How to Make a Wind Chime with Metal Bottle Caps

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Things You'll Need

  • Wood scrap

  • Metal bottle caps

  • Small nail

  • Hammer

  • Fishing line

  • Thin piece of copper or colored metal

  • Tin shears

  • Metal hook

Image Credit: Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images

The sound of wind chimes can often evoke a nostalgic feeling -- one that's reminiscent of childhood, summer, porch swings, and playing at grandpa's. While wind chimes can be found at almost any home improvement store, making your own from found items like bottle caps is cheaper and a whole lot more fun. Be creative with the type of caps you use -- perhaps something you drank as a kid -- and watch that nostalgia come roaring back.

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Step 1

Set a bottle cap on the wood scrap.

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Step 2

Place a small nail in the center.

Step 3

Tap the nail gently with the hammer until the nail pokes through the cap, making a small hole.

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Step 4

Remove the nail. Turn the bottle cap over.

Step 5

Tap the hammer lightly on the sharp edges the nail made on the underside of the cap to push the edges down.

Step 6

Repeat until all the bottle caps you are using have holes.

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Step 7

Cut five strands of 3-foot fishing line. Knot each one at one end.

Step 8

Thread the fishing line through a bottle cap.

Step 9

Make a knot where you want the next cap, and then slide another cap onto the line.

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Step 10

Repeat with all the strands until you have as many caps on a strand as you want. Leave six inches free of bottle caps at one end.

Step 11

Cut a thin piece of metal with the tin shears into any shape. It needs to be around six inches across.

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Step 12

Punch four holes along the bottom edge of the shape using the nail and hammer.

Step 13

Punch a hole at the center of the top edge of the shape.

Step 14

Thread each strand through a hole and tie it in place, making each a different length.

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Step 15

Put a drop of extra strong glue on the knots to make them more secure.

Step 16

Tie the ends to a hook and hang the wind chime.

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