How to make a water mill with your own hands. How a water mill works

Flower beds, lamps, garden figurines often serve as a decoration for the landscape of a suburban area. The lucky ones, near whose country estates a stream or river flows, can also decorate the territory by building a water mill on it. The murmur of water will calm the nerves and create an atmosphere of comfort. In a sultry summer near the mill it is good because it is cool.

Getting water flow

If it is not possible to provide a natural water flow, resort to an artificial method. Here are the options:

• Decorative structures are placed under the gutter, and then the wheel rotates when it rains. Although a small pump and a watering hose, through which water is supplied to the roof, will allow the mechanism to start even in the absence of precipitation. The water flowing onto the wheel can then be discharged into the garden.
• To organize the flow, the uneven terrain of the site is used. On a hill, a container breaks into the ground, in which precipitation accumulates or water flows from a well. A mill is placed near the tank, to which the liquid is supplied through a chute.
• On a flat area, a hill is created, if desired, artificially, using the "alpine hill" technology - using compacted soil and cobblestones. A hose can be walled up in the middle of the architectural form, the water spouting from it will imitate an underground key.
• The power of the pump should be enough to pump water from the tank below to the storage tank at the top or supply it to the mill wheel itself. Power depends on the distance over which the liquid is supplied.

Homemade windmill

The construction of the main structure is started after the completion of the water level difference. The design of the mill is quite simple: you need a house with a pump and a wheel driven by the force of water passing into the lower reservoir from the upper one.

If there is a cascade, you can cope without a house - one or more wheels will suffice. The structure can be made of wood, brick, or other suitable material.

The wheel can be done like this:

• From a bicycle wheel.
• With cable reel.
• From a circle sawn from knocked together boards.
• From a piece of pipe with blades attached to him.

In any case, it should be like this:

• Blades.
• In the center of the wheel is a pipe for mounting the axle around which rotation takes place.
• Parts are attached mechanically.

Two supports are made, on which, with the help of bearings, the axis is movably attached. The chute is brought to the top of the wheel. If the blades are made of wood, it is worth opening them with a varnish that repels water. Metal blades are recommended to be painted to protect against rust. Channels are being built through which water will flow to a garden or other place.

The supports can be laid out of rubble or brick: the edges that collapse over time will only add originality to the design. Stone and brick combined with wood.

The service life of wooden elements will be longer if they are made of hardwood. Metal parts are treated with phosphoric acid: corrosion in this case will remain superficial, and natural aging will add an original look.

Decorative design can be done using the following materials:

• bamboo;
• straw;
• ceramic tiles.

The place where the water jet hits can be covered with sea pebbles. On the sides of the gutter and near the house they plant ornamental plants. The area around the structure can be tiled.

Using the power of water

The powerful water flow of the mill, in addition to being pleasing to the eye, can also bring practical benefits: the wheel axle can spin the rotor of an electric generator, due to which the paths are illuminated, for example, or water can be sent to the beds for irrigation.

Styling

A do-it-yourself water mill will fit perfectly into country-style landscape design. The size of the structure is selected depending on the power of the water flow, although for decorative design enough about 1 m height.

The unique half-timbered style is also popular, when the frame of buildings is visible from the outside.. To design a plot in this style, the summer resident will need brown and white paint, thin slats and tiles for the roof. The mill house is being painted White color, then pasted over with decorative stripes. The surface is divided into triangles and small squares. As a result, the frontal part will become very unusual view. Near the mill, you can plant white flowers or put a brown bench.

Many prefer the Japanese style. If he is chosen, the main decorations of the mill will be stones, plants and water itself. The color of the house should be dark. If desired, a stone turret or bench is built, planted around dwarf trees. The wheel is decorated with sand, pieces of shells or pebbles.

Whatever style your suburban area, a watermill that blends in harmoniously with general style decorate country cottage area!

