Rain chains replace unattractive drain pipes and spouts with charming decoration. There are many ways to make a rain chain and even more ways to add ornament and style to its function. In a cold weather zone, the water will freeze on its way down the chain enhancing a beautiful display of nature. This guide will give you economical and creative instructions for making your own rain chain. Does this Spark an idea?
Measuring
Start by choosing a location for the rain chain, then remove the down spout connected to the gutter. The space between the gutter and the ground must be measured to determine how long rain chain should be. Consider run off when selecting the location for the rain chain.
Rain Chain
There are endless choices for things to make the chain from including binder rings, shower curtain rings, plastic chains, or you can just buy standard chain already assembled at the hardware or home improvement store. A heavy pre-made chain my require reinforcement of the gutter to support the weight.
For light rain areas single rings connected into a chain will be sufficient. In heavy rain areas double the rings so there are two rings per link, and add a center wire running through the middle of the chain. A gutter strap will hold the top ring of the rain chain and serve as the hanger. The gutter strap holding the rain chain is inserted into the gutter. The bottom of the chain is staked into the ground or attached to a rain catching container to secure it. The bottom of the chain at the stake can be surrounded by decorative rock, attached to a decorative bucket, or a bowl for run off, and adds a little design.
If you are a more advanced do-it-yourself craftsman you can create a rain chain with heavy copper tubing you wind around a piece of pipe making a large spring. The spring is cut into pieces that become the individual rings for your chain. The rings are soldered together using propane torch until the chain is the desired length. A length of copper tubing is bent into a "V" shape, threaded through the top ring of the chain, and inserted into the gutter, will hang the chain.
Be Creative
Your rain chain can be more than just a piece of material by adding any type of decorative cup, small bowls, old metal dessert cups, tea cups, or anything in a bowl shape that can catch water. The item can be suspended from the chain. If necessary, holes can be drilled in the bottom for the rain to pass through. For instance, to add old china cups to your rain chain, just insert the chain link through the tea cup handle and the water will run down the chain, in and out of the tea cup, and create a small waterfall effect that continues down the chain to the run off area.
Tags: rain chain, down chain, rain chain, bottom chain, chain inserted, chain inserted into, copper tubing