Chained Melody

Set a musical tone with a wind chime made from old metal utensils and serving containers.

Materials and Tools

• Drill and drill bits

• Small pie pan

• Needle-nose pliers

• Measuring tape or ruler

• Light chain

• Four hex nuts

• Two threaded eye hooks

• Small silver-plate footed bowl

• Hacksaw or oscillating multi-tool with cutting blade attachment

• Four silver-plate or stainless-steel forks

• One silver-plate or stainless-steel soup spoon

• String or monofilament

Instructions

1. Drill holes with a small bit through the pie pan’s rim at four equidistant points. With needle-nose pliers, open both ends of four 21/2" to 23/4" lengths of chain. Slide the end link of one chain through one of the holes in the pan rim. Close the link with pliers. Repeat for the other three chains.

2. Drill a hole with a larger bit through the center of the pan bottom. Drill a small hole through the thread at the bottom of one eye hook. Screw a hex nut onto the eye hook, all the way to the top. Push the thread of the hook through the bottom of the overturned pan. Screw on another hex nut from the bottom to hold the pan tightly in place. Open the end link of a 6" length of chain with pliers and slide it through the hole drilled in the thread. Close the link with pliers.

3. Drill a hole with the larger bit through the center of the footed bowl’s base. With the hacksaw or multi-tool, cut off the hook end of the second eye hook. Drill a small hole through each end of the remaining threaded piece. Screw a hex nut onto one end just below the drilled hole. Insert the thread through the base of the overturned bowl and secure with a second hex nut screwed tightly against the inside of the bowl. Open the end link of the 6" chain and slide it through the end of the threaded piece that’s protruding from the base. Close the link with pliers. Open the end link of a 4" length of chain and slide it through the hole in the threaded piece that’s on the inside of the bowl. Close with pliers.

4. With the small bit, drill holes in the handle ends of your forks and spoon. Open the end links of the four

21/2" to 23/4" chains and slide through the holes in the fork handles. Close with pliers. Open the end link of the 4" chain and slide through the hole in the spoon. Close with pliers.

5. Tie a piece of string or monofilament through the eye hook at the top and hang the chime outdoors where it can catch a breeze and make its music.