Wind chimes

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bigone5500
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Wind chimes

Post by bigone5500 »

Can someone give me some tips on building a set of wind chimes?
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foxd
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by foxd »

I've never made any, but what I would do is take a small tape measure, go to a store that has bamboo wind chimes and measure them. And try not to be too obvious about it.

This approach has worked well for a number of projects. :)
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bigone5500
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by bigone5500 »

I'm wondering how beveling the ends would affect the sound.
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foxd
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by foxd »

bigone5500 wrote:I'm wondering how beveling the ends would affect the sound.
I can't picture that has having much effect. I think the main things to effect the sound would be the height and diameter of the culms as well as the wall thickness.
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by needmore »

I have bamboo wind chimes and they are a full round culm for half their length but the second half has been ....how to describe....cut back to just one side of the culm so that instead of a full circle it is only about 1/3 - 1/2 of the circumference? Perhaps I should take a picture, I do not know if this is an important design aspect but each of the chimes is done the same way.
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bigone5500
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by bigone5500 »

I was at Hobby Lobby tonight and got to see a set of the chimes and like you mention Brad, they are sorta 'half round' for about 1/3 the way from the bottom.

I'm assuming that they should be properly dried to acquire the crisp tone that they resonate. I have also been wondering if a car in hot sunlight would be enough to cure a length of bamboo.

Any comments?
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by Jerry Hamilton »

Try different lengths and sizes for different sounds. Putting bamboo in a hot car will crack it.
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bigone5500
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by bigone5500 »

What is the best way to cure it?
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by Jerry Hamilton »

A small torch works great. Just start out with some pieces that you don't plan on using until you get the feel if using the torch. If you search the web you can find out a lot about doing it.
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by foxd »

I also use a torch to cure the bamboo, but Brad has done curing over a fire and I have done curing over a gas oven. Basically gently heat the bamboo until it becomes a golden yellow color and wipe off the oils that come to the surface.
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The legal issues that will arise when the undead walk the earth are legion, and addressing them all is well beyond what could reasonably be accomplished in this brief Essay. Indeed, a complete treatment of the tax issues alone would require several volumes.
bigone5500
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by bigone5500 »

Oh, so this isn't a long process? From what I gather, it only takes a few minutes.
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by needmore »

Dan, why do you wipe off the oils? That glossy look is the main reason I heat treat them is there a downside that you've discovered?
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bigone5500
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by bigone5500 »

needmore wrote:Dan, why do you wipe off the oils? That glossy look is the main reason I heat treat them is there a downside that you've discovered?
Wouldn't a coat of polyurethane be ok? Do the oils harden when cool?
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by Alan_L »

It's pretty hard to make poly stick to bamboo -- it peels off after a year or so. If anybody has any tips, I'd love to hear them!
bigone5500
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Re: Wind chimes

Post by bigone5500 »

I'd like a link to the best way to cure it with a torch. I'm assuming propane is used.
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