Do It Yourself Metal Wind Chimes
One way to combine art and music in your home is to hang a wind chime. Metal wind chimes provide a distinct sound and are sturdy enough to withstand strong breezes without breaking. Make your own metal wind chimes using recycled materials and a few tools in an afternoon's time. Hang the finished work of art on your porch or from a tree limb for a bit of charm. Or, give your completed metal wind chime to a friend as a personalized gift.
Things You'll Need
- 5 silver-plated dinner spoons
- Large silver-plated serving fork
- Needle-nose pliers
- Rubber hammer
- Power drill with 1/8-inch drill bit
- 5-inch-diameter round metal plate
- Strong string
- Scissors
- Decorative metal beads
Instructions
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1
Place five silver-plated spoons and a large silver-plated serving fork on a flat surface. Use a rubber hammer to pound the round ends of the spoons flat. Pull the prongs of the fork so they stick out horizontally to the fork handle using a pair of needle-nose pliers.
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2
Drill a single hole in each of the handles with a power drill equipped with a 1/8-inch drill bit suitable for drilling through metal. Place the holes approximately 1/2 inch away from the end of each piece.
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3
Drill five equally distanced holes around the perimeter of a 5-inch-diameter round metal plate, 1/2 inch away from the edge. Drill one hole through the center of the metal plate.
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4
Cut five 12-inch pieces of strong string and one 24-inch piece. Loop each of the five 12-inch pieces of string through the drilled holes in the handles of the spoons and tie the string around the handle with a strong knot to hold it in place. Thread decorative metal beads along the length of the strings, adding one bead or enough beads to cover the entire string, depending on your preference.
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Insert the ends of the strings attached to the spoons in the holes around the perimeter of the metal plate. Tie each string around itself in a tight knot. Insert the 24-inch string through the center of the metal plate. Pull the string up above the plate so that the ends of the prongs of the fork fall midway along the handles of the spoons.
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Add beads to the top side of the plate to help hold the string in place and tie a looped knot around the beads with the string. Loop the rest of the string around itself and tie a knot to form a loop for hanging the wind chime.
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Tips & Warnings
If you do not have a rubber hammer, wrap one or two washcloths around the end of a metal hammer and secure them in place with a rubber band to make a substitute.
Use caution when working with power tools.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
