I’ve got an Oak that I play quite often, and I’ve never had any of the problems you people describe.
And I’m one of those people who is allergic to EVERYTHING.
Go figure…
Stopped by a music store during my lunch break. They had Acorns (Oak) and I tried a lovely natural brass one. It played well and sounded good.
One and 1/2 hours later, I can still taste the plastic on my lips. If they changed the plastic formula on these things they would have a winner of a whistle.
I seem to remember reading somewhere that formaldehyde (sp?) is used in the manufacture of some plastics. I wonder if that’s what you folks are experiencing?
I do know that formaldehyde will cause some numbness as some old mountain men used to soak their feet in a very dilute solution to reduce sweating -- including my father. Dad said it made his feet numb and tingly for a while but at least his boots weren't rotting off his feet when he was hiking in the desert.
Hmmm, I sure hope no one was reading this while eating dinner...
John
I didn’t play my Oak much, but loved the sound when I moved the fipple to the Doolin 2-piece. Played that for a while today and got the lip tingles. Have they said anything yet about what’s causing this?
Tery
If you write and ask them, they just write back and ask for your address so they can send you a replacement. They pretend they didn’t hear any questions of the cause.
[ This Message was edited by: blackhawk on 2002-08-18 09:20 ]
From what I’ve seen here, it appears that the replacements aren’t any better than the originals. I was hoping they’d figured it out, so if I get a new one it will be useable 
.
Tery
On 2002-08-18 12:42, tkelly wrote:
From what I’ve seen here, it appears that the replacements aren’t any better than the originals. I was hoping they’d figured it out, so if I get a new one it will be useable >Tery
Actually, Tery, the Acorn I got as a replacement is just about the perfect cheap whistle (no, not as good as an O’Briain), and it doesn’t burn my lips like the first one. So it’s worth a try.
I made a case for one of my Low D whistles out of bubinga. There was a lot of dust created by the router and belt sander that fell on my sandal clad feet. Later that night my feet swelled up and itched like crazy. The stuff will get you.
John
Ye old wood weasel