How chimes and hanging bells are made
A tubular chime is a set of tubes cut to length, drilled near one end and hung from a top disc, with a striker in the middle and a sail below to catch the wind. Its note depends on the tube's length, diameter, wall thickness and material, and on where it hangs. A tube hung at the right point, close to a fifth of its length from the top end, rings longest; a hole drilled in the wrong place dulls the sound.
Bells are cast in brass or bell metal, or formed from sheet, and hung singly or in strings. Hanging décor also includes metal mobiles, bead and bell strings and hanging ornaments. Candle lanterns are on the candle holders and lanterns page, and hanging planters on planters and pots.
Moradabad, a Town of Export Excellence for handicrafts since the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, is listed under ODOP for "Metal Craft"; brass bells and metal hanging pieces come from its metalware workshops. Trade data shows the size of the wider category: India exported US$13.16 million under HS 83061000, "Bells, gongs and the like", in FY2025-26 (provisional), against US$15.26 million in FY2024-25 (Department of Commerce, TradeStat). That line also includes temple bells and gongs, not only garden pieces.
What we check on wind chimes and hanging décor
| Check | How it is checked | What fails |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Sampled chimes hung beside the approved sample and struck the same way, in a quiet room | Different notes, dull or short ring, a tube that buzzes |
| Tube length and hole | Each tube measured against the drawing; hole position measured from the end | Tube outside tolerance, hole off position, burr inside the hole |
| Striker and sail | Chime hung still: striker centred, at the agreed height, sail clear of the tubes | Striker misses a tube, hits too high or low, sail tangled |
| Cord | Cord type against the specification; knots pulled by hand; cut ends checked | Indoor cotton cord where outdoor cord was ordered, knots that slip, frayed ends |
| Top hook and ring | Hook loaded with the test weight in your specification for the agreed time | Hook opens, ring pulls out of the top disc |
| Bells | Bells rung; clappers checked for secure fixing; castings tapped for cracks | Loose clapper, cracked casting, dull ring |
| Finish | Powder-coated tubes checked for bare ends; brass checked for lacquer gaps; steel for rust | Rust at cut ends, tarnish spots where lacquer is missing |
Common wind chime, bell and hanging décor defects and how they are classed
| Defect | Class |
|---|---|
| Top hook or ring fails under the test load | Critical |
| Knot that slips and lets a tube or bell fall | Critical |
| Sound clearly different from the approved sample | Major |
| Striker misses one or more tubes | Major |
| Tube length outside tolerance | Major |
| Rust at cut ends | Major |
| Lacquer gap or tarnish spot on brass | Minor (major if widespread) |
| Frayed cord end | Minor |
A falling tube is a real hazard when chimes hang over a door or path, which is why hook and knot failures are classed as critical.
Rules that apply
- Lead in brass and solder. Brass often contains lead, and soldered joins can too. In California, that can require a Prop 65 warning. A lab test of the alloy settles it.
- General safety. The EU GPSR covers hanging items that can fall, with traceability details on product or packaging.
- Chimes for children's rooms. A chime or mobile made or sold for a nursery or child's room can become a children's product, bringing small-parts, lead and testing rules. See CPSIA children's products and EN 71. Keep garden chimes marketed as garden décor.
Packing against tangling, and your purchase order
A chime that arrives as a knot of cord and scratched tubes is a return, even if nothing broke. The inspector checks that tubes are held apart, for example by a card insert or ties, that the striker and sail are secured, and that brass bells are bagged one by one so they do not rub. Desiccant sachets help on long routes where steel tubes can rust. Mixed assortments are counted by design against the packing list.
- Approved sound sample for each design, kept at the factory and a copy with you.
- Tube material, length, diameter and wall thickness, with hole position.
- Cord type for outdoor use and knot method.
- Hook test load and hold time.
- Finish: powder coat, lacquer on brass, sealed cut ends.
- Packing: tube separators, bagged bells, desiccants, assortment counts.
For other garden pieces, see garden décor and ornaments and brass and copper décor. Book an inspection.