Crunch Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 I bought an old steel cowbell in a junk shop that I planned to rig with a stainless steel cable and hinge and spring arrangement to use as a doorbell, where you would yank on the cable outside and the bell would pivot on a shaft to make it ring inside. I TIG welded a piece of mild steel to the part of the bell where the cow's collar would go through, and immediately afterward, I noticed that the bell didn't ring with a sustained sound like it did before. So I was wondering: Are bells typically made of high- or medium-carbon steel and hardened to make them ring? And if so, does anyone know how I can get it to ring nicely again? Heat to orange and quench? Am I likely to harden it TOO much? Thanks for any advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 You have altered the pathways in the metal that resonate. The addition dampened the ring. I woiuld not guess whether you can remove it and restore the ring. i have made some triangular dinner bells that ring from low carbon steel. I have also made some bells from horse shoes. mild steel also. Not sure wot yours is made from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thingmaker3 Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 What it's made from does make a difference, but the SHAPE is the big thing with bells. Grind off what you welded on. Strap it to a wooden shaft instead. Or if your heart is set on a steel shaft, wrap it with leather before strapping on the bell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert A Rasch Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 There's a famous cowbell maker out of Brooklyn New York if memory serves me correctly. I believe he was from Puerto Rico, and made them for bands including Santana. I guess i ought to look that up... Hold on a sec... Cali Rivera BRONX NY, I was close! Radio Diaries i remember reading an article about him and about the construction of the cow bells. I just don't recall where or when... Regards, Albert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borntoolate Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 What you welded on has ended up being a vibration dampener. Remove it and let the bell hang free to ring (vibrate). Then figure out how to let it hang free for your intended use. To get a ring the bell must vibrate. When you stiffened it AND added weight you dampened it AND changed the harmonics. The hardening part is probably not a huge deal??? Bells been around a long time probably most not hardened. But a hardened bell... hmmm.??? Remove the dampener and let us know. Think about it. Think of bells you have seen. Bells hang from loose chain or some other loose attachement. They don't hang welded solid to sticks. There is a reason for that. ;o) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 BELLS, Kind of circular. Need to be able to vibrate for resonance. Need to hang on a string. If using a stick, it is stuck. If your bell doesn't ding, add a button. It will be your Ding-A-Ling or your Ding-Dong. Unlike getting your Bell rung!! :) Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunch Posted January 30, 2013 Author Share Posted January 30, 2013 Thanks guys. Makes sense. I guess I was having a duh moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciladog Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RQXhaYK9YQ&playnext=1&list=PL1D5E49ECCD3CF01E&feature=results_video Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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