Handmade 7 Foot Anodized Wind chimes
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- Опубликовано: 8 июл 2024
- Construction continues at 4:50.
Handmade wind chimes are not difficult to build for the DIY type, but the anodizing can be a little more difficult. These measure 86 inches from ring to sail. Here's how to build the wind chimes.
1. Before you begin building your own set of wind chimes, it is a good idea to download a chart to determine the chime tube length you will need. The lengths called out will be general and the exact tuning will depend on the material and dimensions of the tubing itself. Therefore, final tuning will need to be done after rough cutting with tuning forks, musical instrument, oscilloscope, etc. For these chimes, I use 1.5" by 1/8" wall 6061 aluminum tubing. It is best to tune your homebuilt wind chimes to a scale, like pentatonic major, though there are many more. I don't advise tuning to a particular chord. Chords sound good on musical instruments, but don't sound right on wind chimes. The first set of wind chimes I built were based on a chord instead of a scale, and they sounded bad. I had to scrap them. Luckily, I was able to use much of the tubing for the wind chime shown in this video.
2. Cut the longest wind chime tube first. That way in case you mess it up, you can use it for the next higher pitch tube. Cut the first tube slightly over the length called for on the length chart. By the way, don't cut all the chime tubes until you know how they will tune. Cut just one wind chime tube for now and tune it to see how much material needs to be taken off in general. This will save you from leaving too much material when you cut the rest of the chime tubes. Using the tuning instrument of your choice, check the frequency of the chime tube, and then trim a little off the length of the tube, gradually increasing the frequency until it is in tune. Remember to tune to perceived frequency, not the fundamental. You will need to hang the tubes horizontally from two node point locations on the tube. To find the node points, take the chime tube length x .224 (22.4%). Use the resulting number and measure in that amount from each end and mark it. Those are the node points. Suspend the chime tube horizontally from the ceiling with string at those points. To check the frequency, hit the end of the tube with a firm material, like wood or plastic, and measuring the frequency. If the frequency is too low, trim a little from the length and repeat the measurement. It is important to use node points for support, otherwise the chime tube will be muted, and you will have no way of taking an accurate frequency reading.
3. Finish the ends of the chime tubes to make them presentable. Drill through one of the node point locations, and drive a steel pin through that point. This pin will be where the suspension cord will be tied. I used threaded stainless rod for my pins, and Loctited them in place. To thread the holes, I cut a couple grooves in a piece of the threaded rod, and and twisted it through the holes to cut threads into the chime tubes.
4. Cut out the top support. I used a scroll saw and cut it from 1" thick black walnut. I then trued up the diameter on a lathe and added some corner detail with a router bit mounted in the tool holder. A lathe isn't necessary, but will make it easier. You can also use a heavy piece of steel or aluminum rod bent into a large circle. I don't have any rule of thumb for sizing the top support plate. I just made it what I thought looked right and would give me good spacing between the chime tubes. Of course, this will depend on your chime tube diameter and quantity. Lee Hite, a master at making wind chimes, has a guide on sizing these.
5. The striker and sail are made same way, basically. I cut them from black walnut. I made the striker diameter so that when hanging, was about 1/2 inch from any chime tube in a rested state. It is 1 inch thick. I wrapped the striker with about three layers of high quality electrical tape, to give the the tube a richer sound when struck. The sail is 1/4 inch thick, and just made it to it looked proportional to the rest of the wind chime. If you're undecided on the size, it's a good idea to go a little bigger with sails than smaller, to make it more effective.
6. Hanging the wind chime tubes: I used a stainless steel key chain ring for mine, and suspended the entire assembly from a cup hook mounted in the ceiling. It was tricky because of the size and weight of chimes. I used heavy cord, and cut several over sized pieces. I made a small slipknot for each chime tube support pin. After installing cord on all the pins, I threaded each cord up through the top support, and tied it to the key chain ring. I arranged the tubing with cascades on the top and bottom, and the striker in the middle. Ideally, tubes should be arranged with cascades on the top, and flush with one another on the bottom, with the striker on the bottom. This arrangement allows for all frequencies to be heard, and allows the most striker action. 
Наука
Construction continues at 4:50.
