Here's How To Make Your Own Set Of Bamboo Wind Chimes
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Don't put off making a set of bamboo wind chimes because you think it will be too difficult -- it's really very easy, if you understand some of the general principles of its construction and have the necessary (few) tools -- and while there are a variety of different designs, here's one easy way to go about doing it --
First of all, you will need to prepare various lengths of bamboo. The best way to do this is to cut them with a hacksaw or similar implement. Many people prefer to cut their bamboo wind chimes on a slant -- you can experiment with this to determine your own preferences. After cutting the lengths of bamboo to various sizes -- four or five pieces as a set -- you should use a small drill to put a set of holes at the other end of each piece. These holes will allow you to hang your bamboo wind chimes using a length of cord or metal chain.
The next thing you will need to do is prepare the holding bracket for your bamboo wind chimes. This holding bracket should be sturdy enough to support the weight of all of the pieces of bamboo. It should allow the bamboo pieces to be placed far enough so that they will not become tangled together, yet close enough so that they will softly bounce off of each other when they are moved or blown by the wind.
Your holding bracket can be something as simple as a length of wood which has been notched at regular intervals. A small hanging chain with a metal loop can be attached in the middle of your hanging bracket to support the entire bamboo would chime set once it has been constructed. Again, you can experiment with your wind chime to find the spacing that works best for your length and diameter of bamboo segments.
The rest is pretty simple -- simply attach your bamboo segments to your hanging bracket by the use of a length of cord or metal chain. Metal will be more durable and less likely to break in the event your bamboo wind chimes are left out in a storm, or over the winter months.
Keep in mind that you can construct different types of bamboo wind chimes -- different types of hanging brackets, different lengths of bamboo, different diameters of the bamboo segments. Each of these can affect the appearance -- and sound -- of your bamboo wind chimes. For example, you might want to experiment with constructing a larger bamboo wind chime made from longer and thicker segments -- or perhaps even might want to make a miniature bamboo wind chime using much smaller and thinner segments of bamboo. The longer and thicker bamboo pieces will produce a deeper sound, while the smaller and thinner pieces will produce a lighter tone.
One general rule of thumb I can give you, in closing, is this -- if your bamboo wind chimes are made from longer and heavier segments of bamboo, they will need a fair amount of wind in order to move them. If you live in a location that is prone to high-velocity winds, this can be a good choice -- however, if you don't get much of a strong breeze where you live, you should try building a smaller bamboo wind chime, as the larger ones probably won't work properly (they'll just sit there all day without moving). Have fun building your own set of bamboo wind chimes -- for yourself, your relatives and friends, and neighbors!
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