Lately I have noticed build up of green residue in the barrel of my Burke WBB D whistle. Most of it is probably from soaping/rinsing the windway/fipple. I think it is getting to the point of giving the tone a bit of a buzz at times. Does anyone have a good, safe way of cleaning this out. I use Never Dull for the outside of the whistle but do not want to use it for the inside. I hate the taste of Never Dull!
Thanks,
Ailin
Assuming it’s a brass whistle with delrin fipple insert, remove the mouthpiece, plop that whistle into a sink of warm, soapy dishwater, and wash it gently. Then, using a small rag on a flute cleaning rod, swab out the inside of the barrel. You can do this on the mouthpiece, too, to a degree – just be careful not to damage the fipple. Then rinse it, dry it (including drying the inside with a dry rag on that cleaning rod, and treat the slide with petroleum jelly (or with whatever Mr. Burke recommended in the insert with the whistle).
During Renaissance Faire season this is a weekly procedure at our house.
Best,
Adrienne
On 2001-09-28 16:48, Ailin wrote:
Lately I have noticed build up of green residue in the barrel of my Burke WBB D whistle. Most of it is probably from soaping/rinsing the windway/fipple. I think it is getting to the point of giving the tone a bit of a buzz at times. Does anyone have a good, safe way of cleaning this out. I use Never Dull for the outside of the whistle but do not want to use it for the inside. I hate the taste of Never Dull!Thanks,
Ailin
Oh, oh, you have something growing in there! A good wash in hot water and detergent and then cleaning the tube with a long strip of soft cloth whish I tend to jam in with a long Chinese style chop stick (in lieu of a flute cleaner). I cram it in a biut at a time and then start twisting the chop stick! Voila! Clean whistle, clean tones!
A jewelry polishing cloth cut into narrow strips also works. And you’ll polish the inside at the same time. Many also come with an oxidation inhibitor as well, to help keep the inside polished and clean. As the cloth is dry, you won’t have any residue either, just make sure to blow out any lint or dust when you’re done. I use one on my Burke brass session whistle, and it looks beautiful!
B~