Thanks for explaining about "node points" right away at 1:10. 👍 Just what I was looking for.
So much good info packed in here!
Excellent work, sir! As a jazz guy, I would suggest that you consider exploring the use of whole tone and diminished whole tone (aka "altered dominant" scales on future projects. You DEFINITELY have the "chops" for it. Very impressive.
Interesting idea.
Just stumbled on this video and found all the detail and tips very useful. Two thumbs up for the anodized process down to the o-rings for keeping them looking beautiful. Music to the ears, literally.
Beautiful, beautiful work of art. You're obviously a pretty smart guy. Plus you've got a shop that has great equipment. AND... you know how to use it. Good on you young man!!!
Thank you for the compliment. I appreciate that.
Great video! Your shop is far above anything I've ever seen in a DIY garage. Your knowledge in several disciplines is too. There's no way I could ever have all the equipment necessary to do what you're doing here but I am really amazed at your attention to every detail. Especially the anodizing. Thanks for sharing all this and taking the time to educate all of us regular DIY heathens. haha
Thanks so much for your comments :)
Your mother is very blessed to have such a talented and thoughtful son, well done.
Thanks, Gin :)
WOW!!!!! Too much work for me. I guess I am not that much of a perfectionist!!!! I definitely thought this was a business, that you sold these, due to the work and time that went into them. THank you for the video.
Thanks so much for your comment. The way I look at it, I either set out do things right, or I don't bother.
Huge windchimes...sweet, deep sound !!
Wonderful job, but its not easy !!
Thanks for the demo.
GREAT WORK!
i love the sound of those chimes!
Extremely methodical . It was a pleasure to watch you create . Thank you for the video .
Thanks for saying so :)
Outstanding work!!!
LOVE this video and all the info!!!! Pentatonic as opposed to a chord, I did not know! So well done!!
Thank you! :)
Those are the nicest wind chimes I've seen. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful work!
OMGOODNESS! It’s beautiful! You did an excellent job! What an amazing gift!
Thank you for saying so!
Now that takes wind chime making to a whole nother level.
I like the anodizing tank setup you have. Thanks for throwing out the formula for finding the node point.
AWESOME job !!
Thanks! I'm glad you like it.
Wow! Nice work! The sound is incredible.
Great job! Thanks for sharing.
Holy smokes, what an awesome homemade PVC anodizing setup...
Thanks. I'm glad you like it:)
Nice work. They sound amazing!!
Thank you
Been trying to figure out how to make my own for a while, and I'm sure my phone speaker doesn't do this justice.
Great instruction and informative.
Thank you.
Thank you:)
Beautiful work, and they sound so mellow!
Well! I'll just whip one of those right out tonight! Great job!
Thanks
Thank you for making this video. There were so many things in it that I needed to know.
Really great 👍
Nice and beautiful sound!
Love the details
They are beautiful. Very nice work.
thank you for this! i looked up "how to make big wind chimes" and i got so much more than I bargained for. Great explanations, beautiful process! I hope you are able to make chimes again very soon (if you wish to)!
Wow! Beautiful sound n presentation
I have an alto set of chimes, but the sound of these blows those away. I wish you had turned this into a product line and I could get one. These are some of the best sounding chimes I have heard. I love their deep sound.
Thanks so much for saying so.
Amazing!
Beautiful in sound and sight
Thanks so much :)
Wow. Nice finishing equipment
Thanks!
Nice work. I like the anodise how to. Thank you.
Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.
Very nice sounding!
Thank you :)
Amazing chimes and video too, thank you. I see why many are priced so high now. Southern Cypress wood is nowhere as pretty as Walnut but it resists rot the best. No porch here so I have to have it in an outdoor swing, other wood won't last in our area even using Thomsons yearly it won't. Replaced many small cheap chimes with cypress they're still going here today.
These do sound perfect too...Very nice!!
Thank you for your comments. Cypress would last about forever outside.
Great comment, also if you Clear 2 part epoxy the wood it would last Forever.
Cheers
awesome work
Whoah....you've got some super helpful info here....I'm actually taking notes. I haven't finished watching the entire video yet but just wanted to say how beautiful your chimes sound! Thank you for your tutorial!
