See below for some common questions and their answers
Custom Windsock FAQ
Here we will attempt to answer common questions we receive from our customers about their flags and windsocks. We cover everything from general questions about custom fabric products we make such as flags and windsocks as well as care, use, sizing, application, installation and other related questions. If you have a question that you don't see answered here, feel free to reach out to us and ask at info@custom-windsocks.com. We respond quickly and will be happy to help you with whatever we can.
Customization
No Artwork? No Problem. Our Representative at The Custom Windsock Co. can work with you to make your concept a reality. Just contact us at info@custom-windsocks.com or call us at 1-833-989-0313 and we will help you get started.
It takes about the same length of time to produce a custom flag as it does a custom windsock. Both use a similar process and somtimes might use similar materials.
A custom product takes about 5 business days to produce before we ship it out to you
.The United States of America uses a standard size of 3’ x 5’ ft. or 36” x 60” inches.
The standard size for a flag is 3’ x 6’ ft or 36” x 72” inches in Canada.
If you are unsure of the size of flag you should get, click here to see our Sizing Chart!
The size of windsock you order depends on the size of frame you currently have.
The sock and hoop diameter should match the size of frame you currently have or wish to purchase. The Custom Windsock Co. has frames available 6 different sizes and sells windsocks with a sock and hoop diameter to match.
The length of the windsock is a matter of preference. If you like you can order a slightly longer sock to allow for better visibility of your logo as well as for safety purposes.
The type of artwork we need to have to be able to print your design onto our flags is vectorized artwork.
Vector artwork is a term that describes any logo or artwork made with vector illustration software like Adobe Illustrator.
Vector artwork is built from vector graphics, which are images created with mathematical formulas. They are easy to resize or rescale without becoming pixelated or fuzzy.
If you dont have vectorized artwork, we can help you get your artwork vectorized.Contact Usto get started.
Windsocks
A windsock is a cone shaped tube made of fabric that is narrower at its tail end. Wind enters one end and leaves out the other side.
A windsock is a tool used to measure windspeed and wind direction.
To read more about how to read a windsock properly, check out this article!
Windsocks are tools that tell you two crucial pieces of information
· Windspeed
· Wind direction.
You would need to know this on sites where you might have the possibility of a dangerous gas leak or if you are operating an aircraft and its important to understand the direction of the wind and its speed to safely land the aircraft.
Want to know more about reading a windsock properly? Check out this article!
This question depends on the type of windsock you are purchasing
Our most commonly purchased and popular product is the custom printed industrial windsock. This product is made of a waterproof, flame retardant, UV resistant 600D knitted polyester fabric. This material is strong and durable.
Custom promotional windsocks are made from the same material as our custom flags. This is a 100D knitted polyester. This material is also waterproof and UV resistant to increase durability.
Lastly our safety orange and veriegated windsocks are made of a strong high quality nylon fabric. This material is also water repellant and UV resistant. A 400 lb. tensile strength webbing is added in the throat for reinforcement.
A windsock is meant to tell you windspeed and wind direction. A textile sock that is more narrow on the tail end is attached to a swiveling pole at its head.
When wind hits the sock, it moves the sock into a particular compass direction and it forces itself through the sock.
If the narrow end of the windsock is pointing south, it tells you that the wind is coming from the north and vice versa.
Because the sock is narrower at one end, the sock inflates as air forces itself through the narrow end of the sock.
You will know how strong the wind is by looking at how inflated the windsock gets.
You can read a windsock to tell you two different things.
Windspeed and Wind Direction
To understand wind direction, you need to look at the direction in which the tail (narrow end) of the windsock is flying. If it is pointing north, that means the winds are coming from the south and vice versa.
To understand windspeed, you need to look at how much of the windsock is inflated. The more limp the sock, the slighter the wind. For an informative diagram on how to measure windspeed, check out this article here.
Windsocks are intentionally made with one end being narrower than the other.
When air is forced through the larger opening and out the narrower opening, it has to work hard to push its way out because the opening that it came in through was wider than the opening through which it is exiting. This forces the windsock to inflate as the air pushes itself through the narrow end.
How much the windsock is inflated, tells the onlooker how hard the wind is blowing.
Windsocks are designed to be noticeable.
Most windsocks are the color they are so they are visible. Bright orange, yellow and other neon colors are easily seen from great distances and in harsh weather such as fog, heavy rains and dust storms.
Stripes on a windsock serve a dual purpose. The neon and white alternating pattern allows the windsock to be visible and noticeable. More importantly, the stripes tell you the windspeed. Depending upon how much of the windsock is inflated (to what stripe), a pilot or viewer can determine what the windspeed is on the ground in the area. Check out this diagram here to get a clearer understanding.
A fully extended windsock indicates that there is a surface wind of a minimum of 15 knots (approximately 17 mph)
Normally an industrial windsock is attached to a pole through the installation of a windsock frame.
You can construct your own pole using a piece of galvanized water pipe. You can purchase a variety of sizes at any hardware store.
For smaller windsocks that attach to machine bearing frames, you can purchase a 1/2 inch galvanized water pipe with a coupler screwed onto the top. For a more sturdy pole, a 3/4 inch pole, coupler and a reducing bushing will also work.
Our machine bearing frames will screw directly into the coupler or bushing.
Larger windsock frames are designed for more industrial applications and will fit onto poles installed at location on rooftops. They are also threaded to fit standard installed poles.
Securing or attaching your windsock to your frame is quite easy to do.
