This is a double-purpose post, since I’ve been stalking the
hummingbird feeder off and on this morning to get a picture of the pretty male,
and when I finally did, I realized I got the wind chimes in the shot too. So, today I will share a very easy mix for
hummingbird nectar, and how to make that wind chime too.
I just love hummingbirds, and it seems that each one has a
different sound made by their wings as they hover about the food. A split second after I snagged this picture,
the male became a victim of a mid air collision by a territorial female. He flew for cover, making his trademark
squeaky laugh along the way. Aren’t they
delightful?
And now, for the simplest mix of hummingbird nectar ever…
Use a 1 to 3 ratio.
That’s it! One cup of
sugar to three cups of water, or to fit our 1 ½ cup capacity feeder, 1 ½ C
water with ½ C sugar. Some people and
websites will say that you have to boil the water, then add the sugar to get an
even mixture. This isn’t exactly
true. I think that boiling is more
important if you are making a simple sugar mixture to add to a mixed drink
(Daiquiri anyone?). However, you will
have to stir a bit longer, maybe one minute total, but you aren’t saddled with
the cool-down waiting period either. We
started off adding red food coloring, to entice them even more, but it would
only last for a few days, so we stopped wasting our red on it-the birds didn’t
care, once they are hooked, they are hooked!
How to Make Glass Wind Chimes
The wind chime was a time consuming creation, but every time
I hear the tinkle of the glass I feel it was worth it. This was one of my first projects where I
discovered (after researching it) how to drill through glass with my Dremmel. I had a good number of bits and shards of
stained glass left over from projects, and my mother had given me some of her
pretty ones too, and they were just so bright and cheery, how could I let them
sit in a tin?
The process for drilling a small hole through glass is more
about patience than anything else. It is
necessary to use water in the glass drilling process, this 1-prevents the drill
bit from overheating 2-prevent the glass from splitting 3-traps much of the
dust that results. With this method I
was able to successfully drill small holes in pieces of glass very near the
edges.
Items required to tackle this
project:
A water
bath
Dremmel
with higher speed capability
Smooth
stained glass pieces
Eye
protection
A set of
diamond drill bits
A permanent
marker than can be seen easily on the color of glass you choose
Paper
towels
Recommended
additional items:
A piece of
wood, cut to fit the water bath lengthwise
A piece of felt fabric, to catch
and retain dust in the water-improves clarity of working area
First, create your water bath, and situate the piece of wood
to fit snuggly from end to end. This is
what you will use for stability when working on each piece. Get the cloth good and soaked so it stays
down below the working area.
*Be very careful to fill the bath just (only!) to the level
barely covering the work area of each piece, press down on the wood support
with some pressure to see if it will give and sink a bit when being worked
on. The water need only be barely
covering the area that is being worked on.
 | |
| Empty water bath, wood support in place |
Second, mark your glass.
Make sure you examine both sides of where you want to mark, to avoid
working in areas where there are chips, cracks (don’t use at all), or other
marks of questionable structural integrity.
Mark one side, hold the piece up to the light, looking straight through
it even with the eye to mark the other side, this will ensure a
straight-through hole, as you will be working both sides.
Third, test water level, again! Put on safety glasses. Apply diamond tipped bit. Check the speeds of the Dremmel to make sure
they are functioning safely and correctly.
Fourth, while holding on to the piece of glass with your
free hand, apply the Dremmel running at high speed (9 out of 10) to the mark on
the glass. Hold the Dremmel straight up
and down, perpendicular to the piece of glass, as you want your hole to be as
straight as possible (makes for a prettier, more tidy hole, and is less
work/time). Applying gentle pressure in
an on again off again manner, begin to create the hole, drilling at least half
way through the glass. You will see the
white glass dust spreading into the water gradually.
*If your glass if very slick, you may want to hold the
Dremmel at an angle to get the hole started on your mark, just enough to create
a divot of friction to hold it correctly in to place, then angle it straight.
Fifth, about half way through, stop the Dremmel and look at
your piece, if need be, make a mental note of where to start drilling from the
other side if it no longer matches up with the mark. Flip the piece and drill from the new
side. Be very careful/gentle/cautious
when nearing the first tunnel, too much force may break the piece.
 | |
| Finished glass piece |
Last, remove piece from water bath, place on paper towel to
dry. Some times, for reasons unknown to
me, a piece will turn out beautifully, and while I’m not looking, crack while
drying. If a certain number of pieces of
a certain color are what you are aiming for, always plan for a couple of
back-ups…just in case.
Over time, the water bath will need refilling, due to the
water that is sprayed out from the motion of the drill bit, make sure each time
you repeat steps one and three. Each
time, because things have been known to shift, get water logged, etc.
Now back to the wind chime.
Once you have your glass drilled, and know how many pieces
you want to use, it is time to plan the plate from which it all hangs. I used a wood plaque from a hobby store. Plan and measure before you drill. Use pencil.
And don’t paint until it is all drilled.
First plan the carriage holes which will hang the chime,
three is a good number for small circular chimes. Then make your pattern for the glass to hang
from.
Generally the carriage holes will need to be drilled larger
to accommodate all weather string or twine, while the glass will be hung by invisible
thread—I suggest fishing line because it holds up stronger and longer than
quilting thread—and so the holes should be much smaller (how big of a knot do
you want to tie?).
Paint, if desired, tie the “chimes” at the lengths most
complementary (too much gap between them will lead to tangles), and hang in a
not too windy spot, protected from direct weather.
This method works for sea glass and glass gems (of size) too, but remember, the thinner, the better (and quicker).
 | |
| Using glass gems and sea glass, on bamboo |
 |
| Using sea glass |
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