To make a melody maker you need : 1/2 by 4 inch threaded eyebolt, teflon plumber's tape, 1/2 inch coupling nut (this was impossible for us to find!), 1/2 inch all thread rod (24 or 36 inches. ours is 36 inches), 10 to 15 1/2 inch washers (I bought washers in 3 different sizes for added visual interest), and a 1/2 inch locknut. Start at the top and assemble the pieces. This was simple and fast to put together (once we finally found all of the pieces!).
Now we can make beautiful music outside. Our neighbors love us!
I came upon your blog this morning by chance and I love it! My daughter isn't quite yet two and I am just learning about Montessori - so we are learning together! I love this melody maker - we are absolutely going to the hardware store today to see if we can find the supplies. Thanks for sharing the great idea!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to get my husband working on this one! :)
ReplyDeleteThey have a wall of these at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. I never thought of making one myself. Good Idea.
ReplyDeleteI just read about "banging walls" in The Creative Family. Wish I knew a good place to make my own... We're awfully close to our neighbors.
ReplyDeleteWe made one of these after seeing it in FamilyFun, too! The kids LOVE it! Now...if I can just make the banging wall to go with it, my neighbors will REALLY love us! ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this wonderful idea! I want to get the items to make it this week, but I'm a bit confused on the eye bolt. I get the impression that this is a threaded metal rod with a variety of washers that move around on it and make noise. Seems like the eye bolt is the piece that screws on and stays in place to keep the washers from falling off? But when I look up eye bolts online I see eye screws (screw w/closed hook on the end) and I don't see how that works in. Trying to understand the purpose of the special bolt and what it might look like. Thanks for any help!
ReplyDeleteThe threaded eyebolt is the piece at the top of the melody maker. You can't see it in any of my pictures, but if you click on the first link you can see it in the Family Fun pictures. It's a circle that you use to hang the melody maker. Hope that helps!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Melissa! I missed the link the first time somehow. Silly me! We just made it and it is lovely. Kind of reeling at the $15 price tag and we only put 6 washers on it. I would like to go back and spend a couple more dollars to get a few more. Still, it is extremely lovely and will last a long time!! On to making a small banging wall for my group. Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement you provide on your blog!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this project! It was easy and fun for my dd and I to make. We also made a banging wall. Nice to have something else to keep us outside on nice weather days.
ReplyDeleteSometimes your projects seem overwhelming, but this one was so do-able. I feel very accomplished. THANKS again!