Get some of Parks clear Shellac spray and spray the whistle after cleaning it. Shellac has been well know for it’s ability to seal and it’s a non-toxic alcohol thinable material. I use it on the Series II whistle for the frosted appearance (which requires heat)
On 2002-10-30 07:37, Daniel_Bingamon wrote:
Get some of Parks clear Shellac spray and spray the whistle after cleaning it. Shellac has been well know for it’s ability to seal and it’s a non-toxic alcohol thinable material. I use it on the Series II whistle for the frosted appearance (which requires heat)
Or play Feadogs and Generations.
I am so glad this was posted.
My new, supposedly non-poison one was just as bad as the earlier ones. I tried the cleaning technique that was mentioned and I still get an occasional taste. I’m not playing mine anymore. And I really like them.
I hope I haven’t ingested some carcinogenic substance.
I have a Gen fipple whose tube was bent by my kids (I suspect it wasn’t as accidental as they claim) and a Walton Irish Black Whistle whose A is slightly sharp. This gives me two fipples to put onto the shiny Oak tubes.
On 2002-10-30 03:57, Zubivka wrote:
This fits in the “cheap whistle vs. high-end debate” :
Why spend on Cocobolo when you can get the same result with good ol’ American poison Oak ? >
That’s priceless! 
The person with whom I’ve been corresponding at the at distributor assures me that, though there is an unsolved flavor problem, the manufacturer (in Ireland) says it’s non toxic and non carcinogenic. She is confidant in this.
While I am trusting her at her word, I am a little uneasy that she won’t/can’t tell me exactly what the issue is. I suspect that the technical issues are beyond her usual area and she just isn’t filled in. But still…
I just want to signal my dissatisfaction…
I bought an oak D and C today- the D played so nice, I was really happy, but then my whole freaken mouth went numb. It was a a horrible feeling…
so you think I could return these whistles to the store I bought them? Or send them back to the oak people?
Its so sad because the D played so nice…
grrr
-Angela
I’ve never seen or heard an Oak.
What are they like?
Where do you get them?
Boyd
This is really, really bad!
I don’t see why anyone would bother with mouth-numbing, poisonous whistles. Oak should really be ashamed for making and selling these, especially without recalling them after figuring out the problem. I can’t believe they won’t even fess up about what’s causing these problems. If this were any other product it would be sure to end up in a class-action lawsuit.
Chris
Atarango,
I’d take them to the shop if it’s a small shop. They’re more likely to actually send them back to the distributor and make an issue of it. If you got them at a place like Sam Ash, then I’d bet they’ll just refund you and toss them in a corner. In that case I’d contact the distributor directly.
On 2002-11-16 20:42, ChrisLaughlin wrote:
This is really, really bad!
If this were any other product it would be sure to end up in a class-action lawsuit.
Chris
It may still. I saved both mine in case my lips fall off someday, so we can all sue them together.
What are they like?
Where do you get them?
Boyd, they are similar to a Feadog or Generation, with a fairly heavy nickle body and a black plastic head. They (arguably) have the best tone of all inexpensive whistles.
Many mail-order dealers in the US have them, but I don’t know where you can get them in the UK.
I dunno. I think the only way Oak will do anything fast is if people stop buying their whistles.
I still can’t believe that my replacement whistle was far far worse than the one it was supposed to replace. The first one made my lips numb after playing it for a while. The second one made my mouth numb before I got through one tune.
I don’t care if they say it’s non-toxic. I’m not playing it.
Tery
On 2002-11-16 21:45, blackhawk wrote:
On 2002-11-16 20:42, ChrisLaughlin wrote:
This is really, really bad!
If this were any other product it would be sure to end up in a class-action lawsuit.
ChrisIt may still. I saved both mine in case my lips fall off someday, so we can all sue them together.
I have mine too.
On 2002-11-16 21:45, blackhawk wrote:
On 2002-11-16 20:42, ChrisLaughlin wrote:
This is really, really bad!
If this were any other product it would be sure to end up in a class-action lawsuit.
ChrisIt may still. I saved both mine in case my lips fall off someday, so we can all sue them together.
I have mine too.
On 2002-11-16 21:54, Ridseard wrote:
They (arguably) have the best tone of all inexpensive whistles.
Do ALL oaks have the lip numbing effect, and aside from that are they relitivly free from other quality control problems?
I just had my first look at this topic and now I feel denser than cooktown ironwood. What the heck’s going on?? Are Oak fipples really poisonous, or is this some kind of joke?
Edited to add the following:
OK, it seems you are serious after all. Good grief.
[ This Message was edited by: Jens_Hoppe on 2002-11-19 04:53 ]
Only serious about the taste and numbing. The poisonous part was exaggeration – we hope.
I have two Oak D whistles. One is a new one with the lip-numbing head. Very unfortunate because it sounds so good and is in very good tune. The other is a 20-plus old whose chewed-up mouthpiece disintegrated when I took it off to tune it. I got a Walton’s little black whistle head from the Whistle Shop to put on it and it works great. So I thought I’d try the LBW head on the new Oak body. It did not work. It hummed and buzzed and squeaked all over the place. Who knows? I have noticed, however, that the new body is shorter than the old one and the holes are different in size and placement. I think I’ll give the LBW head one more try. I really want it to work.
Mike Burns