How does a harmony ball aka chiming sphere aka baoding ball produce sound?
What does a harmony ball/chiming sphere/baoding ball look like on the inside? What makes that sound? I would like to make one myself, but how?
I have some of these. mine are called “baoding iron ball” there is a small sounding plate pendulum hanging in the inside of the ball that strikes the inside surface of the ball. if you rotate the ball while shaking it gently you can find some orientation where the pendulum does not swing and the sound stops. when you are using two balls one sometimes has a higher tone than the other. mine are about the same tone.
to make a set for yourself you will have to make hollow iron ball hemispheres, and then fasten a sounding plate to the inside, then weld the two halves together and polish the surface. to find the shape of the sounding plate, buy a set and cut them in half with a hacksaw. be careful to orient the balls as you are sawing so you don’t cut through the pendulum. when you cut it open you will also see how thick the walls are and other things which are needed to make your own. You will have to learn blacksmith skills to work the iron.
Inside is a ball which contains a delicate bell inside it. As you move the bell chimes or tinkles. This pendant has a very calming effect on the person who is wearing it.