How to make a whistle from a tree branch

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Hi, I am looking for instructions on how to make a simple, wooden whistle from a branch. I thought I read the instructions in this magazine but cannot find it. Does any one have instructions or can you point me in the right direction.

Cathy

-- C Ryd (cadonn@yahoo.com), December 01, 2001

Answers

Cathy, this is not easy and no gaurantees of sucess!

Find a willow (or similar) and select a few inches of knot free twig about 5/16" diameter.

With a sharp knife make a cut through the bark right around the stick and about 2" from the end. Gently tap this piece of bark all over until you can slide it off the stick. Put the sleeve of bark back on the stick and about 3/4" from the end make a deep (say 1/8") nick twartwise across the bark and right into the wood. This is the hole where the air will come out of your whistle.

Slide off the sleeve and with your knife cut away the wood, about 3/8" deep from the notch towards the OTHER end of the stick. This will form the resonance cavity of your whistle.

Cut a quite thin sliver from the nick towards the near end of the stick so forming a small space for the air to go in.

Slide the sleeve back on and if I have described it properly you have a whistle!

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), December 01, 2001.


It's in the July/August 2001 issue, page 43.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), December 01, 2001.

I have not seen the magazine Ken, how did it compare with my description?

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), December 01, 2001.

Hi, Try: http//www.mathematische-basteleien.de/index.htm look under willow flute, it has pictures... The American Indians used to make a whistle out of small elderberry branches, I think that it was like a penny whistle, as I remember... the inside of a fresh branch is soft and if you straightened out coat hanger, then heat it up, it will bore through the branch and hollow it out.Then you bore holes into the side for finger holes. I don't remember if a split reed was added to the side/end or not, maybe someone has seen this and remembers...

-- lacyj (hillharmony@hotmail.com), April 27, 2002.

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