Thank you! I'm glad you like them.
Arnold's Design I have been thinking about making some for quite a while now but do you think it's even a possibility for someone that knows nothing about tuning? I've watched several videos and yours is the most informative. But it's also raised many more questions.
Yeah, you can do it. There are chime tubing length charts on the net that will get you close, and maybe close enough where you don't need to tune them. I'd tune them for scales and not chords, because chords don't sound good for some reason, at least with mine. Plan your chime length for perceived notes, because that's what you'll actually hear. I used a guitar and compared the sound to get mine where I wanted them. The phone app is nice but not perfect. I think your ears are a better judge of tuning. The hang point should be 22.4% of the total length, so don't drill hang point holes until you're done tuning. There are builders like Lee Hite, who is a chime guru, who might do it a different way, but that is just how I do it.
Arnold's Design that is so good to hear and I have watched a few of Lee Hite's videos and they were awesome as well but yours was easier for me to understand the most important parts. I did note the formula you used at the beginning of your video and also noted fundamental vs. percieved. I didn't understand what I was noting..lol..but it sounded important. Thank you so much for your replies and your advice!
Absolutely. If there's anything else I can answer, let me know. It's been a while since I built those, but I'm sure I can come up with something.
Amazing love it 😍😍😍👍
Thanks!
dude that is badass
Thanks!
Very well done, Arnold.
Just saw your comment. Thanks!
Really enjoyed your video man
Thanks!
Fantastic I had tuned chimes when I lived in the States. My ones now I cheap untuned, I need to invest.
Thanks
Your wind chime
Sounds extremely good.
Many I have heard get very annoying.
But not yours, you did an excellent job.
Keith
Thanks!
That wind chime has got to be home made.
You are awesome 👌
so beautiful~~~^^
Wow...wealth of great info!
Thanks so much!
There is Science in everything
The top really did have a great design. Could you have put it facing down so it could be appreciated?
I'm really impressed by the work, the equipment and the result. I'm a mere mortal, however. All I can do is wish I could do that.
You're Brilliant and a wonderful son. I'm impressed, now I see why they're so expensive.
Thank you for saying so :)
Is it possible to tune the fundamental and the partials? Is there any way I can hear only the fundamental? I hope you can help me!
Not that I know of. As far as I know, no material will give you one frequency without harmonic overtones.
Lovely
Thanks
Me: Can you make a nuclear submarine?
Arnold: Piece of cake. I can tune it to F scale as well!
He told me he could not make any nuclear subs at this time. 😂
Amazing work, thanks for sharing ! Which sound analyzer app do you use ? There are many apps but this one seems great.
Great video, thanks. How about if you just flip the top over so you can see the finished surface facing down?
how do you string them??
If you were to put some copper screen in ends to keep bugs such as dirtdaibers out, would that affect the sound do you think?
I don't know. I haven't had any issues with them.
Does a "node point" represent an octave range? I love how frequency and life are intertwined.
A node point is a position on the tube where the sine wave of the fundamental frequency and the overtone waves equal zero. In other words, none of the frequencies vibrate at the node point, so you can suspend the the chime tube there with dampening the sound.
@@ArnoldsDesign I understand that. In your video you have two nodes. I can't remember if cutting 1" away from one node vs the other would produce the next octave.
@@soundmapper I suspend them from two nodes for tuning only, both 22.4% of the length measured in from the ends. I'm not aware of how much the frequency would increase by cutting off 1". It's best to get a length chart off the net as a starting point. Cut each tube a little longer, and trim it to tune. I use a guitar in this case to tune.
Damn where did you learn al that stuffs making a amazing wind chime xD
I just read a lot I guess. I don't have the app any more, and don't remember it's name now. If you look up "sound analyzer" on google play store, a comparable app will come up. I've also used a well tuned guitar to tune it in by ear.
Where do you get the tubes?
I am disabled and cannot make my own but these are awesome. How much wound you charge to make a set of 7 footers? I saved the chime tubes from my old door bell (4 ft was longest tube) but then because try were copper someone stoled them and I never got my beautiful sounding chimes.
