A popular decoration for gardens, outdoor wind chimes make soothing sounds whenever the wind touches them. This means many people are interested in buying some wind chimes of their own. However, there are some things you should think about before you pick up a set of chimes. Length, the material the chimes are made from, and the type of chime are all important, as well as the number of chimes, and the type and size of sail.
Styles of Outdoor Wind Chimes
There are two basic types of outdoor wind chime – those that use tubes to produce sounds, and those that use bells. The tube time are more common. Generally, each tube is tuned to produce a different sound. Bells are also set up to produce different tones when struck. Sometimes, unusual chimes made from glass, old cutlery, and other recycled materials will be seen. However, at their most basic, they are usually emulating either a tube or a bell type design.
Materials You Can Choose
Most chimes are made either from metal or bamboo. Metal chimes produce a clear, ringing tone, and will last a long time. They can be custom tuned, and various metals are available. Steel is quite common, but you may also see aluminum wind chimes, copper, brass, and many other metals. Precious metals in wind chimes are rare, however. Bamboo is another popular material, used more often than wood because of its greater resistance to rot and weather. It produces more of a hollow thumping sound than a ringing one. However, bamboo wind chimes are still quite soothing, and are common in Asian themed gardens.
Chime Length
The length of the chimes in a given set of outdoor wind chimes will change how it sounds. A longer tube or larger bell will create a lower tone. Shorter tubes and smaller bells mean higher tones. Most outdoor wind chimes use a mix of sizes to create a nice variety of sound. However, if you prefer a particular type of tone, look for chimes with longer or shorter tubes, or larger or smaller bells.
Number of Chimes
Another factor in the sound of your outdoor wind chimes is the number of individual parts that make them up. The more chimes there are, the greater the variety of sounds available. However, more tubes or bells also mean a greater chance of tangling or damage in high winds, and the possibility of cacophony if the chimes haven't been well selected. Try out any wind chime you're thinking of buying to see how it sounds when shaken.
Sail Makes a Difference
A big part of most wind chime designs is the said. This is the portion of the outdoor wind chime that's designed to help catch the wind, moving the chimes and causing them to sound. This can be a disk or flat piece of plastic or metal that catches the wind, or it can come in a few other designs. The larger the sail, the less wind is needed to make the chimes ring. Smaller sails require more wind. Most commercial chimes have a sail sized to ring the wind chimes when the wind is around eight miles an hour.
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