Web removal

[bigskybri]

What's the best way to remove a spider web (and dead spider) from a non-tunable whistle?

[Kem]

What's the best way to remove a spider web (and dead spider) from a non-tunable whistle?

Just...don't...breathe...in.

*Shudder*

[fearfaoin]

I once knew a whistle with a web and a spider.
It got stuck against the windway, inside her.

The spider had crawled in to eat a fly, lest it die.

[DrPhill]

Was that an experimental tweak that you now regret?

[bigskybri]

Was that an experimental tweak that you now regret?

I wish I was that inventive. But no, it's a whistle I don't play (key of B w/ a lead fipple, which was probably why no one else bid on it). Thought I'd give it a quick toot, took a peek down the tube and saw the web.

[ahogrelius]

To paraphrase Winnie the Pooh. “When having a smackerel of something with a friend, don't eat so much that you get stuck in the windway trying to get out.”, at least that's true if you are a spider...

[s1m0n]

I'd use a match or lighter. The web will be gone in less than a second, long before the whistle comes to any harm.

[bigskybri]

I'd use a match or lighter. The web will be gone in less than a second, long before the whistle comes to any harm.

Don't have any matches that long, 'side fire scares me... Below is an attempted photo of the inside of the whistle. The main web, and spider carcass, is towards the front of the whistle, past hole number one, where the flash couldn't quite reach.

[dspmusik]

a *lead* fipple?!?! was this made in China?

[MTGuru]

a *lead* fipple?!?! was this made in China?

No, I'm guessing it's an older pre-WWII whistle, which typically had a lead block. A coat of clear nail polish (varnish) over the outside contact surface for safety's sake, and you've got a playable whistle.

Yes, by tweaking the photo I can see spidey splayed across the bore right up by the fipple block. I'm guessing he didn't catch many tasty bugs up there.

I'd just use a long rod - like a flute or recorder cleaning rod, or gun rod, or long bamboo skewer - to dislodge the corpus delecti and let it fall out the end of the tube. If it's really stuck, a glob of blue tack or sticky tape on the end of the rod might nab it. Then swab out the bore with water and/or alcohol, and you should be good to go.

[JTC111]

I'd just use a long rod - like a flute or recorder cleaning rod, or gun rod, or long bamboo skewer - to dislodge the corpus delecti and let it fall out the end of the tube.

Yep. I bought 4 of these a few weeks back to have around...
http://elderly.com/accessories/items/R1.htm
I'll bet those would work for your problem.

[MTGuru]

Yep. I bought 4 of these a few weeks back to have around...
http://elderly.com/accessories/items/R1.htm

I use those, too, because they're convenient. But they do tend to deposit some fuzz and fibers inside the bore over time. A plain cleaning rod with a loop for a bit of lint-free cloth is neater in the long run.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ ... sku=460021

[mutepointe]

With no science to back me up, I'd want to sanitize that sucker. If there is a spider web in there, what else unseen is still in there. I would coat that sucker in rubbing alcohol and then place the whistle in a position to air dry effectively.

[Jerry Freeman]

Compressed air might work.

If you don't have a compressor in your garage/workshop, you could bring the whistle to an auto mechanic and ask him to blow it out with compressed air. He would probably take about 15 seconds to do it and not charge anything.

Best wishes,
Jerry

[Steve Bliven]

Compressed air might work.

If you don't have a compressor in your garage/workshop, you could bring the whistle to an auto mechanic and ask him to blow it out with compressed air. He would probably take about 15 seconds to do it and not charge anything.

And even if you didn't get the spider out, you might set a record for Longest Whistle Launch—much farther than those who send one off while trying to shake out condensation.....

Best wishes.

Steve