How to Make Wind Chimes Louder?

Wind chimes are a unique instrument that plays automatically when there is a breeze. You can find it in the market where it is already made for you in advance. But how would you feel if you could make it by yourself and customize the sound and make it loud according to your preference? An awesome feeling, right! To turn this vision into reality, you need to gather some materials and follow a process that can help you get the job done. In the following article, you will find all about how to make wind chimes louder. So, keep reading to find out more.

What is Wind Chime?

A wind chime is a musical instrument that produces sound when the wind moves its component parts. A typical wind chime is made of tubes, rods, or strings. It will often have ornamentations such as small bells. A wind chime may hang from a tree branch or from an outdoor porch roof rafter, or it may be held in your hand while you walk around to enjoy the sound of it.

Wind chimes have a long history and exist in many cultures around the world. The traditional Chinese wind chime is also known as a “metal chime”, while European ones often feature glass beads or wood blocks instead of bells.

Steps: How to Make Wind Chimes Louder

Before you jump right into making the sound louder, you must know some basic steps beforehand. Here are all of them. 

• Step 1: Pick the Ideal Chime Material

The most important factors when considering the loudness of the chime are the type of material, length, and thickness. If you go to the hardware store, you will find metal tubes, rods, and pipes.

A short and narrow tube creates the highest pitch to make the sound louder. Make sure it is uniform on all sides to get a balanced sound all the time. 

Besides, pick the aluminum metal to get the loudest sounds. If it is not available, you can select the steel one since both generate sharper tones. Before you purchase, test the sound as well.

• Step 2: Purchase Suspension Lines, Striker, Suspension Platform, and Sail

Suspension lines come in various forms, such as chain, nylon, etc. This joins the base so the chimes can swing smoothly. Nylon is considered the strongest when it comes to holding the weight of the chime. It also comes in handy when connecting the chime with the striker. 

If you plan to hang it on a tree, use a metal ring to tie the lines and make the chimes hang and produce sound effortlessly.

The striker’s purpose is to fit between the chimes so that the metals can hit each other and create vibrations to cause a louder sound. Redwood or hockey pucks can be a smart option in this case. So, choose the striker types that fit your requirements. 

When picking the striker, don’t forget to purchase a suspension platform. This one is good at holding the chimes, giving them the flexibility to hang around and strike each other. Look for the one that is larger than your striker.

Normally, this platform is made of metal, plastic, or wood. Hence, go for the one that can hold a maximum number of chimes.

Finally, choose a proper sail. It is a portion that hangs from the striker and stays in a lower position than the chimes. This allows it to force the striker to move straight towards the chimes.

• Step 3: Fasten the Suspension Platform

Choose a couple of points (around five to eight) to suspend your chimes on the platform. Mark the spots with a marker. This targeted area will be drilled later. Be very careful about the distance between the chimes as it is recommended that space should be equal. Also, make a hole so that the striker can hang correctly. 

Accordingly, look at the base and mark other areas according to the installation process. Start drilling slowly into the platforms’ center and make the holes tiny because you have to insert the threads into the chimes. Use the same technique for the strikers’ center and a single corner of the sail. 

Next, decide how long you would prefer the chimes to hang. So, cut a moderate thread length, take the striker and thread the sail with it. 

Take the thread that is coming out from the strikers’ top and run it through the center of the platform. After you are done with that, please give it a tight knot to secure everything. 

• Step 4: Cut the Chimes and Organize Everything

As mentioned in step 1, the short and narrow tube creates high-pitched sounds. So, determine the size of the metal you will cut. 

When you have planned the size (short), mark the area and start cutting it. You can do this with the help of a hacksaw, pipe cutter, or hand saw. If you are not feeling safe with the cutting, contact your local hardware store. Some of them might be able to do it for you.

Take a fresh towel and wrap the tube. Keep the edges exposed and start sanding all the rough areas. Use a sander or file for this purpose. 

Hold the tubes in a specific place and drill holes into them. This will make it easy to run the thread through the tubes. 

Likewise, measure your desired length of the suspension lines. It is highly recommended that you keep the chimes closer to the suspension so that it doesn’t hang unevenly. 

Now, put all the chimes in a specific place and thread them. This might take some time because you have to be precise. Don’t hurry; rather, take some time out of your schedule and proceed with this task.

Before you hang, check all the threads and the knot you have given on the other end. Congrats! You are done with the wind chimes, and now, you can enjoy the loud sound.

• Step 5: The Final Part

Strike the chime to test the sound. If it is satisfactory, that’s great, and if not, check the parts and ensure whether they are hanging properly or not.

Another thing that you can do to make the chimes louder is by using the chimes tightly surrounding the striker. Hang the whole thing at a larger height so that more winds can hit it. 

Benefits of Wind Chimes

Wind chimes are a lovely way to bring nature into your house and bring good luck into your life. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so there’s something for everyone. Wind chimes may be either nice-sounding background music or a tool to bring good luck and positive energy and fend off negativity, depending on your attitude on life and spiritual beliefs. Wind chimes and bells were employed to warn of approaching sickness in areas of Asia (it was believed that disease was spread in the wind) and hence became emblems of good luck.

Wind chimes may draw Sheng Chi energy in various eastern cultures and Feng Shui, and can even assist bring money into your house. If you believe in spiritual healing via sound waves, many wind chimes are tuned expressly to tune into these frequencies. Wind chimes are also often used as a tool in meditation and yoga programs.

Different Types of Wind Chimes

With the creative ideas of people around the world, you will be surprised to know that wind chimes are not only made with metals. There are lots of other types scattered across the globe. Below are some of them. 

Wind chimes made from:

• Pencil 
• Metal cans 
• Earring
• Driftwood
• Tools
• Twigs
• Seashore 
• Bottle caps
• Bike gears
• Teapot
• Kid’s toy
• Vintage style (old stuff)
• Cookie-cutter
• Flowerpot
• Cooking utensils
• Keys
• Silver spoon
• Sea glass pebbles

Conclusion

I hope you are now clear about the concept of wind chimes and how you can make them louder. If you find any of the points worth remembering, do take notes. Besides, consult with the supplier to clear out any other queries.

Enjoy using it. Have a nice day!