A water mill 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

The following mill wheel sizes are almost always used: in diameter from 1.5 m and not more than 10 m. The choice of product depends only on the size of the adjacent territory. Depending on the purpose, the mill house itself is selected. It can serve as a warehouse for inventory, or a play area for children, or just a 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 watermill is original and interesting solution to complement any local area. Retaining walls also look good, originally highlighting flower beds and lawns.

landscape design personal plot in the country can be decorated with flower beds, lamps, as well as figurines. If there is a stream or a river nearby, then there is an opportunity to start arranging a water mill. The photo shows such an option, where you can hear the murmur of flowing streams of water, which contribute to the formation of a completely different atmosphere in the garden. How to make a water mill, you can see below. In this case, you can do all the work with your own hands.

Water Mill

If you want to decorate your personal plot in the country, then you need some decorative elements that can completely change the appearance of the site. For example, using a water mill to decorate a site is a great solution. You can see an example of the result of the work in the photo below. If there is no water flow for the mill, then it can be created artificially. Ways to translate into reality can be as follows:

1. A decorative water mill is installed under the gutters. In this embodiment, its wheel will begin to spin during precipitation. However, you don’t have to wait for rain: liquid can be supplied to the frame through a hose using a small pump power. Draining with the help of a pipe onto the wheel, it is then diverted to the garden.
2. If the garden near the cottage is uneven, then the relief can be used to organize a falling stream. On a hill, it is necessary to dig dishes of the required dimensions into the ground, where water from precipitation will collect. Near the tank, you need to install such a building as a water mill, to which the liquid will be supplied using a chute.
3. On a flat area, you can build a reservoir on the principle of "alpine hills", using compacted soil and cobblestones. A hose can be buried in the middle part of the slide.

Mill with a house

The power of such a device as a pump must be selected in such a way that it is possible to pump liquid from the lower reservoirs to the storage tank located at the top, or directly to the wheel of water or windmills. Such a device for the garden, shown in the photo, works easily and simply. There is a dependence of the power of the pumps on the length to which the water flows will be pumped. In this case, all the work can be arranged with your own hands without outside help.

Homemade water mill

After completing the creation of liquid level differences, you need to start building the main building with your own hands, as shown in the diagram below. The arrangement of such a decorative element in the garden is very simple: you need a house where you need to install a pump, as well as a wheel driven by a liquid pumped from a container located above to the lower area. The design in the picture may turn out to be completely different: you can use everything except the house, using a wheel, or several wheels in the case of a cascade.

The wheel can be made by the following methods:

• in order to make a flywheel wheel, you can use a part from an ordinary bicycle;
• a coil is used on which the cable is wound;
• from boards knocked down with each other, you need to cut out circles;
• a pipe to which the blades are attached may come in handy.

Regardless of what material the wheel is made of, the following important and paramount rules must be taken into account:

• a blade is required;
• in the central part of the wheel there must be a pipe in order to establish the axis around which it will rotate.

And then we will consider the principle of operation of such equipment for the garden and a decorative element as a water mill. Moreover, all the work can be done by hand. The scheme will help to arrange everything yourself and with your own hands. The diagram and pictures will help you in arranging such equipment. To make such a design, as in the picture, it is necessary with a wheel and a blade. The easiest option is to set by area between two fixed circles. You can fasten the structure using any mechanical methods. Build 2 supports with your own hands, on which you can mount the axle of water wheels using a movable method. For this, an element such as a bearing is used.

Mill arrangement

Supports can be designed as a decorative house. As a material for them, you can use metal corners, channel bars, oak bars, cement mortar and much more. The pictures show how to arrange all this correctly and as accurately as possible. It is necessary to bring a chute to the top of the wheel, through which water flows into the blade. Wooden blades need to be coated with a couple of layers of water-repellent varnishes. Blades made of metal must be coated with paint that is anti-corrosion.

Channels are being organized in order to divert water to beds or into dishes where water accumulates. You can decorate the area near the mill in different ways: you can lay turf picturesquely, plant decorative varieties plants. Thus, it became clear to us how to make such a mill with our own hands, which will be the decor of your backyard. In addition, such a decorative element can perform other functions, which we will consider below. At the same time, such a building with your own hands can be useful for various works in the garden.

Using a water mill

And at this stage, it is necessary to consider how the water mill works. The picture shows such a mill. The liquid falling on the blades starts to rotate the wheel, which causes the axis to move.

