Should I put my new Alba to the lathe??

david robertson · Post by **david robertson** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 3:27 pm

So I bought an Alba low G. It's lovely. A seduction tool no less.
But it's chunky. The alu walls are 1.8mm thick. Now if I shaved a half a mill off of the outside - ok it would verge on fragile but that's my problem - it would warm up quicker.
Question is what might this do to the sound?

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 3:30 pm

It might render it completely out of tune, as wall thickness was taken into account when deciding on hole size and placement. You could take some off BETWEEN holes, though. Sure would look interesting.

jim_mc · Post by **jim_mc** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 3:30 pm

Would someone over on that side of the pond please flash the Betty Boop searchlight against the night sky over Scotland.*

*(Translation for David: Stacy, the maker of Alba whistles, is a regular here. I'm sure she'll get to your question shortly.)

Duckrasta · Post by **Duckrasta** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 3:56 pm

Is it a good idea to put your new whistle in a lathe?

Short answer: No

Long answer: NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 4:09 pm

Send it to me instead!

Post by **Nanohedron** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 4:21 pm

And I thought Lorenzo's Bible thread was provocative in the extreme. :roll:

Reyburnwhistles · Post by **Reyburnwhistles** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 4:29 pm

David, Jessie is right on!!!! Best not to mess with the wall thickness.
Ronaldo

serpent · Post by **serpent** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 4:39 pm

If you look at Peter Kosel's "Flutomat" javascript calculator, you will find that Jessie is right on target, and I REALLY like that comment about turning down the walls between the holes, Jessie!!

You are one smart cookie!

However, that won't solve the "fat" problem if the diameter in the area of the tone holes is the issue. And it will make the whistle feel weird until you get used to its not being uniform in diameter all the way down. Maybe that's not a problem...

Apocrypha: I tried a similar trick on a high C whistle I made from PVC conduit with a 0.110 wall, and it was perfectly in tune, but unplayable (by me) due to the weird "feel"... YMMV.

STACEY !!! --- Can you put your body tubes on a diet?

Serpie-Pie

Daniel_Bingamon · Post by **Daniel_Bingamon** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 9:23 pm

The hard way:
1. Measure the wall thickness of the whistle around the toneholes
2. Turn down the diameter of the the tubing to your liking.
3. Depending on whistle material, glue or solder appropriate compensating shims around the toneholes to build back up to the appropriate thickness.
4. Paint, dye, add Patina or whatever you want to make the thing acceptable to your eyes.

This will work, however it will make an interesting looking whistle and it might be uncomfortable to hold. Have fun!, you're your own!

Post by **Dale** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 10:34 pm

I must say: If you carry out this surgery, I shall have to resurrect the International Journal of Flageolet Surgery.

It will be the most radical whistle operation I know of. The surgery may be a success although the patient may die...or be out of tune...or something.

Unable to sleep, I remain

Yours truly,

Dale

Post by **Dale** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 10:35 pm

I must say: If you carry out this surgery, I shall have to resurrect the International Journal of Flageolet Surgery.

It will be the most radical whistle operation I know of. The surgery may be a success although the patient may die...or be out of tune...or something.

Unable to sleep, I remain

Yours truly,

Dale

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 10:50 pm

This suggestion is only hypothetical. I would never suggest altering a craftsperson made whistle without explicit approval of the maker.

Having said that, a possibility would be to turn the tubing thinner with it set up off center on the lathe so the part of the tube with the toneholes doesn't lose any thickness, but everywhere else, the tubing walls get thinner, with the thinnest part being on the side 180 degrees away from the toneholes. That would (should) maintain the tuning and keep it comfortable to play while reducing the weight somewhat.

Best wishes,
Jerry

brianormond · Post by **brianormond** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 10:53 pm

-Zounds! If you're gonna ruin a whistle-at least ruin a cheap one. Just MHO.

CHIFF FIPPLE · Post by **CHIFF FIPPLE** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 2:21 am

Yea !go on I doubel dare you

, that way when its screwed up you will have to get a new one or make your own

Just thinning the end will change the way it sounds,which is what its all about,

Or you could ask the maker if it could be made in to a tuneable whith a new barrel

Jee's every one whants to be a whistle maker, ifin they only knew

don · Post by **don** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 8:44 am

Lathe a nice whistle? :roll:

Better that you send it off to Don's home for larger whistles, where it will find itself in a quiet stable, well taken care of, and lovingly played.

Just let me know when it is coming, and I will make a space for it in the whistle stable........