Turning & TUNING A Wooden Whistle

I wanted to see if I could change the pitch and/or volume when making a wooden whistle. Here are the results.

[@timcook2312]

I enjoyed the excellent Demo, was very detailed and fun to watch as I you answered many questions I have been working through...Great Job!!!

[@GordonRock1]

I'm happy that you liked it, Tim. Hello from Alberta, Canada! 😃😃😃 Thanks for watching! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@robertcornelius3514]

Nicely done.

[@GordonRock1]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@WigWagWorkshop]

I don't know about other kids, but my boys, and now my Grandson always enjoy the toys I made for them in the workshop. In fact, my Grandson won't even touch the plastic noise making gizmo's, and every time he visits, first thing he asks is, "What did you make me in the workshop Pappy" -Steven

[@GordonRock1]

+WigWagWorkshop Sounds like a very sensible grandson, Steven! :) Take care, .....Gord

[@newtonwilliams9087]

Always enjoy your videos Gord. Thanks for taking the time and trouble! Best Regards, Newt

[@GordonRock1]

+Newton Williams Thank you, Newt. I appreciate that very much. Take care, .....Gord

[@Rutce125]

Thanks for the detailed build. I made my first whistle just before watching your video and couldn't figure out how to get the depth of sound i wanted. Now i do, thanks to you!

[@GordonRock1]

I’m glad I could help, John. Thanks for watching.

[@michaelj2439]

Great video, my grandson wants to make one, so I’ll assist him on the lathe, thanks. Just a small point, the background music sometimes made it hard to hear your voice and the whistles.

[@GordonRock1]

I'm happy that I could help, Michael. This video was produced 6 years ago and I'm afraid I was still learning how to use the editing program so the music was not done very well. Newer videos are much improved over the ones I did at that time. Unfortunately, I can't change it. Thanks for watching!

[@hangingoutwithronwalters4505]

Sir, you have just answered many of my questions concerning whistle making. I made my first whistle yesterday. I gave it to my two year old grandson. He went wild over it. I carved it out of basswood. Thank you for your information.

[@GordonRock1]

My pleasure, Ron. Anything that brings a smile to child’s face is a good thing! I’m happy that he liked it! Thanks for watching! 😃😃😃🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 Take care, .....Gord

[@pigeonmanof180]

Very glad you demonstrated different fipples and tube depths. Thanks for taking the time and showing. Honestly your choice of music for the video almost drove me away. But I learned a lot by suffering through.

[@GordonRock1]

Sorry about the music, Adam. That was a long time ago and I still had a lot to learn about making decent videos. Actually, I still have a lot to learn but I think my videos have improved since then. Thanks for sticking with it! Happy turning, .....Gord

[@markb8954]

I agree. That “music” was just plain annoying. But, the info buried in the noise was good.

[@blackhorse2947]

Very enjoyable video……..Thank you

[@GordonRock1]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@Ronalcock1]

Keep having fun Gord love your video's

[@GordonRock1]

Thank you very much, Ron. I really appreciate the support! 👍👍 Take care? .....Gord

[@Bramsshed1913]

Great video Gord, Its nice to see simple and practical things being made, Could be used as dog training whistles even! Great project mate ! Cheers Bram

[@GordonRock1]

+Brams shed I'm glad you liked it, Bram! Dog training whistle? I never would have thought of that!! Thanks for watching. Take care, .....Gord

[@thomasckuzia7129]

Hi Gord, GREAT video! We have friends who have a 2 year old son!Can't wait to make him one! His parents might not like it but he will and I'm 73 years old so I can get away with it! LOL Thanks for the video and don't worry,,,I won't tell Jacob's parents you showed me how to make the whistle! LOL Tom

[@GordonRock1]

+Thomas C Kuzia LOL Glad you liked it, Thomas! Have fun making it and I hope Jacob's parents appreciate it! Cheers, .....Gord

[@dreadcat7756]

I made a few of those twenty five years ago. I gave the niece and nephew each one. They blew them once and tossed them into the garbage can. Sad, like you said they have no lights and keyboards on them so the kids did not want them.

[@TheLittleGardenShedWorkshop]

Thanks Gord, Nice little project mate, Take care. Harry

[@GordonRock1]

+The Little Garden Shed Workshop Thank you very much, Harry. Glad you liked it! .....Gord

[@anklebiterwoodworks2818]

Cool project!

[@GordonRock1]

+AnkleBiter Woodworks Thank you very much! I appreciate that. Take care, .....Gord

[@robertkutz]

gord cool nice whistle.

[@GordonRock1]

+Robert Kutz Thank you, Bob! :-) .....Gord

[@yuvallahav]

A whistle is the base for a flute, so if your can make a sound, you can control is simple enough... There is a kind of flute called an shepherd flute which is just an open tube with a few holes along it, but it's kind of hard to explain how to produce a sound off it (might show it in a video sometime, but it's not that interesting as far as turning goes). Thank you for sharing this excellent video Gord! Yuval.

[@GordonRock1]

+Yuval Lahav Woodturning Thank you very much, Yuval. The shepherd flute sounds interesting. I may have to investigate that! Thanks for the tip! .....Gord

[@DavidEricPrates]

Great video. I just tried my hand at a train whistle and the reeds were a challenge for me.

[@GordonRock1]

Thank you very much. Glad you liked it. I hope it helped. Thanks for watching!

[@MikeWaldt]

Very impressive Gord, maybe the next step is a whistle stop tour?! ;) Cheers mate Mike

[@GordonRock1]

+Mike Waldt LOL! Great idea, Mike, but I can't think of many places that would let me stop. ;-) Thanks Mike, .....Gord

[@markhouse9570]

Hi Gord, THANKS for this video! I've got a need for a whistle that'll sound "sort of" like old steam riverboat. Your video gets me part of the way there. In an attempt to get the considerably lower pitch I'm going to try a larger diamter for the hole, consistent with what diameters of dowel that I have access to.

