DIY Whistle Making Instruction Site

Tony McGinley · Post by **Tony McGinley** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 4:59 am

Came accross a very well organised site by Guido Gonzato in Verona Italy. He has made a number of PVC whistles and documents the DIY steps very clearly.

Anyone with the smallest interest in trying their hand at DIY whistle-making should be interested in this site.

I have been corrisponding with Guido who is a really helpful and nice guy.

http://profs.sci.univr.it/~gonzato/whistle/

Tony McGinley · Post by **Tony McGinley** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:01 am

OOPS - The poll thing seems to have glitched - and - I dont know how to fix it!!!!

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:43 am

I've made one or two... :roll:

Feadin · Post by **Feadin** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:51 am

That's a nice site, very easy to follow... I wish I have found it when I first started...

I disagree on the shape of the fipple plug though

WhistlinBob · Post by **WhistlinBob** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:51 am

The basics for making a good playing whistle are fairly easy
I have made many whistles using wood metal and pvc most play very good of course they are not as pretty as Pauls whistles but hopefully I will be able to attain that level someday.
there is a certain pleasure at making and playing your own handy work

RonKiley · Post by **RonKiley** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:59 am

I have made several using the same general design as the one shone. A C whistle I made was pretty good. A few 100 more and I may begin to get it right.

Ron

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:00 am

A freind and I are planning a bit of collaboration... should be fun. I think this is the same site he found. Thanks! I hadn't seen it yet.

I really want to try a Highland Hornpipe type myself. I love their "Wee D". I simply cannot afford to purchase one, as much as I'd like to.

BillChin · Post by **BillChin** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:46 am

A bit unrelated, but can someone tell me why do-it-yourself whistles are so much more popular than flutes? To my novice mind the flute looks easier to make because there is no fipple or windway. That said, perhaps the answer is in the playing, because flutes are harder to play. Still, this inquiring mind would like to know both about the making of DIY flutes, and why they seem less popular.

TheKingPrawn · Post by **TheKingPrawn** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:24 am

I just made a couple of flutes this weekend. There actually is a bit a shaping required on the blow hole to make it play. I found Tipple's site with instructions, but it is very vague on how to shape the embouchure. It's a good thing PVC pipe is cheap.

Back on topic, are there any sites with dimensions/directions for DIY low whistles? I'm picking up stuff today for a soprano D, but I would like to try my hand at a low D as well. Also, can someone translate the required pipe dimensions from the previously mentioned site into regular PVC nomenclature? The best I've been able to come up with so far is that it's 1/4" schedule 40 pipe needed.

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:26 am

Good question Bill. It does seem that there are more DIY whistles than flutes. I make both and give most of them away.

Tony McGinley · Post by **Tony McGinley** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:33 am

BillChin wrote:A bit unrelated, but can someone tell me why do-it-yourself whistles are so much more popular than flutes? To my novice mind the flute looks easier to make because there is no fipple or windway. That said, perhaps the answer is in the playing, because flutes are harder to play. Still, this inquiring mind would like to know both about the making of DIY flutes, and why they seem less popular.

You got it in ONE - easier to play!!!!

So why not try next door in the Flute Forum, I'm sure you will find a few DIY flute makers to talk to.

RonKiley · Post by **RonKiley** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:26 pm

I have also made a few PVC flutes. They are not as easy as you might think. It is about getting the embouchure just right and the holes the right size and in the right place. The real trick is being able to play them once you have made them. There are many DIY flute sites also. Just google around for awhile.

Ron

Whitmores75087 · Post by **Whitmores75087** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 4:12 pm

I once made a playable PVC flute. But like all low tech (home made) simple system flutes it was hard to play and always out of tune. There's a lot of fine detail in getting the "blow hole" right.

Caru · Post by **Caru** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:07 pm

I've made one -- barely. It is made from soft plastic tubing, so it curves. The holes were cut with the scissors from a Swiss army knife, and the fipple block was a sample-size tube of lipstick held in place with a potato chip bag clip (the lipstick was later replaced by a piece of dowel, flattened on the top with a knife). It looks awful and the tone is very weak, but it works well enough to play. It's surprisingly well in tune considering that I just estimated the hole placement by holding a real whistle next to it and copying. (I did use a tuner to cut the holes to size, though.)

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