In 2014, I want to build things using re-purposed materials. It will nourish the creative side of me and hopefully lead to some very nice gifts. What kinds of things? Things like wind chimes for example. I have always loved the sound of ‘well tuned‘ chimes, especially longer ones with larger tubes. They are peaceful and when properly constructed, will gently resonate with the softest of breezes.
Making chimes is pretty easy. Get some tube, cut it, drill some holes, hang them with string and hang a striker in the middle. They will sound OK and are a fun project to do with your kids.
Making ‘tuned‘ chimes that will behave well in the wind requires a lot more thought and planning. What musical scale do you want? How long should each tube be to achieve the notes in that scale? Where exactly is the best place to drill the holes to hang the tubes? What is the best way to hang them? What is the best striker to use? Where should the striker hang to get the best ring out of your tubes? These are but a few of the questions you need to answer to make a great set of chimes.
Where do you find that kind of information?
Enter Lee Hite and his amazing web site “An Engineering Approach to Tubular Bell Wind Chime Design“.
Lee has provided us with a deep well of knowledge on the subject. He answers, in great detail, all of the questions above and many, many more. He provides software to help you calculate the tube length and hang points for any chime you could think of building. He even has 90 pre-calculated chime rod dimensions which are all offered as a PDF file. Here is an example for 1.5″ aluminum tubing with a .083 wall.
Lee provides many detailed examples of how to hang the tubes and where to place the striker. He offers us frequency analysis about different tube materials and a wind chime musical note and loudness test video. And that’s just scratching the surface!
As a publisher, I am very much aware of how much work, passion, perseverance and dedication goes into maintaining a quality website. Lee’s work to provide us with this valuable information is simply, amazing. Lee, thank you. Your efforts make the internet a much better place for all of us.
I have been collecting some nice aluminum and copper tubing and now have enough to make a few sets of chimes. Thanks to Lee Hite, I know they will sound great and look pretty good too!
Photo Credit
Chimes – Wikipedia Creative Commons
Thanks for the kind words.
The ideal black coating is to find some black anodized tubing.
If that is not available, then power coat with a light application of clear coat works well.
If you can find acrylic in a spray can, it also is quite durable. Make sure it is UV resistant.
Hope this helps. . .
Lee Hite
http://www.leehite.org/Chimes.htm
Say It With Chimes
Thanks for the tip, I’ve been using galvanized metal pipe, I’ll try getting the lubricant coating off with a gas rub down & find an acrylic spray
What do you use for the black protective coating on the pipe? I’m on my third hubcap chimes, first two were bare metal tubes., thanks, Wil T.
Hi Wil,
I have not used black protective coatings. I made some with brass and also with copper and I just cleaned and polished them up with autosol then applied some wax and they lasted very well.
Cheers,
Gil
II have 2 inch outside diameter steel pipe sick wall with this be good for a Winchime will I get good tone with this type of pipe
Hi Garth,
I do not know. Have you tried tapping it to see how it rings?
Have you read this? http://leehite.org/Chimes.htm#tubes_pipes_rods
LOTS of good info there!
Yes, 2-inch steel pipe will sound excellent when supported at the 22.4% location.
Lee
Thanks for the kind words and good luck with your project. I just updated the DIY Compendium, so if you need to have the information portable, download and take with.
Lee
Thanks for the kind words. The site has changed to http://leehite.org/Chimes.htm
Regards,
Lee
Our pleasure Lee 🙂
Thanks for the new link!
Cheers,
Gil
Gil, I thought I’d chime in (sorry about that!) and say I can’t wait to follow and hear the rewards of your pursuit. A tuned chime is tantamount to a Gregorian chant in an ancient cathedral: moving, glorious and, dare I say, divine.
Thanks Tess!
Wait till you see my ‘single’ tube chime … that is in my head … but still needs to be made … with copper … AND cement 😉
Gileeeeeeeeeee