You can use a powerful water flow: the axis of the water wheel is spun by the rotor of the electric generator. So, the mill in the picture can generate electricity to light the paths in the garden. This is one way to use water mills. But this list of applications of mills is incomplete. However, in most cases, a water mill in a summer cottage performs a decorative function. Through such a garden building, fluid flows are directed in the required direction, for example, to the beds in your garden.

An excellent decor for the stylistic direction of "country" may be the use of a water mill. Pictures of the results of using such decorative elements are presented below. Let's also look at styling. The size of such a building must be selected based on the power of the streams of the river or stream, however, for the decorative design of the garden area, you can use structures that reach approximately one meter in height.

Supports for such a building can be made of buta. An excellent option is a brick: over time, the edges of the bricks will break off and in this form the structure will look very original. Stone and brick go well with wood, however, in order for wood elements to last as long as possible, they must be made from wood, the breed of which has sufficient density. Metal elements must be treated with phosphoric acid: in this case, corrosion will be on the surface and at the same time the structures will look original with the help of natural aging.

To decorate such a building in a summer cottage, you can use straw, bamboo, as well as ceramic tiles. Pebbles can be poured under a stream of falling streams of water. Ornamental varieties of plants can be planted near the gutter and the house. Water mill will be a great decoration dacha territory and will always please your eye appearance.

The times when suburban area one could see only an even row of beds and an empty lawn long gone. More and more people began to use the dacha as a family vacation spot. A decorative windmill will easily set the mood of the entire local area. This article will tell you what varieties you can build in your garden and how to harmoniously fit the building into the surrounding space.

Rustic garden charm

Once the mill was a real working giant. With the help of energy from the rotating blades, flour was ground, wood was processed and water was pumped. Today, majestic buildings have lost their significance, however, people still have an idea of ​​​​this element of the landscape as something attractive and majestic.

Below we will talk about a miniature copy of a real mill, which will serve decorative ornament household plot. It will create a sense of style and harmony, and will also evoke pleasant associative images of the atmosphere of the last century. The mill will give the site a rustic charm and comfort, which is so lacking in a city dweller.

Varieties:

• • wooden;
  • stone;
  • with a waterfall.

It can also be wind or water.

A standard windmill is shaped like an isosceles trapezoid. Blades are attached to one of the walls, which, if desired, can rotate. This will make the construction more interesting and reliable. The whole structure can be divided into four elements:

• foundation and base;
• frame;
• roof;
• wings-blades.

Additionally, you can build a spinner on the roof, which allows the mill to rotate in the wind, however, this is not necessary.

Where to place and with what to combine

The mill can become the center of the composition of the backyard plot. A well in the same style, semi-antique or a decorative haystack will support the given theme. Wooden figures of animals, shrubs and a flower garden will complement the picture.

The design can be placed anywhere. It will look equally harmonious in the garden among the trees, overgrown with tall grass and in the open space next to the terrace, surrounded by flower beds. The main rule is that the material of manufacture and decoration should fit into the general style of buildings on the site.

A windmill with a waterfall is ideal for a recreation area. It is better to place it on the bank of a pond or stream. This will allow you to enjoy the soothing splash of water on warm summer evenings.

Sizing and function

The design can be not only a decoration of the garden, but also a functional structure. In the form of a decorative mill, you can arrange:

• cellar or shed for storing tools;
• country toilet or shower;
• dog house;
• multi-level flower bed;
• children's house for games;
• gazebo;
• summer kitchen.

The last two options are only suitable for large areas, otherwise the structure will look cumbersome.

A decorative building will help hide utilities, such as an irrigation pipe or a septic tank hatch.

The size of the future mill depends on the expected needs, that is, whether it will carry any functional purpose or it will turn out to be only a decoration and the possibilities of the site allocated for construction. Too large a structure in a small area will look ridiculous. The height of the mill, which serves as a decorative decoration of the garden, is on average 1-1.5 meters.

The mill propeller can be rotating or not. In the first case, it is necessary to make the wheel with blades movable and minimize the friction force, then it will spin even from a small breeze.

Construction of a stone mill

The undeniable advantage of a stone mill is its durability. With minimal care, it will stand on the site for more than a dozen years. The disadvantages include the complexity of moving, as well as dismantling, so the construction should be taken seriously.

Construction begins with a project. Having decided on the size and appearance of the future structure, it is necessary to draw a plan. This will allow you to calculate the required amount of materials.

