Making an Elder whistle - TUTORIAL

[jon r]

In this Tutorial I used fresh Elder wood that was still green. It is best to use dry dead wood, otherwise the wood may shrink and cause the whistle to stop working. The construction of the whistle is exactly the same if you use dry wood which I recommend.

We are taking advantage of elder wood because it has a very soft pith which can be easily removed to create a hollow tube.
To help you with your tree identification I have taken these photos of some Elder so that you know what you are looking for. The picture on the left shows typical thinner branches and leaves whereas the picture on the right shows the thicker trunk of the tree. Elder usually grows only a few meters tall and tends to grow in poor quality soil.

http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2160_small.jpghttp://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2165_small.jpg


Cut a small branch that is already the correct width. You can see how thick this piece is in comparison to my fingers.
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2216_small.jpg

It is important that the wood has a large pith in the centre because this will make plenty of room for the sound chamber, however you will want the layer of wood to be thick enough so that it is not fragile. A shoot of wood about 2 years old is usually good.
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2224_small.jpg

Cut a section from your wood about a finger long.
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2228_small.jpg

Scrape the bark off if you like.
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2230_small.jpg

Push the pith out and scrape the inner walls with a small stick until totally free of pith.
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2232_small.jpg

http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2233_small.jpg

http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2238_small.jpg

About 2cm in from the end you need to cut a notch in the whistle, a few cuts at 90 degrees and then some more at 45 degrees. The pictures explain it all...
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2240_small.jpg

http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2246_small.jpg

http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2245_small.jpg

Now you need to make a small piece of wood to fit into the mouth end of the whistle. Carve a stick down to the correct diameter to fit the inside of the whistle. Test how well it fits by pushing it into the end of the whistle.
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2255_small.jpg

To create the air passage carve a flat face on the side of the dowel.
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2256_small.jpg

Cut the small piece of dowel to the correct length. (as long as from the mouth end of the whistle to the vertical cut of the notch)
The dowel should be a tight fit and will need no glue if it fits snugly.

Fit the dowel so that when you blow through the small gap the air runs level with the notch.
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2259_small.jpg

Once you have fitted the dowel in the end you could carve the mouth end to a better shape if you like.
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2264_small.jpg

You can see how the air passage is created by the flat side on the dowel.
At this point you can test the whistle to see if you get a sound. Put your finger over the other end to block it, then blow the whistle. You should get a nice clear sound.
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2265_small.jpg

If you get sound you can block up the other end of the whistle with another piece of wood. Do the same as before but don't carve the side flat. No air should be able to pass through this end.
You get a higher pitched sound if you make the sound chamber smaller.
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2274_small.jpg
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/IMG_2275_small.jpg

Your whistle is complete. You could add a loop of cordage so that it can be put onto a key ring if you like...
http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/images/elderwhistle/IMG_2277.jpg

15 More tutorials just like this one at www.jonsbushcraft.com

[Nagual]

Excellent as usual Jon. So much so I just went out into the garden and cut a piece of elder and tried it myself. After about 5 mins, I have a bit of wood that I can blow into.. :lmao: no whistle sound at all. Any tips on what to do not do to create a sound?


Cheers, Nag.

[Bernie Garland]

Excellent tutorial Jon i'll be having a bash at one me self.

Bernie

[Cobweb]

This is quite cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPXK2S_ljWw

I'm going to have a go at both as soon as I have time :)

[Shambling Shaman]

Exelent - some thing to do with the kids :D

[John Fenna]

Great tutorial!
I have made loads of these (almost as many as I have spoons!) over the years and have had lots of fun. I even have some double enders - a whistle at either end
If you use green Elder for the tube and seasoned wood for the plugs (either end) the tube shrinks onto the plug for a super join and I have rarely had one done this way lose its whistle with age and drying.
If you do not cut the plugs to length until you have "tuned" the whistle you can pull them out easily to reshape/replace them.
I have always known these whistles as "Elf Whistles".
Great fun for kids of all ages.....:You_Rock_

[sandbender]

Another brilliant tutorial, thanks jon

:You_Rock_

[gregorach]

What I really want to know is if anyone knows how to make open-ended whistles... Like a pennywhistle - something you could play a tune on. I've tried, but never managed to get even the beginnings of a note.

