How to Rebuild Wind Chimes

Wind chimes can be a pleasant addition to your home but may need periodic maintenance.

Wind chimes are a stylish and melodic addition to your home or garden. Wind chimes can be made of a wide variety of materials that provide a symphony of style, color and sound. Smaller wind chimes provide a tinkling sound, with larger chimes providing deeper resonant tones. The sun and weather can eventually take their toll on outdoor chimes. Your wind chimes may need some attention to get them back to working condition.

Things You'll Need

• Paste wax
• UV-resistant string, waxed cord or fishing line
• Metal polish
• Rags or cleaning cloths
• Non-metallic scouring pad
• Pencil and paper
• Sandpaper
• Clear urethane spray

Instructions

1. Inspect the chimes. Diagram any unusual cord arrangement before disassembling the chime. Then untie any cords and remove all parts of the chime. Continue to make notes concerning the arrangement or sizes of various parts to ensure you rebuild it correctly.

2. Clean all metal parts with metal polish and a rag. Metal chimes may be coated with a varnish or urethane spray, so you may remove the coating during the cleaning. A nonmetallic scouring pad may be used to remove oxidation or mild corrosion. Wash and dry the cleaned metal parts, then either coat them with paste wax or clear urethane. (see reference 2)

3. Inspect wood parts of the chimes. Remove any dirt or mildew with soap and a scouring pad. Repair any cracks with wood filler. Use sandpaper to prepare the finish and coat the parts with clear urethane or paste wax.

4. Restring the chimes with either waxed cord or fishing line. Use your notes and diagrams to reinstall all chime parts in the same configuration as the original. All knots should be tight and extra string or cord should be cut off. Visually inspect the restored chimes for appearance. Move the chime striker and check that all parts create proper sounds.

Tips & Warnings

• If your chimes appear normal but do not chime, look inside the tubes or sound parts for insect nests. Cleaning out all debris should restore proper sound.

• Take down the chimes in high winds or bad weather. They will last much longer if kept out of bad weather conditions. (see reference 1)

• Spray urethane is flammable. Do not use near flames or electrical sources.

References

• Wind Chimes: Replacement Strings
• Universal Windchimes: Wind Chime Care