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windchimes

updated tue 30 apr 96

 

Mudfingers@aol.com on wed 27 mar 96

In reading today's mail, someone mentioned windchimes and that brings to mind
a question I have. Several of the windhcimes I've owned have had their
strings (actually fish line) break and have come tumbling down. I've been
told that UV rays eventually rot fish line. Is there another type of line
some of you can suggest when stringing windchimes together that will last
longer than a couple of years outdoors. I live in south Alabama and leave my
chimes out year round. I've got some people bugging me to make some chimes
and this problem has held me up. Help!!

Lynn in L.A. (lower Alabama and it's yard work time)

Lori Wilkinson on thu 28 mar 96

Lynn,

Regarding windchimes and fishline, I found that by using a swivel from the
fishing-bait department at Wal-Mart that has an eyelet on both ends I can
still use the fishline because it no longer twists in the wind.

Lori Wilkinson from breezy Roswell NM

Barbara Webb on wed 3 apr 96

On the windchime note, contact a canvas fabricator (someone who makes
boat covers). They have thread that is thick enough to suport clay parts
and is mildew and UV resistant.
Barbara Webb
Marietta, GA
barbara@fujikura.com

On Wed, 27 Mar 1996 Mudfingers@aol.com wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> In reading today's mail, someone mentioned windchimes and that brings to mind
> a question I have. Several of the windhcimes I've owned have had their
> strings (actually fish line) break and have come tumbling down. I've been
> told that UV rays eventually rot fish line. Is there another type of line
> some of you can suggest when stringing windchimes together that will last
> longer than a couple of years outdoors. I live in south Alabama and leave my
> chimes out year round. I've got some people bugging me to make some chimes
> and this problem has held me up. Help!!
>
> Lynn in L.A. (lower Alabama and it's yard work time)
>

JoaGrant@aol.com on sun 7 apr 96

Can anyone tell me a source for the long metal tubes to make windchimes? I
want to make the hanger out of clay and hang the tubes from sail thread. I
haven't seen these in any of the normal pottery supply catalogues such as
Axner and Kickwheel. TIA. JoaGrant@AOL.com

Lori Wilkinson on sun 7 apr 96

At 10:41 AM 4/7/96 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Can anyone tell me a source for the long metal tubes to make windchimes? I
>want to make the hanger out of clay and hang the tubes from sail thread. I
>haven't seen these in any of the normal pottery supply catalogues such as
>Axner and Kickwheel. TIA. JoaGrant@AOL.com
>
>you might try your local plumbing and electrical supply, They have all
sorts of metal pipe and a good one if you tell them you are a craft person,
will even cut them to length for you and all you will have to do is drill
the holes.

Lori in Roswell NM

Valice Raffi on mon 8 apr 96

*snip*
>all sorts of metal pipe and a good one if you tell them you are a craft person,
>will even cut them to length for you and all you will have to do is drill
>the holes.
>


If you are planning to make more than one windchime, you might as well buy
a pipe cutter. They're really cheap,$5-6, and very easy to use.

Valice in Sacramento

where the fragance of all the wisteria and orange blossoms is nearly too much!

peter pinnell on mon 8 apr 96

You should make your own. Its really quite simple. Use either copper
pipe (1/2" works well, 3/4" for more bass response) or steel electrical
conduit
if the price of copper is too dear. Make sure you get copper pipe (which
is rigid) rather that copper tubing (which is soft). Pipe goes ding while
tubing goes dunk. Either can be cut with an inexpensive pipe cutter, and
all of this stuff is available at the local lumber yard.

You should do it yourself so that you can make your own tonal decisions.
For instance, if you use pentatonic tuning, it would sound eastern, while
diatonic tuning would be western. A chromatic scale would make it sound
like twentieth century atonalism. Or how about choose your favorite
chord? A 1-3-5-7-9 tuning would give it a jazz flavor, for example.

I'v only made one of these in my life, a special request from my
sister-in-law who with her husband were then hog farmers in Iowa. I made
it of polished copper and ceramic pigs, and tuned the pipes to the first
notes of the Iowa State fight song. Of course the chances of the wind
playing them in the right order were slim, but who cares? It made it
sound like the marching band.

Pete Pinnell, who is still trying to figure out how to put his music
degree to good use.

On Sun, 7 Apr 1996 JoaGrant@aol.com wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Can anyone tell me a source for the long metal tubes to make windchimes? I
> want to make the hanger out of clay and hang the tubes from sail thread. I
> haven't seen these in any of the normal pottery supply catalogues such as
> Axner and Kickwheel. TIA. JoaGrant@AOL.com
>