[Lucyc]

Brilliant - thanks a lot, I'm half way through mine now :p
I was having a look at your website - how are you only 18?!

[John Fenna]

I know what you mean Lucyc!
With talent like this in one so young (and all those dodgy e-mails I get these days) I am realy feeling inadequate!:o
This lad is one who gives you hope for the younger generation after all!

[Matt Weir]

Good stuff - as usual - cheers Jon!

[match]

What I really want to know is if anyone knows how to make open-ended whistles... Like a pennywhistle - something you could play a tune on. I've tried, but never managed to get even the beginnings of a note.

Not quite the same but if you take a long piece instead of a plug for the end, and whittle it carefully, you can make a swanny whistle/slide whistle, which can produce some simple tunes with a bit of practice :)

[gregorach]

No, that's not what I want to achieve at all. Bloody horrible things... ;)

I want to learn how to make proper, tuned, diatonic whistles. I've gone through about 5 different commercial whistles, and I'm yet to find one that's actually tuned right. They always seem to be flat on C (for D whistles). But nobody seems to have any idea how to get something to produce a note without closing the end...

[Scrimmy]

Your knowledge amazes me, you have inspired me to try and amke more things from natural materials, and get a more in depth knowledge of bushcraft. cain

[jon r]

Im really pleasd you all find this tutorial beneficial, thats what its all about... And have lots of fun making them.

I made this the other day, its an open ended flute with 2 sound chambers inside. Thought you may like to see it. I works well...

There is a tutorial here for making it on paleo planet, there are 4 parts to the tutorial that are shown in different threads:

PART1: http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/3315
PART2: http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/3293
PART3: http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/3314
PART 4: http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/3311


http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/images/flute.jpg

[Singeblister]

I keep making these , same as above but i can never get them to make a note , must be doing something wrong somwhere :)

[irishlostboy]

jon r, great little tutorial. will have to give this a go. your website is great by the way. just went and took a look. love it.

[gregorach]

Im really pleasd you all find this tutorial beneficial, thats what its all about... And have lots of fun making them.

I made this the other day, its an open ended flute with 2 sound chambers inside. Thought you may like to see it. I works well...

There is a tutorial here for making it on paleo planet, there are 4 parts to the tutorial that are shown in different threads:

PART1: http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/3315
PART2: http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/3293
PART3: http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/3314
PART 4: http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/3311


Aha! That's more like the thing... Cheers Jon! :)

[Psittacosis]

Just had a look around your site. Very impressive. You made a boat! Amazing stuff! Looks like I'm going to make some whistles with the kids this weekend. Thanks.

[jon r]

Thanks! It would be really nice if those of you that make the whistles could post a pic of them here on the thread!

[fred gordon]

Very nice Jon. I think I could even follow that. Just the thing to get my grandaughter on to.:You_Rock_

[Lucyc]

Hmm - I'd post a picture of mine but I've had the same trouble - not much sound :(
I think maybe I didn't have a big enough hole - I'm gunna try again..

EDIT: Woop wooop - success! Yay - thanks Jon! I'm absurdly proud of it..
Picture, as requested:
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/5645/spa0023cy8.jpg

Isn't it awesome? :p

[redandshane]

Great tutorial
I have got the elder tubes drying
my 8 year old daughter is enthused & my 12 year old son s pretending not to be but was taught by his little sister to do this after she read this so....
Cheers

[Wannabe Woodsman]

http://bayimg.com/bAJimaABJ

here is what i made based on your guide. i made 3 whistles which make very clear tones at totally different pitches, and expanding upon the idea i made a necklace and bracelet out of elder with the pith removed put onto a leather shoelace. i think it looks rather cool :)

superb guide i had no problem making these!

i would just like to ask how did you make that flute? i mean ive read the guide you posted links to but all the woods he posted are unknown to me and are probably not native to britain and certainly not central suffolk! did you use elder to make it, creating the barriers between the sound chambers with dowel or what?

