Add Natural Elements To The Garden With A Beautiful Wind Chime You Can DIY

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DIYing a wind chime turns natural materials and old household items into melodic treasures. Everything from copper pipes to old dining utensils to antique keys can turned into a beautiful wind chime. You can even use the opportunity to use items from your junk drawer to DIY a wind chime. Or, embrace a naturalist theme by sourcing organic items for the chime's melodic tune. However, this one-of-a-kind free-standing wind chime DIY uses rocks and metal rods to make a soft, subtle sound when the wind blows through.

Instead of the traditional wind chime design with the base at the top and the chimes hanging from it, this design flips things around. Secured from a rock base at the bottom, springy metal rods will dance in the wind to clink and clang rock chimes mounted at the top of each. Smooth, flat stones are the star of the show, which you can find at your local hardware store in the landscaping section or, if you're lucky, source from your yard. Just keep in mind the rocks need to be thick enough to handle a small drill bit to make the hole to attach to the rods. 

This project's unique design will add a touch of originality to your garden and can be placed anywhere since it does not need to be hung. While it uses metal rods and rocks as the chimes, you can experiment with other materials to create your own standing wind chime. Copper is a popular alternative, and copper bells or cattails provide a gorgeous melody whether hung up or free-standing.

The hardest part of this project is drilling the holes in the base rock and chime stones. Depending on your drill bits, you can make a series of small holes in the base rock to slide each rod in, or make a large hole to rest them all inside together. Spend some time tinkering with the rod placement to ensure they have enough room to move, but will also hit together with horizontal movement. Speaking of, to make sure the rods sway in the wind, opt for spring steel rods like this Angyanco Stainless Steel Spring Wire, similar to what was used in the video above. The lighter and longer they are, the easier they'll catch the wind, but going with steel instead of plastic will make the wind chime more durable while also adding to the overall melody and aesthetic of the piece. Once you're happy with your configuration, secure the rods into the base rock with a quick-drying, two-part epoxy, such as Gorilla 2-Part Epoxy, to ensure a strong hold.

@tumblin.tumblewee

Rock wind chime. I loved it so I built it. Ask any questions. #tumblintumblewee #stolen #diy #handmade

♬ original sound – Tumblin Tumbleweed

Take your time drilling holes in the smaller rocks to prevent cracks, and use a clamp to hold them in place while you drill. It may also help to submerge the rocks in water to control dust. Then, use the same epoxy to secure them to the tops of the rods. To give your rocks a little extra shine, dip them in epoxy or use a stone sealant, which will also help them stand up to the weather over time. If this wind chime is a little too involved for your DIY prowess, make a simple wind chime that won't annoy the neighbors using driftwood, bamboo, or seashells.