This was a little silly, but I love them!
Using an old rake head and fourteen spoons, I made
a wind chime to hang on the arbor by our front gate.
It was very fun to make and did not take long at all, once
the spoons were flattened out. You can vary the type of
silverware you use, and can even use forks. I just did this
quickie as my first time using various sizes of spoons.
I will say, however, that an entire chime made from
grapefruit spoons would make a most delightful sound.
(next project, but in testing, I've heard them tinkling!)
In fact, you might make some without the flattening, but
here is how I did it:
Using a small sledgehammer or heavy duty hammer,
bang the scoop of a spoon flat. I used hubby's grinding wheel
to smooth out the bang marks while the handle was still on
the spoon.
Then I put the spoon into a vise and used the pneumatic
cutting wheel to cut the handle off the spoon. Again back to
the grinding wheel and the buffing wheel to smooth it out
so it was not so sharp.
Then I used a small drill bit to drill a hole in the end of the
spoon where the handle used to be. After breaking three
Titanium drill bits, I finally bought a 3"/32 DeWalt Cobalt
Drill bit. Don't be cheap, buy the good drill bit or you WILL
have to go back to the store.
I used a fishing swivel with snap closure and attached the
swivel to the spoon, then tied each spoon to the tines of
the rake with heavy fishing line. I used the cutting wheel to make
small indentions about 1/2" from the end of the tines
so the spoons would not slide off the tines.
You don't even have to use an old rake, you can just tie
a few spoons or whatver close together enough to make
the tinkle. Naturally, the smaller spoons move most easily
in a breeze. As we've had wind lately and good breezes, I
have been able to hear my chimes while gardening, and it
makes me smile! :-)
Now that I have completed my first testing chime, I'm on the
loose with all sorts of ideas. Adding beads, decorative faux
jewels, all sorts of things come to mind.
Have fun!
This message was edited Apr 9, 2006 6:50 PM