You need to purchase some zipties from your local hardware store and ziptie the windsock through the grommets to the circular steel frame on your windsock hardware.
Tangling or having your windsock wrap around the the pole is a common problem. It's root cause is that the hoop is stiff and is not swiveling easily.
What should happen when a wind gust hits a windsock?
A wind gust should first fill the sock with air and then the sock and hoop should swivel in the wind as one unit. If the frame cannot rotate easily, then the hoop will swivel before the sock has a chance to fill with air and cause the windsock to wrap around the hoop.
How Can I Fix This?
1. Check that rotation can happen easily - maybe a case of needing some lubricant.
2. Choose a windsock with the right length - your windsock may be too long for the application.
3. If possible, choose the right frame - if you are purchasing a new frame altogether, try an extended frame.
YES! Yes it matters. Standard windsocks are made for a single hoop frame.
Windsocks are made differently for single hoop frames than they are for double hoop frames. It is important to make sure you inform the manufacturer of your custom windsock or the supplier of your standard windsock that you have a double hoop frame.
If you do not inform the supplier of your frame, your windsock will not stretch enough over the first hoop to make it to the second hoop when it is installed.
Our U.S. and State flags are 100% manufactured in the United States of America. Even our materials used are sourced from the United States. We are proud to support the American economy as far as possible.
Our U.S. and State flags are made of 200D Nylon. The Nylon is specially coated to be UV resistant. We either screen print the flag(s) ordered. We then cure the flags by steaming them to allow the colours to set and brighten. We, then, wash the flags and hang dry them. Lastly, we sew them.
Flags are quadruple stitched at the fly end to prevent tearing and increase the durability.
For a more detailed run-through of how our flags are made click here.
Custom Flags
Our custom flags and custom rodeo flags are produced overseas and shipped from our overseas production facilities across North America.
Our custom flags and promotional windsocks are made of 100D knitted polyester fabric. They are digitally printed in a special way where we print on both sides of hte flag or windsock before sewing to get 100% bleed through of the ink on both the main side and reverse-side of the flag or sock.
This makes for a richer more vibrant flag and the color looks the same on both the front and the back as opposed to the traditional method of printing which would look slightly faded on the reverse side.
For a more detailed run-through of how our flags are made click here.
Care and Longevity
Flags have to endure quite a difficult life. They fly in extreme conditions, wind, cold, sun exposure and temperature fluctuations all play a part in the lifespan of a flag.
The length of time our flags will last will depend heavily on the environment in which it's flown, the material it is made of and the length of time it spends flying. In parts of the United States, it can get extremely cold and windy and this can cause deterioration. Our nylon U.S and State flags will last about two seasons but could easily last longer if weather conditions remain mild. Taking down your flag in severe weather will also contribute to a longer lifespan.
Custom polyknit flags will last about one season and are not meant to be flown year round. If you do wish to fly your flag year round, we recommend you purchase a few at a time. You will have all the flags you need to fly 24/7/365 as well as get some great savings with our volume discounts!
Windsocks have to endure quite a difficult life. They fly in extreme conditions, high winds, cold, sun exposure and temperature fluctuations all play a part in the lifespan of your windsock.
The length of time your windsock will last will depend heavily on the environment in which it's flown and the material which it is made of. In parts of the United States, it can get extremely cold and windy and this can cause deterioration.
Our nylon and industrial windsocks will last about one season/year but could easily last longer if weather conditions remain mild.
Our promotional windsocks are not meant to fly year round and be used for safety purposes the same way our industrial products are. The lifespan will depend on weather conditions and the length of time it spends outside. In a severe to mild climate, it could last 6-9 months and up to a year or longer.
Flags and windsocks can be hand washed in a mild detergent (clear, dish type). You can iron flags and windsocks at the lowest heat setting or steam them to remove wrinkles.
Removing your flag during harsh weather conditions will also add to its longevity.
Cool Questions from Our Customers
The sun rises each morning and when it does, the ground begins to warm. Roads, sand and rocks (solid things) absorb the warmth faster and get hotter faster than liquids as such as large bodies of water, lakes, ponds, the ocean etc..
At the beach, the sand and roads heat up a lot faster and get hotter than the ocean water. This uneven heating of the earth, in that location, sets up areas of different air pressure zones. The hotter areas being low pressure and the cooler areas being more high pressure.
When this happens, the lighter air from the warmer low-pressure zones rises and is replaced by denser, colder air from the high-pressure zones. The movement of air from high to low manifests as the sea breeze.
In the morning, the sea breeze blows from the ocean towards the beach. In the evening, the situation becomes reversed as the land becomes cooler than the ocean and the winds blow in the opposite direction, towards the ocean.
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This was a lovely, pain free experience. We were under a time crunch for our rodeo and getting a sponsor flag made in time. Windsock Co. handled it for us amazingly. Got the design perfect the first time and made and delivered with time to spare! 10/10 for sure that they added ease and comfort to what can be very hectic time when planning such an event. Thank you! Highly recommend!
~Peace River Rodeo Association
Really nice, quality, custom product with the order delivered in four days from the time I made first contact. Highly recommend this small business!! Looks like we will get many years of service from this windsock. It is a huge upgrade from the plastic streamers currently being used to show windspeed and direction.
Perfect! Exactly what I asked for. Quality materials and the logo & color is spot on. Shipped to me super-fast and excellent communications with the folks at The Custom Windsock Co. I couldn't be happier with my purchase!