Materials:

• brick or its broken fragments for the base;
• cement and sand;
• natural stone or tile for cladding;
• sheet metal or wooden slats for the manufacture of blades;
• threaded stud;
  nails, bolts, nuts, self-tapping screws of various sizes.

Instruments:

• mixer and bucket for mixing the solution;
• putty knife;
• Master OK;
• roulette;
• level;
• if the blades are made of wood, then you will need a saw, a hacksaw or a jigsaw.

Foundation

A stone mill will need a foundation, the only way to ensure that the building does not float with the ground in spring or during rain.

The depth of the bookmark depends on the overall dimensions. For a small mill 1-1.5 m high, a hole 40 by 40 cm is dug, about 30 cm deep, reinforcement is laid inside and filled with cement-sand mortar. The foundation should dry out for several days, after which you can continue construction.

To prepare the solution, one part of cement and three parts of sand are taken.

Building a house

Inside, the finished house will not be empty, so you need to prepare the base. It is most convenient to use a brick or its fragments. It is necessary to fold the masonry of the desired shape. The size and proportions can be any, but it is better to make a mill in the form of a trapezoid or a cone. For the bond, the same cement-sand mortar is used. The structure must be level, therefore, during construction, a level is used.

In the process of laying bricks, a threaded stud is immured into the base for further fastening of the blades. A plate is welded onto it in advance or a large nut is screwed onto it, with which it will catch on the brickwork.

At the same stage, other technical holes are provided in the base of the mill, because when the solution hardens, it will no longer be possible to change the design. Of course, it will be possible to try to drill the masonry, but in this case, a split of the entire base is not ruled out.

The shape of the roof depends on the shape of the house. For a cylindrical base in the form of a tower, a traditional roof in the form of a cone, the covering of which is made of facing material, and for a rectangle the usual gable roof.

How to decorate

You can decorate the mill with natural or artificial stone. Tiles made in the form of small bricks look best. A building lined with such material will look like a reduced copy of a real old mill.
It is necessary to lay the outer layer on moisture-resistant glue, avoiding voids. The better the work is done, the less moisture will penetrate inside, and the mill will keep its good appearance longer.

Propeller manufacturing

The wind-driven blades are the most recognizable part of the mill, however, in manufacturing decorative option they may be immobile.

There are several ways to assemble a propeller.

First option:

1. Two circles with a diameter of 15-25 cm are cut out of plywood, and a hole for a hairpin is made in the center with a drill.
2. Blades are assembled separately from the rail. In order for the wind to turn the propeller and rotate the millstones, in a real mill they are slightly angled, which allows them to capture air flows.
3. Both parts are treated with an antiseptic and covered with paint.
4. The blades at the same distance from each other are clamped between two circles of plywood with glue or bolts.
5. The finished propeller is put on the stud, the nut is tightened on both sides.

Second option:

1. Two long slats, with the help of glue, are connected cross to cross.
2. A hole is made in the center of the intersection for the hairpin.
3. Laths in the form of a blade are nailed to each edge.
4. The finished propeller is put on the stud and secured with nuts.

If desired, the blades can be cut from sheet metal. In this case, the sharp edges must be processed, and the parts welded together. A decorative stone mill with a metal propeller looks more harmonious, but the iron must be painted to avoid rust.

Making a wooden structure

A wooden mill will not be as durable as a stone mill, however, the product looks completely different and creates a different mood. It will seem to someone that it is much easier to assemble a wooden structure, but this is not entirely true. Not without carpentry skills.

Wood products do not tolerate high humidity, so for the winter the mill must be brought into the room. This will help to avoid rotting and darkening of the array.

You can make a wooden mill from the remains building material or buy everything you need in the store. Any solid wood trimmings and lumber will do.

Pine is the easiest to work with - it has a soft plastic structure, and it is also the most inexpensive and affordable wood in the store.

Materials:

• wooden beam;
• moisture resistant plywood;
• wood for decoration;
• blade rack;
• roofing material
• nails, bolts, self-tapping screws of various sizes;
• threaded stud;
• varnish for wood or drying oil.

