I recently got a nice "telescoping" whistle by Laughing Whistles. It has a nice tone, and softer than my Burke, so i like using it for practicing at night.
However, this whistle has a problem that is completely missing from my Burke and mostly missing from the cheapo whistles i have too: i can barely play a couple of measures in it before it starts clogging up! I think it's because the airway in this whistle is very narrow, and keep in mind that i'm a very inexperienced whistler.
Is there anything i can do to stop this thing from clogging, or at least delay the problem? Thanks for any suggestions.
It sounds a bit strange... But make a very dilute solution of a mild dishsoap and water. Dip the mouthpiece of the whistle into it, and then carefully drain it, and wipe all of the soapy water off the outside.
This will leave a tiny trace of soap inside the mouthpiece, which tends to act as an ant-condensation coating. You'll find it clogs up a lot less.
Just tried the whistle again, for a "before and after". I played a whole tune just fine, then the durn thing started clogging every couple of bars. Off to the kitchen (isn't that the name of a hornpipe?).
Good, i just played 3 tunes in sequence without having to stop to blow the condensation away. And the bubbles make it all the more entertaining. Thanks!
It should work with any whistle. It's purely the chemistry of soap: it should stop any condensation from gathering and clinging inside the mouthpiece. You still get the same amount of condensation - but it doesn't gather in the mouthpiece, it runs down the body, where it doesn't cause so much trouble.
The Abell is wooden, right? I'm not sure i'd do that to a wooden instrument. I saw this thing in the Chiff and Fipple, but there they said to use a thin strip of paper, very carefully, etc, etc. I like Mark's idea of "dipping" much better. I wonder how long it lasts. Anyway, thanks, it really works.
This clogging whistle is made of brass, btw, with some epoxy-like substance forming the plug. My Burke whistle is also brass but with a delrin plug and it never clogs.
Hi all,
yes this thing works on all metal whistles (I own an Overton Low D and this clogs sometimes a bit) Another thing one might do is put the thing on the heater for a few minutes, as this is all about condensation it does not clog anymore (if you continue playing...). Another whistler recommended running hot water through the whistle before playing. But I would never do any of these things to a wooden whistle !!
And I find the soap thing lasting long enough to get through an evening playing (by the way, donīt make the soap solution too strong or the tone will become really weird.) )
All the best, Dagmar
Absolutely *never* do anything like this to a wooden instrument. For metal and plastic, it's fine - the soap will not react with the metal or plastic, nor will it be absorbed.
With wood, particularly unfinished wood, the wood *will* absorb the soapy water, and some of the chemicals in it can react with the wood. So you'll have some nasty, potentially corrosive chemicals *inside* the grain of the wood. It's a nearly surefire formula for destroying the instrument.
There are some nice all-metal whistles made in India, which are available very cheaply at a few shops in the UK. They have a lovely clear, sweet tone, and are fairly loud, but I have never bought one because they alway clog halfway into a tune. Perhaps I should buy one and try the dishwater method. My only concerns are that (i) although their intonation is quite good, they are not necessarily in concert pitch and (ii) the plug looks as if it may be lead soldered.
Whistle clog syndrome
Whistle clog syndrome
I recently got a nice "telescoping" whistle by Laughing Whistles. It has a nice tone, and softer than my Burke, so i like using it for practicing at night.
However, this whistle has a problem that is completely missing from my Burke and mostly missing from the cheapo whistles i have too: i can barely play a couple of measures in it before it starts clogging up! I think it's because the airway in this whistle is very narrow, and keep in mind that i'm a very inexperienced whistler.
Is there anything i can do to stop this thing from clogging, or at least delay the problem? Thanks for any suggestions.
# Posted on October 5th 2002 by glauber
Re: Whistle clog syndrome
It sounds a bit strange... But make a very dilute solution of a mild dishsoap and water. Dip the mouthpiece of the whistle into it, and then carefully drain it, and wipe all of the soapy water off the outside.
This will leave a tiny trace of soap inside the mouthpiece, which tends to act as an ant-condensation coating. You'll find it clogs up a lot less.
# Posted on October 5th 2002 by MarkCC
Re: Whistle clog syndrome
I'll give it a shot.
# Posted on October 5th 2002 by glauber
Re: Whistle clog syndrome
Just tried the whistle again, for a "before and after". I played a whole tune just fine, then the durn thing started clogging every couple of bars. Off to the kitchen (isn't that the name of a hornpipe?).
# Posted on October 5th 2002 by glauber
Better
Good, i just played 3 tunes in sequence without having to stop to blow the condensation away. And the bubbles make it all the more entertaining.
Thanks!
# Posted on October 5th 2002 by glauber
Re: Whistle clog syndrome
You're welcome!
It's a trick I learned from Dale Wisely's Chiff & Fipple website - a treasure trove of information and entertainment for whistle players.
# Posted on October 6th 2002 by MarkCC
Re: Whistle clog syndrome
Does this trick also work with metal whistles (such as Overtons and Chieftains) and/or with an Abell whistle?
Jan
# Posted on October 6th 2002 by Jan
Re: Whistle clog syndrome
It should work with any whistle. It's purely the chemistry of soap: it should stop any condensation from gathering and clinging inside the mouthpiece. You still get the same amount of condensation - but it doesn't gather in the mouthpiece, it runs down the body, where it doesn't cause so much trouble.
# Posted on October 6th 2002 by MarkCC
Re: Whistle clog syndrome
The Abell is wooden, right? I'm not sure i'd do that to a wooden instrument. I saw this thing in the Chiff and Fipple, but there they said to use a thin strip of paper, very carefully, etc, etc. I like Mark's idea of "dipping" much better. I wonder how long it lasts. Anyway, thanks, it really works.
This clogging whistle is made of brass, btw, with some epoxy-like substance forming the plug. My Burke whistle is also brass but with a delrin plug and it never clogs.
# Posted on October 6th 2002 by glauber
Re: Whistle clog syndrome
Hi all,
) )
yes this thing works on all metal whistles (I own an Overton Low D and this clogs sometimes a bit) Another thing one might do is put the thing on the heater for a few minutes, as this is all about condensation it does not clog anymore (if you continue playing...). Another whistler recommended running hot water through the whistle before playing. But I would never do any of these things to a wooden whistle !!
And I find the soap thing lasting long enough to get through an evening playing (by the way, donīt make the soap solution too strong or the tone will become really weird.
All the best, Dagmar
# Posted on October 6th 2002 by drdagmar
Re: Whistle clog syndrome
Oh, I didn't realise the Abell's were wood.
Absolutely *never* do anything like this to a wooden instrument. For metal and plastic, it's fine - the soap will not react with the metal or plastic, nor will it be absorbed.
With wood, particularly unfinished wood, the wood *will* absorb the soapy water, and some of the chemicals in it can react with the wood. So you'll have some nasty, potentially corrosive chemicals *inside* the grain of the wood. It's a nearly surefire formula for destroying the instrument.
# Posted on October 7th 2002 by MarkCC
Re: Whistle clog syndrome
There are some nice all-metal whistles made in India, which are available very cheaply at a few shops in the UK. They have a lovely clear, sweet tone, and are fairly loud, but I have never bought one because they alway clog halfway into a tune. Perhaps I should buy one and try the dishwater method. My only concerns are that (i) although their intonation is quite good, they are not necessarily in concert pitch and (ii) the plug looks as if it may be lead soldered.
# Posted on October 7th 2002 by OrganicPeatCreature