Using a Dremel for making thumbholes?

[LimuHead]

Hi all! Long time member here that has been gone for several years but back lurking the last couple of months. I've been busy playing Hawaiian music I mostly play solo uke & sing now.

I have several whistles that I want to add thumbholes to and have a Dremel that should be able to handle it.

Before I jump into drilling I'd like to hear from people who've done it already. I did do a search but all that came up was arguments for/against having thumbholes. I like my whistles that have them and want to turn some of my whistles that don't have any usable (reasonably in tune) cross-fingered C
naturals into instruments I'll actually play.

Do you have any tips that may help the process go easier?

What size drill bit should I start out with?

What type of file should I use?

Would one of the Dremel attachments work better?

Thank you for any help!

Aldon Sanders

[OBrien]

Are they metal or wood?

If wood, you should use a drill press and a bit with brad points. A regular bit will not drill a curved wooden surface cleanly.

If metal, you should also use a drill press and mark the hole location with a punch. Then start with a small bit and gradually open up the hole, using increasingly larger bits.

I wouldn't recommend a Dremel.

Use a small jeweler's file with a curved surface to tidy up the holes.

[Tommy]

If you use a dremel or drill find some material that is the same as the whistle to practice on. For cleaning small holes I like to use small diamond files. Diamond files will cut in either direction. Great for removing wood fibers from the bottom of a wood hole that sometimes leaves fibers hanging inside. A C&F member (Judy K) use to make nice whistles from delrin using only a dremel tool.

[LimuHead]

Thank you for the tips & suggestions!

I expiremented with tape on some the C# holes of some of the worst in tune whistles and the difference in playability of the cross-fingered C naturals improved dramatically!

So I may hold off on drilling for now.

To Mr. Obrien: I'm enjoying playing the chromatic whistle!

Aldon