[@GordonRock1]

Thanks for watching, Mark. I hope you have great luck with your whistle! Enjoy making it and "whistling" with it! All the best, .....Gord

[@DanielVilarino]

Hi Gord! Very fun video! And almost a PhD in whistle...ry? I have to try something like that one day! Cheers! Daniel

[@GordonRock1]

+Daniel Vilarino Thanks very much, Daniel. Whistle...ry? I must admit that's a new one on me!! LOL. Yep, that's me, a PhD. ;-) Happy turning, Daniel, .....Gord

[@shamong9]

Great video. Just wanted to share with you a whistle that I had as a kid. It had a stem that could be raised and lowered from the bottom. This produced a loud sound and variable sound all at one time.

[@GordonRock1]

+Jim Skaggs That sounds very cool, Jim! I've never seen one of those. Of course, if I had I probably would not remember it! ;-) Take care, .....Gord

[@shamong9]

This whistle was made in the mid to late 50s.

[@terrencepowell270]

I tired to make a whistle and had a hard time getting the sound on all of them. I will try your version and will let you know.

[@GordonRock1]

+Terrence Powell Thank you, Terrence. I'd like to know how it tuns out! Have fun with it. .....Gord

[@willemkossen]

Nice. I need to try it. Are you going to make actual musical instruments like flute or recorders too?

[@GordonRock1]

+Willem Kossen No plans to try that, Willem, but I never know what may appeal to me in the future! I may have to think about that!! Take care, .....Gord

[@traog2445]

I'll have to raid the Caragana, it is literally a weed on my property, there is some that will be 2"-3"diameter. I always thought of it as bland white wood with no redeeming qualities. I really like Irish whistles/ low whistles, and intended to try making some. If I recall there is a way to determine where to drill the finger holes to get proper note spacing.

[@GordonRock1]

+traog Wow, 2" to 3" diameter Caragana!!! I haven't seen any around here nearly that large. With something that size you could really come up with some nice pieces. I'm envious! I will have to investigate Irish Whistles; have not heard of them before. Thanks for the tip, Gordon. Take care, .....Gord

[@RedHanded1969]

Wonder what happened with different width of the hole n if you put a pea ball inside..

[@GordonRock1]

I did not put a ball inside and I’m afraid that was too long ago for me to remember what difference a different width made. Sorry I cannot help with that.

[@dwaine515]

Will attempt to make one for my grandson, then send him home with it. (Evil grin) LOL

[@GordonRock1]

+Dwaine Haskins Now that's FUNNY!! Your son (daughter?) is going to be so thrilled!! LOL Take care, .....Gord

[@jydymyyyr9630]

I've made many similar whistles out of pine, walnut, maple, cedar, apple, ash and etc; however, every time I've tried to make one out of oak I can't get any sound out of it. My whistles have about a 3" hole (with a 45 degree angle 3/4" from the mouthpiece end) and they usually make a very good noise. For some reason the oak just isn't working for me; I've tried slightly different angles with still no improvement. Any suggestions for having better luck with oak? I always give these to visiting grandkids and youngsters as they're leaving my house; saves my ears but I'm sure their parents aren't to happy - probably taking them away before getting too many block away;-). Thanks for the great video.

[@GordonRock1]

The only reason I can think of that it would not work well with oak is the fact that oak is very coarse and the tubes that make up the grain may be allowing the air to pass through. If that is the case you may need to use sanding sealer particularly on the end of the grain. You might try wrapping the end and part of the whistle with plastic wrap to see if that helps. Sorry if this is not any help. I have never tried making a whistle with oak. I would be interested in hearing how you make out with this! Thanks for watching! Best of luck with it!

[@jydymyyyr9630]

@@GordonRock1 Took your advice and sealed the inside of the whistle with a couple coats of thinned shellac and that did the trick... both whistles now look fantastic and sound fine. Thank you!!!

[@GordonRock1]

My pleasure! I’m happy that it worked for you. I hope your grandchildren will enjoy them! 😃😃😃👍👍🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@tomzifer927]

For changing pitch maybe try a hole all the way through the whistle and change the whistle length.

[@GordonRock1]

+Tom Zifer Hi Tom, I've tried different lengths and it's the depth of the hole that seems to make the difference. A hole all the way through gives no sound at all. I believe it's the restriction and the volume of air that makes the difference. Thanks for watching & commenting. Take care, .....Gord

[@gilgrace1915]

I think Jim is referring to a slide whistle. Very similar to yours, but the hole depth is controlled by a plunger of sorts that can be moved up and down in the tube. Something like a trombone. Might be fun to experiment with the idea. Or how about a referee's whistle...with the little ball inside. Now that sounds like a challenge to build from wood. I have lots of ideas but no talent to create them. :-(

[@GordonRock1]

+Gil Grace Thanks for the ideas, Gil. I will think about them but there are always more ideas than time to accomplish everything. :-( Take care, .....Gord

[@gilgrace1915]

Maybe one of your subs will give it a try.

[@philforeman7102]

Gord you should make one for Gail so she can call you when ever she likes Phil

[@GordonRock1]

+Phil Foreman I did and I think I may regret it soon! It's supposed to be for emergency use!!! We may have a difference of opinion on EMERGENCIES!! Take care, Phil, .....Gord

[@davidmathews836]

Interesting video apart from the irritating and unnecessary background noise

[@GordonRock1]

Sorry about that. I was still figuring out the audio side of things when I did that video. Things have improved since then but it's too late to fix it. I'm sorry you found it annoying! 😒😒