How to Create Wind Chimes
Wind chimes add a musical and whimsical touch to any outdoor space. Create your own set of wind chimes with a variety of metal, glass or wooden objects. Wrap wire around old utensils and dangle them from a chunk of driftwood. Create colorful strands of glass beads to hang from a piece of stained glass. Add craft bells, crystal prisms and mirror tiles to make your wind chimes delightfully distinctive. The basic components of any set of wind chimes are a hanger, a header and hanging strands that move with the breeze.
Things You'll Need
- Copper pipe
- Pipe cutter
- Measuring tape
- Drill
- 1/8-inch drill bit
- Fishing line
- Scissors
- Glass beads
- 7-inch diameter copper craft ring
- Clear waterproof adhesive
- 22-gauge copper wire
- Wire cutters
- S hook
Instructions
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1
Cut twelve 10-inch lengths of copper pipe. If you use a larger craft ring, cut more lengths of pipe. If you prefer an accordion style set of wind chimes, cut each length of pipe one inch longer than the last.
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2
Drill a 1/8-inch hole straight through each copper pipe, an inch from one end.
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3
Cut a strand of fishing line twice as long as the desired length of the hanger portion of the wind chimes, plus six inches. The extra six inches give you enough line to easily tie a knot.
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4
Thread one end of the fishing line through the drilled hole in one of the copper pipes. Pull the line until the ends are even.
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5
Thread glass beads over both ends of the fishing line. Fill the line with beads to the copper pipe or add a few for color, whichever best suits the desired design of your wind chimes.
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6
Tie the loose ends of the fishing line around the craft ring using a triple overhand knot.
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7
Repeat Steps 3 through 6 for each length of copper pipe that you plan to add to the wind chimes.
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8
Space the lines evenly around the craft ring. Cover the knots with clear waterproof adhesive. Allow the adhesive to dry.
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9
Cut two 15-inch strands of 22-gauge copper wire. Center one wire across the middle of the craft ring. Wrap the ends of the wire around the craft ring securely. Center the remaining wire across the middle of the craft ring so that it creates an X in the center of the ring. Wrap the ends of the wire securely around the craft ring.
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10
Hook an S hook in the cross point of the two wires to hang the wind chimes.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Substitute a bamboo stalk for the copper pipe to create a completely different set of wind chimes.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit chimes image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
