According to a well-known saying, one can look at flowing water endlessly. This spectacle pacifies, inspires and, finally, it is simply beautiful. On a hot summer day, the water gives coolness, and its murmur brings back sweet dreams. It is such a pleasant sensation that a water mill will provide, which, knowing the principle of its operation, is easy to do independently. The main thing is that there is a pond on the site. Many beliefs have long been associated with mills, and the miller himself was considered a sorcerer, attributing to him magical power over water. Modern technologies allow us to make our dreams come true without resorting to magic.
The principle of the water mill
Once upon a time, water and windmills were used to grind grains into flour. The principle of operation for both types of mills is the same, only windmills use wind energy, and water uses water.
Grains were lifted up, from where they entered the millstones through the gutters. Running water, turning the mill wheel, set the millstone in motion. The grains were ground, and the finished flour was strewed down the chute, where it was collected in bags.
The general scheme of the mill wheel looks something like this: it rotates under the pressure of flowing water coming through the gutter
The mill that we want to build does not have the task of grinding grain into flour. We leave behind it an exclusively decorative function: the presence of a wheel rotating under the influence of water will give the site a peculiar charm.
A DIY-built decorative water mill is basically a wheel mounted on the banks of a stream or other source of running water.
This mill performs an exclusively decorative function and the pump pumps water onto its wheel: here is a diagram of the operation of the device
The mill wheel is equipped with blades that are equally spaced from each other. Water enters the wheel blades through a gutter located in the upper part of the structure. Its flow drives the wheel.
The hinged axis allows it to rotate freely. But running water is a rarity for a garden site. If there is even a pond, a submersible pump will come to the rescue. Water will also flow to the mill wheel, and it will spin merrily, enthralling the audience.
We select style compliance
As a decoration element, a water mill is able to decorate the garden in any style. Once this building became part of not only European culture, but also Russian. It is associated with the aroma of freshly baked bread, homeliness and a fairy tale, therefore it is an excellent find for those who are looking for a colorful detail of landscape design.
The mill is a symbol of comfort and prosperity: where it is, there can be no troubles and surprises, it always smells of fresh bread and fresh milk
Depending on the decisions that we choose in the process of constructing a water mill, it may look fabulous in the Russian spirit, have a medieval Gothic look or acquire futuristic features.
This peculiarity of the structure must be taken into account and you should think in advance how to make a water mill so that it meets the general idea of landscape design.
The water mill should harmoniously fit into the general style of the site and fully comply with its landscape design
A massive mill made of wood will discord with elegant fountains and delicate bridges in the style of classicism. And a fabulous arbor in the Russian style simply visually crushes a neat Japanese mill. Let's think about how you can beat this structure for different style decisions.
Country or rustic style
Typical elements of country style can be considered wooden benches and arbors, wattle fence, log bridges and houses for children, also made of wood. A mill in the same spirit, equipped with a wooden wheel, will be able to perfectly support the unity of style.
You can learn more about the design of the garden in the country style from the material: //diz-cafe.com/plan/sad-i-dacha-v-stile-kantri.html
The country-style mill is in perfect harmony with its specially aged wheel with other design details: for example, a fence or a bench
The color of the old manor in the Russian style is emphasized by wooden sculptures, a flower bed-cart and a log cabin of the well. Plants "in the subject" will complement the picture, so take care of the reeds and primroses, sunflowers and daisies. The artificially aged wheel of the structure will complement the picture of the patriarchal village life.
Noble Japanese style
The main idea of Japanese design is that there should not be anything extra in sight. Only stones, water and plants, which are so nice to admire. The mill wheel can complement the stone castle with loopholes and towers. Stone benches will provide an opportunity to relax, looking at the water and the measured rotation of the wheel.
The Japanese mill is in perfect harmony with the given style, in which the look should not cling to unnecessary details
The general atmosphere of peace will fully comply with the canons of Japanese philosophy, in which the melody of the stream is considered more beautiful than the sounds of musical instruments. Arizema, dwarf Japanese maple, stunted sakura and wonderful Japanese quince will be able to successfully complement the overall feeling.
The rock garden has become an integral part of the Japanese style. About the rules for its creation, read: //diz-cafe.com/plan/yaponskij-sad-kamnej.html
Symbols of the Dutch garden
If in other cases the water mill serves as a kind of highlight, then when creating a Dutch-style garden, it can become the main element of landscape design, around which compositions of garden roses, daffodils and tulips will unfold.
The Dutch-style mill is colorful and laconic at the same time: daffodils, tulips and roses wonderfully complement the big picture
If the decorative structure is a miniature, a kind of model of an operating water mill, it can be made in the form of a half-timbered house, characteristic of Holland and Germany. Garden gnomes, watery or elegant weather vane - a great addition, emphasizing the style of the building.
We make a water mill on our own
A water mill mounted on a garden plot should fit its size. Agree that on the traditional six hundredths of an epic log structure will look funny. But the current miniature will come in handy. A medium-sized mill house can be used to store equipment or children's toys.
Like a real one, just a little
For starters, you can build a model of the mill. To do this, you will need:
- paving slabs of size 75x50 cm;
- stones for the pavement, which in the figure are similar to cubes;
- wooden slats;
- shingles;
- plywood;
- brass threaded rod;
- bushings;
- screws and dowels;
- glue for woodwork;
- protective impregnation.
All dimensions of the structure are shown in the figure below.
All dimensions of this model are given in centimeters; Having carefully examined the diagram and read the instructions for creating the model, you will not be mistaken when doing the work
On the edge of the paving slabs we attach stones-cubes in the form of the figure "9". We cover them with a solution on top, which we even out with a damp sponge. We saw with a jigsaw according to the size of the rail. From them we collect the frame of the structure. We glue the racks for this connection, and fix the corner parts with a half-tree cut-out.
In order for the result of work to cause satisfaction, it is necessary to perform it without haste and sequentially, moving from one stage to another
We attach the resulting frame to the base through struts with dowels and screws. We fill the frame with tiles. To do this, cut it in size with a circular saw and glue it with silicone. The image of the wheel rims is applied to a plywood sheet, after which we carefully cut out the parts with a jigsaw.
All wooden parts of the structure should be thoroughly saturated with antiseptic solution: the structure will be on the street under snow and rain
An overview of means to protect wood from moisture, fire, insects and decay will also be useful: //diz-cafe.com/postroiki/zashhita-drevesiny.html
To one half of the wheel we glue pieces of aluminum corner at distances that correspond to the intervals between the spokes. Corners imitate wheel blades. We make a support for the wheel, gluing it and connecting for fidelity with screws. A glued piece of aluminum pipe will strengthen the hole for the axle.
The wheel is the working part of the mill, the quality of which should be given special attention, because the total lifespan of the structure depends on its service life
As an axis, a brass rod is used. A spacer sleeve and an aluminum tube are put on it as a reinforcement for the wall. Another spacer sleeve is needed to provide a gap between the support and the wheel. A nut is screwed onto a thread of a brass rod.
The finished mill looks great and pleases the eye; check once again how securely all its elements are fixed, and you can begin to test on water
The upper part of the structure frame is lined with slats. Wooden corners, which are glued to the corners of the lower part, allow you to correctly combine individual structural elements. The tile is cut with a wallpaper knife and glued with bitumen glue. The design is ready.
Full Size Water Mill
Even a full-sized structure, located in the right place, will decorate the site and make it even more comfortable. See for yourself.
