| Blow
Wind Blow
by Taryn
Now that the
air is warmer and fresh spring breezes are blowing, wouldn’t
it be nice to hear the tinkling of a wind chime in the distance?
Or maybe you’re just looking for a way to recycle that old
silverware you have lying about. No doubt what we all need after
a long hard winter is to get out, enjoy the weather, and feel the
surge of power tools--making this lovely silverware wind chime the
perfect project.
Items needed
silverware (one
knife, two spoons, three forks)
large flat rock
or anvil
1 lb. mallet
or large ball
peen hammer
power drill
with 1/8" or greater drill bit, and a chamfer
or counter sink
c-clamp
cutting oil
locking
pliers (straight, not curved)
slipjoint
pliers (6" or 8")
fishing line
Be sure
to don that fashionable protective eyewear!
- The first thing we have to do is
flatten the forks and spoons. (Knives don’t get much flatter!)
Place each utensil on the large flat rock or anvil and pound with
your mallet. Turn over as needed.
Brings
new meaning to the word "flatware."
- The next part is the toughest,
but resourceful craftygals don’t let power tools intimidate
them--let’s drill some holes. First, secure each utensil
with a c-clamp. Then, using the 1/8" drill bit--good ones
or they’ll break!--and cutting oil, drill through the center
of handle. (We didn’t do this for our wind chime, but you
may want to drill through the blade end of the knife--this will
make drilling easier, since knife handles tend to be thicker,
and it will add more of a pendulum effect.) While drilling, be
sure to press consistently so that the drill doesn’t "walk"
or move around. Caution: Metal will be hot after drilling!
Join
the PowerTool Grrrrrls!
- After each piece has cooled, use
a counter sink or chamfer to clean up the jagged metal edges around
the hole.
And a
fine hole it is.
- For a decorative touch, we’ll
twist the forks and spoons. Here’s where you need a friend
to help you. Have someone hold the handle portion of the utensils
firmly with one set of locking pliers while you rotate the spoon
or fork end with the other pliers. Two or three turns should do
it.
Twist
and shout!
- Before we can assemble our wind
chime we need to prepare the main or "hanger" fork.
Using 6" or 8" slipjoint pliers, gently bend the two
outside tines to the side. Then bend one of the inside tines forward
and the other backward. You want them to curve far enough so the
fishing line won’t slip off, but not so far that they break.
(Actually, there are many ways to do this; if you’re working
with particularly malleable metal, you can bend each tine from
the base, or you can just bend ‘em willy-nilly--just use
your creativity.)
Gently
now, gently!
- Next, cut the fishing line. We cut
approximately 20" of fishing line for the main fork. For
the knife (which will be the center or "clapper" of
the chime) cut a piece approximately 16" long. For the four
other utensils, cut pieces of line approximately 8" long.
Put the line through the hole and tie a knot at the ends, making
a huge loop for each. Hang the knife from both inner tines to
get it centered and hang the other pieces from each tine individually.
Then, find a place on the porch or nearby tree branch and enjoy
your handiwork!
So easy, anyone can do it!
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Fun
Fact:
According to principles of Feng Shui, wind chimes help enhance Chi
flow.
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