Hi All,

Raptor's recent post on whistles got me thinking about them and since spring is near (I hope) I thought I would post some links on how to make a wooden whistle from a willow or maple branch.

I remember seeing this done as a child but forgot how to make them. I have made these for people from kids to seniors, for some strange reason it seems to really impress the ladies and they all request their own? I should of made these when I was a teenager!

The process really only works in the spring when the bark is loose and considerable knife work is required, so BE CAREFUL.

The 2 simple instructions I have used are found here
http://www.mathematische-basteleien.de/flute.htm and here http://www.schizoaffective.org/whistle/

There are many more found on the internet.

I often use some type of neat trick like this to spark a kids interest in the outdoor, I am always recruiting new members for our local outdoor youth program.

Have fun, impress your friends, but be careful it is easy to cut your thumb (learned the hard way).

Mike

P.S. I did a quick search to see if this project had been posted on ETS Forum before but "whistle" gave me so many hits that I did not check them all.

It has been talked about here before, but quite a while ago, thanks for bringing it back. I made a few of them years ago, but haven't been around willow or maple trees for a long long time...

Hey! I remember doing this as a kid. I think we used white poplar (aspen). I remember patiently tapping the bark all around with a closed pocketknife to loosen it. But I've forgotten how to do the carving part. Thanks for the links -- my nephews will be all over this. They get a week of "crazy uncle woodcraft camp" every summer.

Here's an alternative to a reed or wooden whistle. A viking turkey bone whistle.

http://housebarra.com/EP/ep02/17vinstr.html

The article states turkey bone, but I'm sure other bird bones could be substituted. I remembered this from an old issue of the 'Missouri Conservationist' that I have. Native Americans used to make them.

Tim

LOL, reminds me of something from a Spike Jones concert!!!