Sorry about your situation. Unfortunately, I can't make anymore windchimes at this time.
When drilling the hanging holes, do you have the centre of the hole on the node point, or the perimeter of the hole at the node point?
If the centre of a 3mm hole is at the node point, the actual hang point will be 1•5 mm away from the node point.
You can't hang something from the centre of a hole.
It's drilled on center. There is threaded rod going through the center point, so it sees center of node. Even if it wasn't, I haven't noticed that being off a slight amount creates a perceivable dampening effect.
So lovely and beautiful, but too technical and complex for me. I will just make mine out of regular copper pipes :D
lovely sound!
Thank you! Good luck with your chimes. There is a lot of tuning length info on the web. It will get you pretty close.
Finally, someone gives the ratio for the node points!
I have measured a lot of windchimes in stores, and musical instruments, and I came up with 1/5, which would be .200
I'm glad to find out I was wrong before building one.
I'm surprised you used a scroll saw instead of a bandsaw - you seem to have quite a machine shop, so I'm guessing you have one.
Did you give all of the (rough) tube lengths?
I intend to start with PVC pipe for the first one, so making it large is not a problem.
Dear Sir
Thank you very much
Kindly tell the name of site from where we can purchase pipes
Didn't think it would be so involved but anyway...I want to buy chimes that size and what company do you think sells the best ones? Thanks so much.
I don't have a preference. Just about any of the expensive ones sound good. Bells of Vienna, Music of the Spheres are about the only ones I'm familiar with, and they both sound nice.
Dan Thomas - Woodstock chimes are generally deemed the best on the market. If you have the means, I especially recommend the Chimes of King David.
Thanks for sharing. Is there a calculation for the clapper diameter? Like how much smaller than the B.H.C. of the tubes etc.
Not that I remember. I just made it slightly smaller so that it wouldn't have to travel far before hitting a tube.
@@ArnoldsDesign thanks! That makes sense. I'm thinking making mine 1/2 or 3/4 clearance. Love your video
@@spekky9012 Thanks
what cost the aluminium?
Excellent work friend and thank you for the technical aspects of the tuning process, which is how I found your channel. You definitely have a saleable product if you chose to go down that path. Your knowledge of the anodizing process is valuable but you may want to consider sending quantities of materials to a commercial anodizer. Much less hassle, safer, more room in your shop, and nosey environmentally minded folks will get no traction with your efforts!
I've been an architectural metal fabricator for 45 years and love working with metal. I was thinking of going this route with brass tubing but aluminum is a nice option. Oh, and lastly, please get very comfortable and even desperately dependent on using safety glasses!! You don't want to be dwelling the rest of your life on why you didn't walk five feet over and grab your safety glasses!! Very lousy trade off.
I'm thinking about making windchimes in my garage. Can you give me any advice?
Just follow some of the things I did in the video. There's a lot of tuning length info on the net. That's important to sound good. Tune to scales, not chords. Strike either the ends or center of the tubes to get full sound. There's too much to list, but that will get your started.
If you wanted to paint them does that affect the tune
It shouldn't affect the frequency, but it might change the timbre slightly. Some companies paint them and they sound good.
How did you attach the string to the rods inside the tubes? I want to repair a really nice chime that is more than 20 years old I need to replace the cords
There are a couple ways I've used. Tie the cord to a small bolt. Hold the tube about 45° downward, and slip the bolt down into the tube past the hanging rod. Once past the rod, spin the tube 180°, and tilt the tube upward until the bolt and cord slide back out of the top of the tube. Remove the bolt. The cord end is looped around the remaining cord and tied into a knot. This forms a loop around the inside rod. After that pull the loop tight. The sliding knot tightens over the hanging rod. Keep an eye on the knot as it tightens to make sure it stays centered inside the tube.
Another way is to make a small knotted loop in the end of the cord. The cord is then lowered into the tube past the hanging rod. Use a J hook to grab the loop and pull it back around the other side of the rod and out of the tube. Once this is done, fish the remaining cord through the loop and pull it tight around the hanging rod.
How did you get the old knot off the pin? I have a very expensive wind chime that i need to replace the string. I have been searching on how to do this. Which string do you recommend to use?
