Make Wind Chimes

Wind chimes are among the topmost items when you are planning to give someone a gift. It is very easy to make wind chimes and customize them. A fully customized wind chime makes a very unique gift on any occasion. A wind chime is not a gift that will not only be remembered for a long time but it will also endure for quite a while. When you make wind chimes part of the home environment you are adding another touch of elegance and also creating a great impression. Wind chimes are even more memorable when they are customized and personalized to the recipient.

The origin of wind chimes is in China where they emerged out of the chimes that were used in the form of musical instruments during religious ceremonies and other occasions. From there it spread to the neighboring East Asian countries where they were absorbed into the Feng Shui philosophy. It is believed that the sound created by the wind chimes as the wind blows through them transforms into energy that is positive to enhance health, wealth, and prosperity.

Anyone can make wind chimes easily. There are many materials that you can use to make wind chimes in addition to the conventional materials like metal, bamboo, glass, shells, and so on. You could go in for plastic, coconut, steel, natural stones, or even ceramics. There is also plenty of scope to go in for different shapes and arrangements of the materials to go in for personalized variations in style and design. You can even go in for a combination and make lanterns and so on.

Here are some tips on making your own wind chimes.

The best wind chimes are made from hollow tubes made of wood or metal. You can paint or varnish the chimes for protection against the elements and also to add your own style. Wooden wind chimes are especially sensitive to weather and light conditions. Extreme weather or harsh sunlight can lower the longevity of wood wind chimes so it is best to give them as much protective coating as possible and making use of the most durable wood. By choosing the right wood you can avoid these problems.

There are several types of glass that you can use to make wind chimes . There is simple bottle glass, crystal, or glass beads. You may also use stained glass, Depression glass, or vintage glassware. When you are making glass wind chimes you should make sure that the string that secures the wind chimes is the strongest you can use otherwise you are taking a grave risk of the glass falling down. Also make sure that the string is knotted properly so as not to come undone.

Metal wind chimes are well known for the rich tones they create. You must remember that the sound created by metal wind chimes depends on where they are placed, how they are stringed together, and the thickness of the metal tubes.

The first thing to do is gather all the materials before you start working on your wind chimes. Make the design on paper. This is just to give you an idea outside of your head. You do not need to be an expert at drawing. Go through some design samples and see what appeals to you and then customize it with your own creativity.

Once you have the design and the raw materials it is time to gather the tools that you will need to make wind chimes . Given below are some things that you must keep close when making wind chimes.

A plastic lid of the type that is often found on coffee bins

Electric wire (3/4")

Hacksaw

Heavy duty durable string

The metal pipe for metal wind chimes or bamboo for wood chimes

A hole or nail punch

Nylon thread

Pipe cutter used by plumbers

Now it is time for some extra decoration and also gathering materials that can add to the sound of the wood chimes. You could go to the beach and get some sea shells or go to the local arts and craft stores where you can look for things like bells, beads, stones, etc.

Now comes the actual process of putting things together to make wind chimes .

Cut the metal pipe or bamboo into pieces of different lengths.

Take the other items like shells or beads and if they are thing then use the hole or nail punch to puncture them to allow the sting to pass through.

First assemble one single pipe or bamboo with the smaller item using the string. Make sure all knots are completely secure.

In case you are using items like stones then it will not be possible to drill a hole through them, especially if they are brittle. In that case you must wrap the stone in thread. Make sure you wrap it many times and then coat it with non-toxic glue to make sure the thread does not slip.

Take the plastic lid mentioned earlier and punch a few holes in it. This will become the top of the wind chime that is going to hold everything else together so do not overdo the holes and weaken it. There should be one hole in the exact center through which you will pass the string or wire used to hang the wind chime.

Make sure that all the threads that go into the plastic lid are knotted on one side so the thread does not come out when the wind chime is hung.

The final step is to string together the various tube or bamboo pieces. Once this is done your wind chime is finished and ready to be tested.

These are some steps that you can follow to make wind chimes on your own. Once done you can either hang the wind chimes in your own home or you can gift them to someone. It may be a good idea to engrave the date on the wind chimes when presenting them as a gift.