David Parkhurst wrote:
It works well, trust me. I made and sold many copper whistles in keys from C to G. You can deform the top end of the body by placing a metal dowel inside and pounding on it to expand it, then use a female-female copper joiner to create a tuning slide to join to the head. Helps to have a lathe, although copper doesn't turn as well as silver or brass. You'll need to decide whether you want to try making a flush fipple blade, or a flattened or rounded (Copeland style) depressed blade (which requires a mandrel press and a willingness to make your own dies). Don't bother with coating/painting it, it's going to get a patina no matter what and it will look very "old school". Get some 1/2" copper plumbing from your local hardware store and go for it. I used hardwood, Delrin and a very hard 3M modeling foam for fipples, all with reasonably good results. Feel free to PM me if you have questions, I don't have any secrets I hoarde.
Cheers,
David Parkhurst
I think the new tbird v4 has that rounded labia.....Is that copeland style?