[Mungo]

This is a terrific tutorial. I don't think we have Elder here in Ontario, Canada. I guess I would need to find some wood either with a soft pith center, or simply drill out the middle of another piece.

I found this similar tutorial: http://www.countrylovers.co.uk/fun/whistle.htm

Cheers,

Mungo

[Mang]

Great tutorial!
If you use green Elder for the tube and seasoned wood for the plugs (either end) the tube shrinks onto the plug for a super join and I have rarely had one done this way lose its whistle with age and drying....


...If you do not cut the plugs to length until you have "tuned" the whistle you can pull them out easily to reshape/replace them.


Somehow missed this useful tutorial-Another one saved to my favourites folder!

Seems a good idea to use green wood for the body (with the soft pith) and seasoned inner wood. If you leave an oversozed bit in I presum you just clamp your chops over the protruding bit to test it then cut down accordingly?

[John Fenna]

Yup - thats how I do it!
Don't leave the sticky out bit too long or you get sore tonsils...

[jon r]

This is great! im glad to see people getting involved and making the whistles! A craft so small seems to have brought a lot of fun to you all.

Wannabe Woodsman, i really like your whistles and especially your jewlary, great stuff!, you too Lucyc!

[jon r]

i would just like to ask how did you make that flute? i mean ive read the guide you posted links to but all the woods he posted are unknown to me and are probably not native to britain and certainly not central suffolk! did you use elder to make it, creating the barriers between the sound chambers with dowel or what?

I used just a piece of Alder wood (you coulld use just about anyu type of wood) and then i carved out the sound chambers with some carving tool gouges, just like in the tutorial pages on paleoplanet.

[WhichDoctor]

No, that's not what I want to achieve at all. Bloody horrible things... ;)

I want to learn how to make proper, tuned, diatonic whistles. I've gone through about 5 different commercial whistles, and I'm yet to find one that's actually tuned right. They always seem to be flat on C (for D whistles). But nobody seems to have any idea how to get something to produce a note without closing the end...

You make an open ended whistle in exactly the same way as in this tutorial but it takes a lot more fiddling to get a note out of it. The first whistle I made like this just happened to work with an open end so I never bothered to close it. Alas I lost it some time later and have never managed to make another open ended one with a decent clear note but it is possible. What you have to do is push the peace of wood in the mouth peace slowly down towards the hole until it hits just the right spot to make it whistle. The closed ended way has much more lea way.

My open ended one had a fantastic high clear note and could be incredibly loud. I'll have to go and see if I can make another one now :D .

Fantastic tutorial by the way, I meant to do one ages ago but couldn't have dun half as good a job :You_Rock_ .

[WhichDoctor]

I had a go at making a whistle from a bit of a elder tree in the garden, but couldn't make it work with an open end. It has made quite a good normal whistle though.

here are some pics
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9282/dscf3451pl5.jpg

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/3039/dscf3452yj7.jpg

I'll have to find some more elder and have another go.

[jon r]

looks great... are those burn marks around the whole?

[WhichDoctor]

looks great... are those burn marks around the whole?

Yes there were lots of bits of wood fiber and pith in the air hole that was affecting the sound, I couldn't get them off with the knife without messing up the sound so I gave it a half second blast with my blue flame lighter. It did the trick and now the whistle has a really clear sound.

[luke_s]

Nice one Jon. Made one today whilst on lunch break. I saw an Elder as I drove down a lane so swung around and cut a piece.
I used green wood, plugged the end up and then let the whistle dry out on the car air vents on the way home. The Elder wood shrank and the end plug is now a perfect fit.
Excellent tutorial mate. Really easy to follow for a newbie like me.
Luke.
P.S. I shouldn't have given it to my 5 year old tho'...... I feel a headache coming on!

[jon r]

hehe, yea i have mine right here at my computer and i cant resist blowing it every now and then, it really gets on peoples nerves.:)


Burning the notch out with a metal skewer maybe a very good idea and i imagine you would get a very crisp splitting edge.

[Wannabe Woodsman]

Thanks for the reply jon, ill start on one as soon as i can :). glad you appreciate my jewellery its really easy to do and you could make some really nice stuff if you had the patience.