I’ve had a Dixon high D polymer whistle with brass tuning slide about 4-5 months. After playing it tonight, I noticed about a one-inch small crack in the head joint–as if the tuning slide had been too tight for the polymer. It plays okay at this point but I’m wondering about its future.
Has anyone else had this experience with a Dixon whistle with brass tuning slide?
Thanks, Jeanie 
Is this a new whistle? If so, return it to the dealer or maker for repairs or replacement.
If it’s not new, or the defect may be due to your neglect, you may be able to stabilize the crack by putting a drop or two of crazy glue in it. This will not stick to all types of plastic though. You could also put several layers of black electrical tape over the crack which should not look too bad on your black whistle.
I’ve had the whistle about 4-5 months. I haven’t left it outside or anything. There was a month or so when I was too busy to play it. I always swab it out with a small silk cloth on a recorder cleaning rod. So, I’ve tried to take good care of it. I guess I’ll see if Dixon can repair or replace it.
Thanks for the advice! Jeanie
If you find that you can’t get the whistle replaced, an effective repair will be …
Wrap the cracked area tightly with black sewing thread so the rows of thread are exactly lined up and close together, making one and then two layers of thread. Get the kind of epoxy glue that bonds to plastic and carefully spread the glue onto the thread, working it into the thread so it absorbs the glue into the fibers. Spread the glue neatly so a little goes over the sides of the thread and touches the plastic. Let harden overnight. This makes a very respectable repair.
Best wishes,
Jerry
Jerry, what do you think about J.B. Weld? That stuff will stick to almost anything and its indestructible. I would think that the crack could be filled with it and once it cures a little it could be filed and burnished smooth. It dries like plastic.
I would avoid a repair that attempts simply to stick the sides of the crack back together and/or fill between them with a new material. In most materials, such a connection is weaker than the original piece, so such repairs tend to come apart. The pulling apart stresses on a hairline repair like that will be intense when a tuning slide is inserted and the whistle is handled (consider the leverage from the end of the whistle). For those reasons, I prefer a repair that reinforces the connection with high tensile strength fibers bonded across the faultline. I’ve use the technique I described above several times. It makes a very respectable finished job.
Best wishes,
Jerry
I have the same whistle and had the same problem.
The fitting inside the head is not secure and is sliding back toward the mouth piece. Everytime you taka it apart for cleaning or whatever, you are pushing that piece even further back.
As a result, the plastic is splitting.
Mr. Dixon is aware of the problem and will replace the damaged piece.
However, I bought mine at Whistle and Drum and they replaced the whole whistle.
So it is a maunufacturer’s defect. Just get it replaced.
Absolutely a nice whistle though. Haven’t had a problem with the new one.
Mike
Whistle & Drum is going to replace it! That’s great customer service! I’m glad to hear your replacement whistle hasn’t had the same problem. It makes me wonder, though, if I shouldn’t take it apart each time I play it to clean it. You said each time it’s taken apart it drives it up higher, causing the crack.
Hmmmm.
Thanks, Jeanie
Jeanie,
From what I understand, there was a batch of whistles that went out that are susceptable to this problem. There is some kind of ring in the fipple end of that whistle that did not receive enough glue or it was the wrong size or something to that effect. Whatever the reason, that ring would slide up further each time you put the two pieces back together. The further it slide the more it put pressure on the thin walls until it finally made a split.
To be honest with you, I have a new whistle, but I don’t take it apart, just in case it might do it again. Instead, I got a longer cleaning swab and just keep it together. I don’t want to take the chance…I really like this whistle.
Now I was told that the problem was corrected, so by all means if you feel comfortable with taking it apart to clean it or move it to tune it, you should be able to without fear of the problem recurring. Up to you. 
Enjoy that Dixon. It’s a really nice whistle.
Mike
My beloved Dixon is splitting on both sides of the head. Thanks for the heads-up. I thought I had inadvertantly sat on it or something.