Instruments:

• drill or screwdriver;
• Sander;
• sandpaper;
• hammer;
• brush;
• roulette.

Foundation - is it necessary?

A small wooden mill, which has a decorative function, does not need a foundation. The mobility of the design will allow you to rearrange it at will in any part of the garden.

In the case when the stability of the future building is in doubt, four legs from a beam pointed at the ends are used as a foundation, which are attached to the bottom of the support platform on one side, and are stuck into the ground on the other.

If a major construction is planned with amenity premises or a children's playground inside, then you can not do without a foundation. This will prevent the mill from tipping over. In this case, a shallow foundation is made along the perimeter of future walls.

support platform

The support platform will give the mill stability. A square is assembled from a beam required size. For rigidity, you can additionally connect opposite corners crosswise.

If desired, the area of ​​the support platform can be larger than the base of the mill. This will prevent the structure from falling. strong wind and can serve as an additional platform for decorating, for example, a wooden fence.

Case manufacturing

The simplest case for a mill is a box in the form of a trapezoid. Four bars of the same length are vertically attached to the support platform using self-tapping screws. From above, the edges are additionally connected by a beam horizontally. When assembling, it is important to observe symmetry.

The edges of the resulting structure are sheathed with wood. Almost any material can be used. Eurolining, block house or imitation of timber looks good.

Roof construction and blade assembly

The roof can be both gable and four-slope. The second option is best used for large structures, and for a small one, a gable roof is ideal.

We knock together two ends in the form of a triangle from a bar. Once upon a time, large mills for grinding flour were covered with real roofing tiles made of baked clay. A decorative analogue can be the same material that was used for the base, trimming a colored profiled sheet, or modern antique tiles. A slope of plywood is preliminarily laid under the roofing material.

The joint of the ribs on the roof should cover the ridge. It can be purchased or assembled independently. Without a ridge, the roof will look unfinished, and rain will get inside the structure.

The finished roof is put on the mill body and fixed from the inside with long self-tapping screws.

The propeller is assembled in the same way as for a stone mill. A hairpin is installed in one of the faces of the base, only in the case of a stone it was walled up in the masonry, and here it is fixed with the help of nuts. Similarly to the previous version, the blades are put on the other side of the hairpin and fixed.

decorative trim

The wooden mill has a lot of options decorative finishes. Flowers and greenery look good next to it. As an option, turn the building into a flower garden. To do this, its base must contain a box for the earth, where marigolds, phloxes, petunias or any other annual garden plants are planted in spring.

The finished mill must be impregnated with a protective solution and painted, or covered with drying oil or varnish. If before that you walk on the tree with a stain, then you can emphasize the structures of the tree. Each additional layer will make the surface of the mill darker.

Decorative windmill with a waterfall

The murmur of water and the rustle of spinning blades in the evening garden create an indescribable feeling of comfort and tranquility. Decorative water mill with a waterfall will be a great addition to the design of the garden plot.

The principle of operation of the water mill

If in a windmill the force of the wind is used to move the blades, then in a watermill the flow of the river is responsible for this. The heart of such a mill is a wheel installed on the shore of a reservoir under a chute through which water flows.

The ideal place for installation is a flowing reservoir. The naturally flowing water will create a constant torsional force. If on garden plot there is no river or stream, but you really want a mill, you can artificially recreate the power of the stream.

Possible options:

• Install the mill wheel under the gutter. In this case, it will spin during the rain.
• To create a flow, use a hill on the terrain. IN highest point the site creates a place to collect water, which will be supplied through the chute to the wheel blades.
• Run the water around with a pump. An artificial hill is created, for example, from compacted earth or stones. A hose is laid inside, through which water will be supplied upward.

Today, there are installations in stores that can generate energy from the force of rotation of the wheel. A small wooden mill will be able to provide electricity for its own pump and LED lighting.

Materials and tools

Necessary materials:

• wooden beam, slats, plywood;
• threaded stud;
• nails, self-tapping screws, bolts with nuts of different sizes;
• pipe for the gutter;
• moisture resistant glue;
• protective impregnation, varnish or drying oil.

The amount of materials needed is determined by the size of the future building.

The mill wheel has constant contact with water, so everything wooden elements must be impregnated with a protective solution, and the use of unpainted metal elements should be minimized.

