Care and Upkeep

Weathering

Outdoors your bell will gradually weather from the original brown patina to a more mellow greenish brown that may vary with your climate and its exposure to the elements. It will not rust, and the aging will not affect the tone. Our intention is for you to mount your bell outdoors and simply enjoy it. It may look old after a few years, but 20 years further along it will still look the same. This natural patina seems most consistent with an outdoor bell and is my preference.

If you wish to restore the bell to a cleaner appearance, first try simply buffing it by hand with #0000 steel wool (available at most hardware stores). If you wish to go further with it, you will need to sand it lightly with 320 grit wet sand paper (also available at most hardware stores). To restore the polished areas, you need to go a few steps further, sequentially proceeding through 400 grit, then 600 grit wet sandpaper and then finally rubbing it with "0000" fine steel wool. On a bell that is still fairly new, you can simply use brass polish to bring back the polished areas. If you would like more information, you are welcome to give us a call (866-963-7184).

Here is a 5" Doorbell that has been outside for over ten years.

 

Wood fins

The wood used on our wind bells at present is an African mahogany called Khaya, and we treat it with a coat of boiled linseed oil. It is very durable and over a few seasons will turn gray. If you rub it occasionally with more linseed oil, you can maintain the red color and probably prolong somewhat the life of the wood. However, we have many bells here that have been outside for more than ten years with no additional oil treatment. The wood is gray but there are no cracks, and the fins function just as well as they did when new. If your fin ever cracks or becomes damaged in any way, we will send you a new one at no charge if you contact us.