I use a Boss TU-12H. works great for chromatic . I can tune a piano with it but not a fish.
I will look that up.
I want one. I just found this video I love home made items and I want a Wind Chime that's real deep, low like church bells, deep very deep tones and purple to
Your windchimes came out amazing. Would you consider making a pair for someone?
Thank you for saying. Unfortunately I can't make any more at this time.
Nice work. Maybe you could turn the top upside-down, that way you'd see it better.
Thanks. That's a good thought.
Bro, those chimes are awesome! Great job. How much would a set like those cost?
Thanks. I know some brands go for a few hundred dollars in stores. I don't build these for sale. The anodizing alone takes a huge amount of time.
@ArnoldsDesign from your great video, that much is obvious. Your videos are great advertising, and people will want them. A nice webpage with links to your videos. You can make some serious bank with this artwork. Its definitely a unique art that you have a nac for, and you should be signing each one, for sure.
I will like to buy one from you I can't build one that sounds as good as yours
Unfortunately I don't have time to build them to sell.
Whenever I run into a dead aerator, I turn up the PSI, too.
I’m just kidding. I actually have no idea what the hell you’re trying to teach me. I thought that this video had something to do with making a windchime.
Im wanting to anodizes some tubing. when you made your PVC tubes for Dying and sealing. What did you used to heat them?
A 1500 watt hot water heater element, but you can get submersible heater from amazon pretty cheap now. If I'd had the ceiling clearance, I would've sat the pvc pipes upright to dye and seal. It would've been much easier.
@@ArnoldsDesign One more question. I'm using 2'' aluminimum I notice you had your tubing in for about hour and a half. how did you figure the time?
@@martyyates1115 I waited for the voltage to plateau, and then start to drop slightly. That is when the thickest anodized layer is formed. Caswell plating has a great guide to anodizing that I recommend that will take the mystery out if it. www.caswellplating.com.au/LCD.pdf
@@ArnoldsDesign Great! Thank you.
@@ArnoldsDesign I have a question, how many Amp did you use for your longest piece of tubing?
Do you sell these and how much I love the blue
I don't. I would have to set up a place for production, and I have no extra room at my shop to do that.
Very beautiful do you sale them.I would love to purchase some this size
Thank you for saying so. I don't have them for sale at this point.
Beautiful work, but ... PLEASE, safety goggles! One drop of dilute sulfuric in your eye will ruin your day and perhaps affect you for the remainder of your life.
ANYTHING can be done when you have the tools!
Yep
And the brains.
Yep. Nope…..too much for me- you go with your bad self tho…..thank you for the detailed video , it was really very good.
Do you sell them
I don't. Maybe at some point.
I tried to give the video a like but when i click it, it just flashes and doesn't highlight it like usual. What's up with that?
I don't know. I just tried it, and it works on this end.
It's working now
You could have turned the top over so it was visible from below.
Do you make them to sell sir ? 🙏
I don't. There isn't enough room in my shop for a production setup.
@@ArnoldsDesign so sad I live in Belize and would of love to have one, something that no one else has
Love it I'll pay you to send me one
I don't make these all the time, but thanks anyway.
I worked in GMC platting dept. for several years. You did not show the sealing in hot acidic acid. The sealing process was tested with a pair of probes at 800 volts. If it rang they where scrapped.
They were sealed in nickel acetate solution. Boiling water is sufficient though.
you want to use eye protection around all speed equipment.
Assume strange accidents can and do happen and your face can be safe.
Always a good idea.
I was thinking the same thing.
Very nice!!! I just bought one from a local store in our town for $85.
Thank you! That's a very good price for chimes. I've seen the large ones go for $200 to $300 or more for a set.
@@ArnoldsDesign The Corinthian brand of chimes this size sell for about $800
This just got more and more complicated. Never mind. 😑
Sanding like that is just cheating...LOL
The lathe does come in handy at times.
Anything over 12 inches is a wind pipe not a wind chime
It would be suggested that all the wind chime geeks use a streaming service in lieu of driving their neighbors insane. Chiming rights should end at property lines.
Not difficult for those with a machine shop!
The most difficult part was dragging my ass to work everyday to pay for that machine equipment.