A method of making a wing pulley using a plurality of substantially identical building block segments. These building block segments are generally U-shaped with a tapering configuration from one end to the other. A predetermined number of the building block segments are welded together to form a first rigid annular subassembly and a second identical number of predetermined building block segments are also welded together to form a second rigid annular subassembly. A hub is attached to the outer end of each of the rigid annular subassemblies so that bushings or other attachments can be made for rotatably mounting the wing pulley in a conventional manner.