How to Make Chinese Gongs for Children

Use a real gong as inspiration.

Making a gong is a way to open up a child to the world of music. The history of the gong in China dates back many thousands of years. Traditional gongs were crafted for communication, announcement and musical purposes. Gongs symbolized success and stature as much as serving as practical devices. With the proper tools and materials you may make a model gong to suit your child's needs in one day.

Things You'll Need

• Work gloves
• Safety glasses
• Measuring tape
• Marker
• Circular saw
• 3 1/4 inch by 24 inch metal conduits
• 2 1/4 inch by 18 inch metal conduits
• Abrasive pad sanding sponge
• Solder gun
• Damp sponge
• Solder wire
• 1/8-inch thick tin sheet
• Metal sheers
• Drill
• 1/8-inch drill bit
• 2 pieces of 5 mm by 12 inch wire
• Wire snippers
• 1 inch by 6 inch wooden dowel
• 2 pieces of 1/8 inch by 2 inch by 3 inch high-density urethane foam
• Straight-edge knife
• Permanent epoxy

Instructions

1. Put on work gloves and safety glasses to protect your skin and eyes.

2. Measure and cut three individual 1/4-inch pieces of metal conduit to 24-inch lengths with a circular saw. Measure and cut two individual 1/4-inch pieces of metal conduit to 18-inch lengths. Dull each end of the five pieces with an abrasive pad sanding sponge.

3. Preheat the solder gun. Rub solder wire along the warm solder gun tip. Wipe the tip clean with a damp sponge.

4. Lay one of the 24-inch length conduit pieces onto a flat work surface. Position the end of one of the remaining 24-inch pieces perpendicular to the right end of the first piece. This second piece will form the right leg of the gong stand. The shape should form a letter L.

5. Touch the solder wire to the connection point between the two pipes. Touch the tip of the gun to the tip of the wire to melt the wire and secure the bond. Repeat until all of the connection points are bonded. Repeat step three and four for the left side of the first piece. The three pieces should now form a letter U shape.

6. Center the long side of one of the 18-inch pieces to the bottom of the extended right-side 24-inch leg. Adjust the 18-inch piece so it is perpendicular to the 24-inch leg. Solder the 18-inch piece into place. An 18-inch gong stand foot is now connected. Repeat for the second 18-inch piece on the bottom of the left leg. Stand the gong stand up on its feet.

7. Measure and cut an 18 inch by 18 inch piece from the tin sheet with the sheers. Dull all the edges of the tin piece with the abrasive pad sanding sponge.

8. Measure and cut two individual 5-mm wires to 12-inch lengths. Evenly space and drill two 1/8-inch holes through the top of the tin sheet.

9. Wrap one end of one of the wires three times around the left hole. Repeat with the second wire for the right hole. Wrap the loose end of each wire evenly around the top gong stand brace so your gong can hang freely.

10. Wrap a piece of 1/8-by-2-by-3 high-density urethane foam around one end of a 1-by-6 dowel rod. Bond the foam to the rod with permanent epoxy. Repeat with a second piece of foam atop the first piece. Use the rod as a gong mallet.

References

• Art Drum: Gong History
• Aaron Cake: How to Solder