Not a great start to 2013 - I managed to shut the head of my Dixon polymer low whistle in the car door. It now has a crack from the inlet to the window (the whistle, not the door). I have a gig on Saturday, so I’m going to have to try and fix it or learn to play my Kerry whistle fast. I’m thinking araldite or superglue. Since the crack has opened up a bit, araldite might help fill it rather than having to pull it all back together with insulation tape, so I’m leaning in that direction. Advice welcome…
Bummer man !
One question: is the crack “closeable” with hand pressure ? If it is, I’d vote for superglue. The main reason is: by closing the crack, you’ll keep the geometry close to original.
If Araldite (an epoxy, I think) were used to “fill in”, I’d be worried about altering the head geometry. In my experience, a whistle’s voice is quite sensitive to head geometry.
Hope you find a fix !
Sorry to hear this. When the crack opens, I wouldn’t fill it - additional material would slightly change the shape of the mouthpiece, and probably maybe make it loose or something. (If I understood the situation correctly… or is some plastic really broken away?)
I use to simply put some superglue (very little) in the crack and then press it together. Really simple, and works super duper. Taping might help to support this, but for me this has not been necessary yet, as the springiness of the plastic wanted to bring the mouthpiece back to original shape anyway (only soprano whistles though).
(Dang… cross post!)
Nope. The crack stays open.
To my suprise, it plays pretty well with the crack, so I think I’ll fill it rather than risk more damage by trying to restore the original shape, which I think is another reason to go for araldite.
I have modified some Dixon polymer whistles. They are the kind of plastic that can be solvent-welded using plumbing supplies (quite possibly diichloromethane - ask a chemist on campus). If you get the repair right it will be invisible, and just as strong as before the accident.
If the crack opens up when not under pressure you may need to holdit together when repairing - I find electricians tie-wraps a good solution. (Also, this indicates a stress in the plastic - but I would opt for making the shape as close to original as possible).
You could also phone Tony Dixon - he is a very freindly and helpful man.
Thanks Phill - a cable tie might just work as the glue sets…
Car doors can be dangerous to the health of a whistle!
Hoopy Mike, what I would do is wrap the effected area with silk thread and then coat it with superglue to keep it in place. This method works well on a number of materials but bamboo flutes particularly. For instructions on how to wrap look into bamboo fly rod making. Or take a look here or here.
But the tie-wrap probably is quicker.
Feadoggie