How to Upcycle a Tire Rim into a Unique Wind Chime

• An old bicycle rim
• Black spray paint
• Twine
• Vintage keys

I dug this rim out of the basement along with a few rusty old bikes that have been languishing there since my kids outgrew them. The rim had a good deal of rust, and while I appreciate a bit of patina, I wanted a slightly cleaner look for this piece. I spray-painted the rim black, leaving some of the rust showing for character.

Next I had to decide where to hang the wind chime. I don’t have a big backyard—just an apartment balcony—so I headed to our nearby family farm, which is only a short drive away. It’s a peaceful spot and the perfect place to photograph this project during the golden hour.

I started wrapping the rim with twine. The plan was to cover sections of the metal and create a natural base to hang the keys from. About halfway through I discovered I didn’t have enough twine to wrap the entire rim. Rather than run back to town—shops here are often closed on weekends—I improvised and wrapped two opposite sections, leaving a little of the rim exposed so the rust could show through.

After wrapping, I left a few twine ends intentionally long so I could knot them together to form a hanging loop. I crossed the twine ends and tied them securely, then trimmed away excess so the knots wouldn’t be too noticeable. My goal was to keep the twine looking like one continuous piece rather than a patchwork of joins.

The hanging loop is simple but sturdy. I wanted the rim to hang evenly, so one of the twine strands was left longer to create the loop that the branch would hold. I kept the twine knots neat and minimal to maintain a rustic, handmade look.

For the chimes I used vintage keys I had painted white for a previous project. My daughter had borrowed that canvas piece, so the keys were available again and I decided to repurpose them here. I tied keys to varying lengths of twine and attached them to the wrapped sections of the rim, allowing them to hang at different heights so they would catch the breeze and make the soft, random clinking sound I wanted.

Once the keys were tied on, I stood back and decided to add a few leaves to the top for extra organic detail. They give a natural frame and help the piece blend into the tree where I planned to hang it.

It’s not a perfect, symmetrical piece—and that’s exactly what I like about it. The uneven wrapping, the exposed rust, and the keys at different lengths give the wind chime a quirky, handmade personality. Perfection can be boring; this piece feels lived-in and authentic.

Finally, I hung the wind chime from a fig tree at the farm and waited for the light to soften for photos. The golden hour softened the metal tones and highlighted the texture of the twine and rust. The small clinks of the keys in the breeze felt like music—simple and satisfying.

Would I have gone back home for more twine? Maybe. But I’m happy with the uneven, rustic look that resulted from improvising. If you have a quiet spot—a garden, a balcony corner, or a tree at a family property—this is an easy, low-cost project that adds charm and sound to your outdoor space.

Have a favorite place you go to recharge? For me, the farm is that retreat. This little wind chime now lives there, where it can sway in the breeze and remind me that simple repurposing projects can bring small joys.

Thanks for reading about this outdoor repurpose project. If you try something similar, consider using different found objects—old spoons, small metal ornaments, or shells—to create varied sounds and looks. May you never run out of twine, and may your next outdoor craft lead you to a quiet place where you can enjoy the golden hour.

If you enjoyed this project, save the images or try your own variation. Repurposing an old rim into a wind chime is a simple way to give discarded materials new life and add a unique accent to any outdoor space.