Whirligigs can get dirty over time, if it’s just dust and and a little dirt from your yard it will usually just wash away in the next rain.
However if your Whirligig is really dirty or has some mildew starting you can wash your Whirligig with dawn dishwashing liquid and some careful wiping with a rag or nylon brush (lightly). Then just rinse it well and place it back outside.
If you want to really clean it, remove the wings by screwing the screws out, make sure you save the screw and two washers from each side of the wing. Then you will be able to clean all the surfaces easier. Once rinsed I recommend placing the wings and body in a place where they can dry and then in a day or so reassemble your Whirligig and place it back outside. (the drying is to allow any moisture that may have gotten into the wing hubs or screw holes to dry first)
Over time some Whirligig wings may tighten up on the center post. Just take a flat head screwdriver and turn the screw counter clockwise, usually a 1/4 turn is all that is needed, until the wing spins freely again.
The Whirligigs that JaxWhirligigs makes are made from solid wood. The bodies are made from 1″ select whitewood planks (actual 3/4″ thickness)
The wings are made from select whitewood planks cut from 2X4 and 2X6 whitewood lumber. The wing hubs are also made from 1X2 Select whitewood lumber.
The wing mounting screws are stainless steel screws and are inserted through a 6/6 nylon sleeve inserted into the wing hub and has a 6/6 nylon washer on each side screwed to a birch dowel as center post.
Many whirligigs wings are made from poplar, oak or birch plywoods (also called baltic and finnish plywood), approximately 5/32″, 3/16″ or 1/4″ of an inch thick.
Plywood is made from multiple layers of wood veneers glued together. The outside surface is finished to a very smooth surface however as there are multiple layers glued together there is the possibility of delamination which is separation of the layers.
Everyone that uses plywood for wings is careful to apply a good coat of paint and sealer to the edges however after time delamination can still occur.
JaxWhirligigs wings are made from solid wood. We take 1×4 or 1 x 6 select whitewood studs and resaw them into approximately 3/16″ thick planks which are then cut into the wing shapes on a scroll saw and then sanded, assembled, primed and then painted for that particular Whirligig.
Many of our Whirligigs are available in different color combinations/options.
Our Parrots and Dragonflies are painted in differing colors depending on the WhirligigGuy’s (that’s Bob) mood and inclination that day 🙂
Our Football player s can be painted in any color combination you want, just contact us.
In addition we will consider special color requests for other whirligigs, just use our Contact Form to ask or just Call or Text us 904-302-1791
Those types of Whirligigs I refer to as Action or Platform Whirligigs. They are usually on a flat wood board and have a single multi bladed propeller at one end, when the propeller spins some sort of Action occurs such as a man chopping wood, or someone milking a cow or woman watering flowers and many other types of actions.
JaxWhirligigs does not make Action of Platform Whirligigs. We have our hands full just trying to make enough of the winged style of Whirligigs and just do not have the time to make other Platform Whirligigs or other items…
If you are interested in an Action or Platform Whirligig I would suggest trying Etsy.com or searching for the Action Whirligigs on Google.
All Whirligigs that are picked up in person come with a PVC Yard stake ready for immediate use. If you order a Whirligig online we do ship a PVC yard stake, depending on the size box required for your Whirligig the Stake may be 1 piece or 2 pieces. The multiple piece yard stakes come with connectors which just require you to press the pieces together.
We also provide instructions for various types of Yard Stakes on this page. https://jaxwhirligigs.com/yard-stakes/
The yard stakes that JaxWhirligigs supplies are approx 30 inches tall and are made from 3/4 inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe with a wooden dowel insert that contains a top bearing.
The easiest way to make a taller yard stake would be to buy a section of 3/4 inch shedule 40 PVC from HomeDepot or Lowes and cutting it (cut one end at an angle) to the length you desire (we do not recommend anything longer than 48 inches) Take out the two screws that are in the top of your existing yard stake and then you will be able to remove the wooden dowel. Then just place the dowel in the top of the new stake and use the two screws to secure it.
More information regarding Yard Stakes can be viewed here: https://jaxwhirligigs.com/yard-stakes/