I'm going to an auction Saturday to look at a couple implements for sale and noticed in the flyer that there is a 30' windmill for sale. Now, I'll be the first to admit my windmill knowledge is limited at best. I'm not sure I need one (translation: I don't know how I'd use one) but I just like the idea of having a windmill. It's just the association it has in my mine with younger times on the old family farm. That windmill is long gone now, but I'd sure love seeing one on my ground. Maybe this wouldn't be one of my more prudent uses of cash, but I really think it'd be neat to have one even if for me it's just decorative. Can you tell I'm not married here? I'd never get away with something like this if I was. ;o) All kidding aside and assuming it works, what might something like that be worth?

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), April 02, 2002

Answers

We paid $1,300 for a windmill in 1983, had to take it down ourselves and transport it home. Was an adventure, I can tell you.

I love it. Although it served us well watering our baby pecan orchard for years, we now have an electric pump. The windmill tower and fan, etc., however, are still in place above the modern equipment. I won't let my designated other take it down because I love how it looks.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), April 02, 2002.

I would love to have a windmill in my yard Gary. If you marry someone who doesnt, she aint much of a homesteader.... LOL.. I would consider myself lucky to have one...

-- Kristean Thompson (pigalena_babe@yahoo.com), April 02, 2002.

Might look at this site: Windmills

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), April 02, 2002.

I would love to have a windmill. Have a spot over the hand dug well. Would be right at home. You didnt say what kind of windmill is it? It it an old windmill that might have been connected to a pump? A power windmill from the pre REA days. I have an old zenith wincharger but dont have a tower for it or is it a newer style air pump used to agitate ponds?

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), April 02, 2002.

Uh oh... There are different kinds? The picture of this one just reminds me of the old one on the old family farm. That one was pretty much made of angle iron bolted together as I recall. That one was used to bring water to a concrete trough, I believe. I'm going back better than thirty-five years here.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), April 02, 2002.

Gary: The water pumpers have several blades, designed for torque, and the wind generators have just two or three blades, designed for speed. I guess the conversion from the water pumpers to electric with the same water pumper blades is tricky business but not impossible.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), April 02, 2002.

OK, if that's the difference then this is definitely a "water pumper" windmill. I guess I'm not familiar with the other style around here. I don't know why I'd even want to mess with a conversion. If this works I might be able to use it as a water pumper at some point in the future. If it doesn't, it'll still look neat. ;o) Thanks for your input.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), April 03, 2002.

Yeah, the wind-turbine ones look like super-high-tech aeroplane (or in your case airplane) propellers.

If you're going to put it up, but think you may use it some time in the future, give some thought to where you have your NO! where you erect it. They used to be used a lot in Australia to pump water from earth dams (ponds) to wherever it had to go. Standard limitations - theoretical limit 32 feet, but the less the better, from the surface of the water at it's lowest during the driest season, because you can't suck (have air-pressure push) any higher than that. However, once the water has got into the pump, the height to which it can be pushed is substantially greater - just depends on the strength of your valves and seals to withstand back-pressure, and the gearing on the windmill. I'm sure the pump could be put at the bottom of a hole (well) and be pushing all the way, but I'd hate to work on that pump when the valves or seals failed.

-- Don Armstrong (from Australia) (darmst@yahoo.com.au), April 03, 2002.

Here's a picture of a wind generator type wind mill. wind generator

And here is a picture of a regular water windmill windmills

I think you should go for it!! Life's too short, be happy. We use them for watering the livestock here. Here in OK they seem to get bought up pretty fast. Best wishes.

-- cowgirlone in ok (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), April 03, 2002.