Does anyone have any insights they can offer for making wind chimes?
Friday, November 6th, 2009 at
9:39 pm
I want to make wind chimes as a project that I can give to friends and family and eventually sell to the local outdoors centers in my area. I’m looking to make chimes that are made of copper, stainless steel, aluminum, etc. I’m looking for deep resonating sounds and unique designs. All suggestions are welcomed.
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Filed under: Wind Chimes
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If you have an engineering firm or metal worker near you, go and beg scrap and offcuts from them.
I am very fond of the clunky sound of wooden chimes. 1" diameter (approx) bamboo seems to work well. You can get lengths of it at a garden centre very often (where they often also sell them and you can take a look and get tips for making them).
The bigger the article, the deeper the sound and some materials ‘ring’ better than others. You just have to find what makes a nice noise.
Glass, broken plates and even certain stones (hard slate, for example) chime well but are difficult to drill - you need a slow speed drill, a masonry bit and LOTS of care and patience (a drill press is very handy, too).
i think the bigger the pipe the deeper the sound. just experiment with some of the stuff.
Considering the price of copper these days I would think about using a different material. You can find all kinds of hardwood dowels,in different diameters to use instead.
There are mail order companies which will sell you parts to make wind chimes. search the net
You can also go to Goodwill and pick up old silverware, old tea cups and saucers if you have a glass drill bit, you glue the cup to the saucer and hang the silverware from the saucer, be sure to use a good glue or epoxy on the cup and saucer. Good Luck with your new project.
I have seen windchimes made from old silverware … I love them and think they’re charming..