The Fantail

DIAGRAMS AND DETAILS

The Fantail blades were cut from ³/₁₆" plywood, and the blade holders from ³/₄" by ³/₄" wood strip as shown below.

The blades were set into the holders (with lots of glue) at an angle of about 30°, and all held together by the two 2" (or maybe just a shade bigger) discs, 4 screws to each side, (securing alternate blades) - and yes - you've guessed it - yet more glue.

Great care was taken when drilling through the construction, to ensure that the hole to take the steel spindle was exactly central. (I planned for an 0.15" spindle but a ¹/₄" spindle would have been equally satisfactory, so I had some scope for adjustment, if the hole had been slightly off centre, or was not perpendicular to the plane of the fantail).

Initially, I had made blades with rounded ends, but then I decided to cut new blades from thinner plywood; after all  it was my design to play around with if I so wished;  but most importantly (and more honestly)  the new shape was easier to make.