To create a water mill, you will need a standard set of tools:

• saw, hacksaw or jigsaw;
• drill or screwdriver;
• hammer:
• roulette;
• level.

Step-by-step instruction

small house

The house of a water mill can be made of any shape and from any material, or it can be absent altogether. The construction of the building is standard: a platform, the base of the house and a roof.
It is better to build a building in the same order as in the case of a windmill. First, the platform is assembled or, if necessary, the foundation is laid. It is better not to neglect this stage, an insufficiently fixed structure can be carried away by a stream of water.

We install the base of the house on the finished platform. The 18th century water mill looked like a regular rectangle with a roof, windows and a door. The base can be assembled from timber and finished with boards, or folded from stone or tile.

The roof frame is assembled from timber and plywood. Roofing material is laid, after which all the details of the house are assembled together and fastened with self-tapping screws and glue.

A hairpin is installed in one of the walls of the house. It should be carefully secured.

Wheel

The finished wheel of a water mill can serve as: a wire coil, a bicycle wheel connected by a ring plastic pipe with attached blades and other household items with an axis of rotation.

The wheel of a water mill can be made on its own from moisture-resistant plywood or wood. The design consists of two discs, between which, at the same interval, the blades are fixed. A hole is drilled in the center through which the wheel is put on a stud. When water enters the pockets between the blades, the whole structure will begin to rotate.

The axle can be fixed in two ways:

• on one support from the side of the house - in this case, the wheel should hold well;
• on two supports on both sides - the wheel is attached between them.

The intensity of rotation of the wheel, and hence its size and design, depends on the strength of the current. A fast flow combined with a small diameter will give a high rotational speed. It is good if the mill serves as a source of energy, and not decorative element. For measured calm rotation, you will need to increase or weight the wheel.

An important stage in the construction of a water mill is wood processing. Every detail should be carefully sanded. sandpaper and cover with protective impregnation in several layers. Over time, the coating will wash off, so the procedure must be repeated every few years.

Installation

After all the details are ready, you need to install the mill so that it works. The house is placed on the shore of the reservoir, and the wheel is under the stream. Water is supplied to the upper blades through a chute. You can make it by cutting a pipe of a suitable diameter in half. If done correctly, the wheel will start spinning.

decoration

A simple wooden wheel on the shore of a pond looks boring, so the main object for decoration will be a house attached to it. There is a place for fantasy to roam - carved windows with shutters, doors, colored architraves. A separate element of decor at the water mill may be a roof covered with reeds, reeds or straw.

The naturalness of the natural landscape will be supported by wild flowers and shrubs, as well as stones randomly laid out around. Coniferous crops will ideally fit into the front garden next to the mill: thuja, juniper, undersized spruce and dwarf pine. The reservoir also represents a field for activity - fern thickets and water lily leaves floating on the surface will create a feeling of pristineness.

Another idea for decorating a watermill is LED lights. You can mount lighting both outside and under water. The iridescent light of small bulbs will not let the windmill get lost in the twilight. The windows of the miller's house glowing at night will add mystery.

Japanese style

The main components are water, stones and plants. Nothing superfluous should be, because the style is based on elegance and minimalism. In a Japanese garden with a water mill, nothing should distract from the contemplation of the natural elements.

The mill will be complemented by a stone castle and a bench made of the same material. The shore of the reservoir or its bottom can be laid out with white pebbles and shell rock, and Japanese maple and undersized sakura can be planted in the front garden. Plants with bright colors will break the deliberate severity, but the use of bamboo tubes in the design will come in handy.

Country

The design option is suitable for those whose entire site resembles a cozy house in the village. A water mill with a wooden wheel and a thatched roof will fit perfectly among wooden benches, a log bridge and a well. The most ordinary reed will emphasize the atmosphere.

