I have a Kerry Songbird high D, tunable (hell, what a long name to type ) which is pretty new (I got it in April or May). The problem is, there are small (really small) clogs of something that looks like boiler scale inside the windway already, and also a thin layer of the stuff on the nether part of the fipple block. It doesnāt bother me while I play, it doesnāt obstruct the wind (yet), but I want it off! Anyways, itās weird that itās there at all. Iāve had a Chieftan C for almost a year and a half and it never happened. Any ideas as to why? The only thing I can think of is that the Chieftain has a completely hirisontal windway, while on the Songbird itās archedā¦
In any case, how do I get the stuff off without damaging the whistle? My parents tend to use lemmonic acid or vinegar to that purpose - in the household, but Iād be reluctant to try that on a whistle. Itās aluminium alloy, Iāve no idea if it can be damaged that way. Anyways, what to use?
Also, how can I prevent that sort of clogging, if possible? Thanks a lot
Hi Lamora, welcome to Chiff! I think most whistlers just periodically wash out their whistles with warm soapy water-maybe even a good soak now and then to loosen whatever might be in the windway, especially. After washing, if you dip the fipple end in a clean glass of soapy dish detergent and water, then let it dry overnight, it will go a long way to help prevent clogging by moisture, at least.
Probably the best one to answer your question about the āscaleā you have though, is of course, Phil Hardy. Heās in much better a position to have the answers, but if you just want to read a bit on cleaning whistles, Iāve dug these topics up doing a search on ācleaning aluminumā here on Chiff for previous topics on the whistle forum. Lots of good and bad ideas to be found (how to and how not to clean aluminum) here:
Hey Barry, many thanks! Ok, it wouldnāt have occurred to me to write to Phil Hardy, really, but it does seem like the best solution obviously. I just did and will let you know what he says.
Thereās really plenty of good advice in the trhreads you linked too (and a definite no-no for washing the whistles in the dishwasher )
Iāve been cleaning mine mainly with just warm water, sometimes with soapy water, but never soaked them, so will definitely try that, but didnāt know about dipping the fipple you mentioned - that sounds very logical though. It might be that I just didnāt clean mine often enough? How often do you guys usually do it, btw?
Almost never, basically. The problem might actually be that youāre cleaning your whistle too much. Especially if you have a lot of calcium and mineral content in your water.
If you donāt play with a mouth full of food, a metal whistle shouldnāt require any real cleaning and maintenance. After playing, just shake and blow it out, swab the bore if you like, and let it air dry.
I think you might be on to something, MT! Now that I think about it, when I wash my whistles is not that often: If I can see it (dirt) or smell it, or when I buy or sell one-thatās when I wash mine. Other than an occasional wash or rinse before I treat the fipple with a soapy solution for anti-clogging purposes. I do blow out the excess moisture after I play them, and wipe them down usually too at that time, and let them dry in their breathable cases.
I clean my harper about once every two months. I soak it in warm water and itās astonishing the disgusting stuff that comes out, I reckon a whole species of bacteria could be evolving in my fipple.
Steve Harper also gave me a sort of little bristly bottle brush to poke in it. Someone else I met has an old credit card sliced into precisely the right shape to get the gunge out of the fipple. I havenāt tried that yet and settle for any old bit of card I can tear into shape.
) which is pretty new (I got it in April or May). The problem is, there are small (really small) clogs of something that looks like boiler scale inside the windway already, and also a thin layer of the stuff on the nether part of the fipple block. It doesnāt bother me while I play, it doesnāt obstruct the wind (yet), but I want it off! Anyways, itās weird that itās there at all. Iāve had a Chieftan C for almost a year and a half and it never happened. Any ideas as to why? The only thing I can think of is that the Chieftain has a completely hirisontal windway, while on the Songbird itās archedā¦ 
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