, pieces of tiles for the roof are cut out, which are then glued on top of the house.

Instruction

A water mill is a hydraulic structure that uses the energy of the movement of water. To transfer force from the water flow to the working body, it was invented water wheel usually equipped with gears. To make the flow of water more powerful, the river on which it was installed was blocked by a dam. In this artificial obstacle, a hole was left through which the jets penetrated. Water fell on the blades of the wheel, causing it to rotate.

Apparently, the prototype of the first water mills was watering machines, by means of which water was raised from reservoirs to the fields to irrigate the sown areas. The first such devices were wooden rims on which scoops were mounted. When a wheel mounted on a horizontal axis was placed in the river, it began to rotate. The scoops were successively immersed in the water and climbed up, after which they overturned into a special chute.

The described principle was the basis for the action of a water mill. Only now the rotating wheel did not supply water, but set in motion a special mechanism. Powerful jets of water acted on the blades of the wheel, it rotated at a constant speed, and the force was transferred to the shaft. This shaft ended with a device that carried out the direct grinding of the grain.

One of the most critical components of a water mill is its transmission mechanism, designed to convert rotational energy. Mechanics of the past used wheel gear for this purpose. It consisted of two wheels, the rotation axes of which are parallel to each other. When the drive wheel began to rotate, there was friction between the elements of such a system. At this moment, the driven wheel was also set in motion.

Subsequently, instead of smooth wheels, gears began to be used in the transmission. This solution allowed to increase the adhesion force and prevent slippage. A similar invention was made quite a long time ago - about one and a half to two thousand years ago. The biggest drawback of the gear at that time was the complex technology of its manufacture, which required high precision when cutting teeth.

Solving the difficult problem of inventing the transmission mechanism made the water mill efficient and easy to use. This mechanism has been further development and for many centuries was used not only in agriculture for grinding grain, but also for industry, where he powered a variety of tools. Historians consider the invention of the water mill an important step towards advanced machine production.

A watermill is a wonderful decorative element in landscape design, which will decorate any local area. If earlier it was used for practical purposes (creating flour by grinding grain), now it is a purely aesthetic addition to the site.

Important! Water mills are also popular, as are cascades, fountains and pools. Therefore, it is an equivalent option for the device on the territory.

Main parameters of mills

Almost always used following sizes mill wheels: in diameter from 1.5 m and not more than 10 m. The choice of product depends only on the size adjoining territory. Depending on the purpose, the mill house itself is selected. It can act as a warehouse for inventory, or a play area for children, or just decorative element. Projects of frame houses are quite suitable for the building, frame technology very easy to build.

Important! The manufacturing process of a product consists of defining a style, completing a project, and acquiring all necessary materials for work.

The main stages of an independent device of a water mill

If you complete all the steps, then the result will be very pleasant and expected for everyone.

The water mill is original and interesting solution to complement any local area. Retaining walls also look good, originally highlighting flower beds and lawns.