Any of you tried making your own bells. If you have any info where I can get the plans let me know. The cheapest I can find them to purchase is $15.00 a pair, American made.
I'll tell you that buying them is going to be cheaper than making them(Bell Making is a art of it's own). You have to have bell molds made from Machine shop, too much work and money IMO. I saw one falconry bell mold kit being sold by a old falconer in Minnesota for like 1000 bucks. He Ran a machine shop and made all his own molds. Plus you got to buy the materials and spend a lot of time gettin the right temper (probally have to have a oven to temper the metal right). It will be cheaper to stick with quality made bells from makers like Counce and Noble. They will last a long time and save you lots of money and time. -Zach(who is a aircraft metalsmith)
Last Edit: Dec 12, 2004 22:21:46 GMT -5 by Tiercel78
I used to think i knew some things. But i'm not so sure anymore.
Guys : I've made a good living working steel and macine shops. Trust T 78 he is correct on this! Try Larry, www.angelfire.com/biz/lcbellmaker/ I've had good results with his bells and they are low cost, not quailty. Guys there are other ways to cut cost, but GOOD EQUIPMENT is priceless once your in the field! My hearing is not what it should be, I've worked at very noisey jobs and have hearing lost-damage, I believe in a good set of bells. Be patient and confident, save your money, somethings take time. wes
I'm using Velarde bells now. Last year i used Noble bells. Zach like velarde better. I'm not sure, bit i think i liked Noble's better. I looked at counce bells in a catalogue or on a web site but i haven't heard any one endorse them until now. My hearing isn't what it used to be either, Wes. I need good, clear bells. I'm glad to hear that you like Counce bells. Theres a big difference between $15.00 a pair and $32.00 a pair.
I've notice some tones I hear better than others is all, sure you've got the same problems, Bells wouldn't last forever as we all know, I'll still look for the tone I hear the best, I can hear mine over a hunred yards easily, as well in the house while bird in mews. Wakes up my wife in morning, she hears them very well. wes
Zach says tht he can hear the Velarde bells from the street in front of the house. His hears are 32 years younger than mine, though. My hearing is deficient in the high range, so a bell with a lower tone is better for me. To bad we can't lay all of them out on table and test them in person!
Bob wrote: To bad we can't lay all of them out on table and test them in person! I'd Be First in line for that, OH, behind Bob of course, must repect my elders! Glade your feeling better Bob. wes
Post by Falcon Boy on Dec 13, 2004 14:21:09 GMT -5
I prefer Nobel bells, but i have never seen or heard Velarde's. Everyone i know personally swears by Nobel and doesnt let their apprentice get anything else
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
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Bob, I like the lower pitched bells as well....different reasons though. The lower pitched bells can be heard alot better in the deep woods. When I was at the NAFA meet, they had a table for Noble bells and a table for Velarde's. They sound very similar and both have good quality. I just have a preference to the Noble's. The bigger the bell, the deeper the sound. I use a size 11 in Noble.
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines "Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion................ and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish."
:-/Well guys thanks for all the input into this article. Im familiar with the different types of bells I just thought if a guy in his spare time" in case anyone has any!!" could pound out a set of bells and sodder them together would be kinda of a hobby type thing like my flint knapping where I make Indian spears and arrowheads from stone. I would not want to get into making them on a commerical level, even though there must be some money to be made for those people to invest so much into the making of metal dies and the buying of machinery?? I'll get that book on making of falconry eqt. Thanks
Hey Austin guess what I got for Christmas Yup I got a copy of" Falconry Equipment" and the article on making bells is great. Could have more info in it but gives enough info to give it a try. If your into Knapping then you by want to try doming which is to hammer the shape into the blanks in a doming block which has several bowls in it, which very in depth and diametor. Sounds like an interesting way to pass the time and hay if you can make a good bell then you go for it. I'm going to. Oh and they have a design for a simple press as well. Chris.
Chris I sent you an e-mail on your posting, too long to place here. That sounds great, I tried to get a book on making acorn falconry bells from the Library. They sent out to other locations and only found four.All of which are on Milatary Bases. I don't want to purchase the book in Northwoods cataloge until I see a copy and make sure there's enough detailed info.