Russian style

The design in this style has similar features to country music, however, it evokes the familiar charm of the Russian village. The house of the mill should look like a classic wooden hut, assembled from a rough beam, and the windows should be closed with carved shutters. On the roof you can place a traditional weather vane in the form of a rooster. Atmospheres will be added by details: a ceramic figurine of a miller, clay pots hung on a wicker fence, a yellow sunflower peeking out from around the corner and a bed of daisies. You can peep other ideas for decoration in Russian folk tales.

dutch style

This style is of great interest to landscape designers, because it so successfully combines bright juicy colors and provincial charm. A water mill may be in the center of the composition; for this, the house must be made in a traditional dutch style fachwerk, the supporting frame of which is located outside the building. One more characteristic- parterre lawn. Let tulips, crocuses and hyacinths surround the mill from all sides, and a hedge winds around.

Many things created by man eventually become unclaimed and then they have only two ways left - they can either sink into oblivion, so to speak, remain in the background of history, or else change their original purpose. If earlier they were exclusively functional devices, then in their new reincarnation they become an excellent decor. The water mill, which will be discussed in this article, is no exception to this rule - together with the site, we will deal with the question of how to make a water mill with our own hands?

How to make a water mill photo

Water mill: device and how it works

By by and large, the device of a water mill is by no means complicated - it is mechanics, and simple. In fact, this is a wheel equipped with blades, mounted on a shaft and rotated by a water stream - only then the torque and the energy transmitted by it can be used different ways or may not be used at all. The most important unit of a water mill is undoubtedly the wheel - a lot depends on it, but it will be useless if there is no flow of water. It is this task that needs to be solved first of all, approaching the question of how to make a water mill in the country with your own hands? It’s good when a river or stream flows nearby, but if they don’t exist, then you will have to create the stream yourself and you can do it different ways. Most of them come down to using circulation pump for pumping water from one body of water to another.

To learn how a water mill works, see this video.

There are no other options, as they say. Well, yes, I completely forgot about the completely decorative mill, the wheel of which never rotates at all - this is an excellent decor for a dry stream, but not for a realistic decoration of a summer house.

Mill waterwheel: choose a style

Our designers cannot do without classifications - it is imperative to find all sorts of subtleties in products or decor and, according to them, divide things of the same purpose into groups. The same thing happens with mills - depending on their design and the decor used, they are divided according to style. Of the main stylistic directions in which a water mill can be designed, the following options can be distinguished.

By and large, no one will forbid you to develop your own style, bringing native flavor to it. Strange, of course, but for some reason most people forget about our national traditions, preferring foreign fashion. We should not forget our origins and, most importantly, what should be understood is that the mill in the original Slavic style looks no less attractive than all other products of this type.

How to make a water mill: decor plus functionality

And in our time, a water mill can be found not only for decorative use - if desired, it can also carry functional loads. These, of course, are not global tasks that were set before this product in the old days, but nevertheless ... For this, however, some conditions are needed - or rather, just one thing and it consists in the presence of a natural flow of water that does not need to be created artificially, spending for this energy. Here, just the opposite is true - a river or stream flowing through the territory of the cottage or from its edge can generate this energy.

Naturally, this is not a powerful power plant capable of providing electricity to all human needs, but it is quite capable of coping with some loads. For example, it is quite possible to illuminate a suburban area at night with a water mill. All that needs to be done for this is to attach a generator to the mill wheel shaft - even an automobile one that generates a constant electricity with a voltage of 12 volts. Subsequently (if necessary) it can be easily converted to alternating current with a voltage of 12 volts using . Moreover, the energy generated by a water mill can even be stored in batteries and used for your own needs.

Mill water wheel photo

This is not the only opportunity that a device such as a water mill in the country provides a person. In addition to generating electricity, a wheel rotating by a stream of water can be made to do other useful things - by and large, it can power any mechanism. Do not underestimate the power of the water flow - it contains colossal power. No wonder they say that water wears away a stone - with the right design of the wheel, even a seemingly weak stream of water can set in motion complex mechanisms.

And in conclusion, the topic of how a water mill is arranged in a country house, I will say a few words about the main problems, or, more correctly, the difficulties that you will encounter in the process self construction do-it-yourself water mill. Firstly, when it comes to installing a water wheel on a river, you will have to take care of a permit, which is difficult for local authorities to issue. Secondly, technical difficulties, the most important of which is the easy running of the wheel for a long time. It should not be forgotten that the same bearing should be protected from moisture, which is abundant near water. In principle, technical difficulties are solvable difficulties. And in general, they will not arise if you build an exclusively decorative water mill.