Most Woodstock Chimes are designed for indoor or outdoor use. Chimes should be brought in during extreme weather or harsh winters. How much care your product requires depends on where you live and its amount of exposure to the elements. All musically tuned Woodstock Chimes with aluminum tubes come with a lifetime tuning guarantee. To maintain your chime, we recommend the following:
Aluminum Tubes, Plastic, Stone and Glass Parts
Woodstock Chimes tubes are made of aluminum that will not rust when exposed to the elements. However, over time, the aluminum may naturally pit or oxidize when placed outdoors, but the sound is not affected. The tubes and other noted parts may be cleaned with a damp cloth, mild soap and water.
Wood Parts
We care about the environment and so use an eco-friendly water-based wood finish. This necessitates additional care for wood parts. Use a clean cloth or brush to periodically apply a thin coat of wood wax or exterior Danish, teak or lemon oil to the wood parts. Regular oiling will help protect the wood from drying and slow the natural aging process. We also suggest applying a thin coat of exterior varnish to the chime wood parts each spring.
After extensive testing, we recommend using Wood Butter on your chime's wood parts.
Resin and Rust-Finish Elements
Resin and rust-finish steel elements should be wiped clean with a duster or damp cloth.
Copper and Brass Parts
Copper and brass parts can be cleaned with cleaner designed for copper and/or brass, or it can be left to naturally age and patina. Gongs and plated elements can be wiped with a duster or dry cloth.
Crystal Suncatchers and Products with Crystal Accents
Dip crystals in a cup of water and allow them to air dry.
Bamboo Chimes
All Asli Arts bamboo windchimes are made using natural and sustainable products such as bamboo and coconut shell. Each is hand-carved and hand-tuned by artisans in Bali. With proper care, your Asli Arts bamboo chime will typically last from 3-4 years when hung outside.
To extend the life of your chime:
- Hang your chime in an area protected from direct sunlight or heavy winds. Excellent locations include under a porch overhang or in a shady tree.
- Bring your chimes in during extreme weather or windstorms.
- If you live in the north, bring your chimes in during the harsh winter months and store it in an unheated area, such as a shed or garage.
- Occasionally wipe off your chimes with a damp cloth to remove any build-up or mold.
- Every spring, provide added weather protection by applying a coat of varnish on your chime (you’ll want to wipe off the chime before doing this!)
We have taken a number of precautions to ensure our Asli Arts bamboo chimes are the highest quality bamboo chime in the marketplace. Our manufacturers produce only for us, allowing us to ensure a high standard of quality control. In addition, our manufacturers harvest their bamboo only during the best time of year and properly dry the bamboo before making the chimes, both of which reduce the risk of cracks in the bamboo. Finally, all Asli Arts chimes are inspected before they leave our U.S. warehouse.
Bamboo is sensitive to humidity and sudden temperature changes. Despite all our precautions, infrequently, cracks in bamboo occur as the bamboo expands and contracts in reaction to climate changes. Hairline cracks are not of concern; they are normal to bamboo and will not affect the sound of your chimes. What’s more, hairline cracks generally do not develop into larger cracks.