Making small GRP Wind turbine blades

[h4ppy-chris]

2k paint is poisonous so make sure you use the right face mask and gloves as it can be absorbed though the skin.

[Jonathan]

2k paint is poisonous so make sure you use the right face mask and gloves as it can be absorbed though the skin.

That's why I had hesitated to reply to the above posts after reading up on it. Would just doing it in the garden be enough to stop the fumes getting me?

[h4ppy-chris]

That's why I had hesitated to reply to the above posts after reading up on it. Would just doing it in the garden be enough to stop the fumes getting me?

yes thats ok mate but still use the correct mask and gloves.

[FatFreddie]

yes thats ok mate but still use the correct mask and gloves.

Seems a lot of effort - Plasti-Kote (from B&Q etc) works well and isn't too toxic.

http://www.plasti-kote.co.uk/Product/pcode---4181

[Jonathan]

Seems a lot of effort - Plasti-Kote (from B&Q etc) works well and isn't too toxic.

http://www.plasti-kote.co.uk/Product/pcode---4181

I've seen those paints in a few shops. I might go for that since though the method suggested above is better, however I intend to use a white gel coat for future blades which won't need that paint. I didn't use a gel coat for this blade due to cost.

Sadly I've not got an autoclave :heehee:

[Jonathan]

The blades work! Not that I ever doubted them :heehee:

The mass of the two blades when I made them was only 2 grams off - complete fluke that. The centre of mass however was quite a bit off. I spent a bit of time balancing them but they're by no means perfect. This caused huge vibrations.





According to the frequency meter the rotor did over 800rpm at times - that means the tips of the blades were doing over 100mph! I need to be careful... next time I'm going to balance them properly and stiffen the tower up. Might have to use guy wires at full height.

I'll upload a video soon.

[Jonathan]

Here's the video of the blades working:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ1yr...=youtube_gdata

As you can see I've not painted them yet. I intend to do so the next time I put the wind turbine up.

I just need to find somewhere to put my 3m diameter variable pitch wind turbine next...not got enough space at home.