I purchased a Hall Crystal Flute this weekend, and really enjoyed playing it - interesting tone. I was wondering if anyone has ever tried to make a whistle out of Pyrex glass? Any experimenters out there?
Richard
I have a Hall crystal flute and like the tone. Do you think people would tolerate a fragile whistle? Wouldn’t it be cool to fashion a fipple out of the end of the glass tube, instead of using a plug, etc.
I just so happen to have an acetylene torch and the onset of WhOP (Whistle obsessive productive).
Lisa
I’ve got a Hall Crystal Flute also. Despite its being glass, it really isn’t fragile as one would expect! I’d sure love to try a glass whistle out!
postscript: I’ve just contacted Hall. Lets see if we get any nibbles!
Tyghress
…And I go on, pursuing through the hours,
Another tiger, the one not found in verse.
Jorge Luis Borges
[ This Message was edited by: tyghress on 2002-02-04 14:00 ]
I’ve made several in clear acrylic resin on the lathe,does that count? 
What was the sound like, Thomas? It sounds very interesting. I can’t imagine acrylic having a tone similar to the glass flute I have.
On 2002-02-04 13:26, ysgwd wrote:
I have a Hall crystal flute and like the tone. Do you think people would tolerate a fragile whistle? Wouldn’t it be cool to fashion a fipple out of the end of the glass tube, instead of using a plug, etc.
Well, I’m not sure if people would or they wouldn’t, although on reflection, they do tolerate the Crystal Flute which has the same problem (some folks are taking bets on how long mine will last) 
That said, a starting point would be to use a plastic head and a glass body - this would be the easiest entre into the glass whistle world, and might even be doable, now that I could to think about it… wonder where I can get some thin pryex tube from, plus a reliable way of making (controlled) holes in it? Hmmmmm…
Richard
I’d be interested in a material for the fipple area that’s completely non-condensation building. Would a gortex liner work? I must have unusually hot, steamy breath with the problems I have. I have to keep the car defroster on all the time. People think I’m drooling. My whistle definitely drools. There’s moss growing in the end of the tube. The lap of my pants has all these wet spots. (No, I’m not incontinent.) Sorry if this is too much information.
Tony
Tony,
You think you’re all wet, when I walk into a room people turn off their humidifier. I’m like a tea-kettle that can whistle all the notes in two octaves. I can make a Shaw clog.
Richard and All,
I used to work with pyrex tubing in Chem. class. I used an acetylene torch to put bends and holes in it–pyrex is very forgiving compared to “soft” glass because it can heat up and cool down quickly without exploding on you. To make the holes, I would try using a diamond dremel bit and then heat the resulting hole to melt smooth the sharp edge.
You should be able to find pyrex tubing from a Chemistry lab supply house, or contact Corning Glassware. You could probably find 1/2" diameter and be able to use a little black whistle mouthpiece.
My boyfriend and I are brainstorming how to fashion a fipple with wooden plug in the glass.
This idea makes me wonder about glass quenas, shakuhachis, and other endblown flutes.
I wonder what Mr. Hall of crystal flutes will say. Maybe he’s already decided not to tackle the whistle, has all the flute orders he can handle.
Lisa
An earlier post reported,
“I must have unusually hot, steamy breath with the problems I have. I have to keep the car defroster on all the time. People think I’m drooling. My whistle definitely drools.”
As painful as it is to admit, it is almost certainly spit that runs out the end of the whistle. This condition isn’t unique to whistles. All wind instruments collect spit. That’s why trumpets have “spit valves” instead of “condensation valves”.
I just sling the “moisture” out of the whistle periodically. I just try not to get any on my audience (if any). I also rinse out the whistle after I finish playing.
I have a Corning plant about 30 minutes away from me. I was going to apply to work there once, but I’m not cut out for the assembly line.
My mother-in-law owns a business that decorates for their company party every summer. I wish I would’ve gotten to know the people there every year–chemists, managers, vice presidents, etc.
We set up a big display showing their current and previous products with historical literature on Pyrex.
The stuff is pretty sturdy. I know from dropping a couple of the pieces! I bet it would make a great whistle. I’d say that it would stand up to a sit down on it better than aluminum (Pun intended). However, the shrapnel from one that breaks could be a pain in the butt.
Well I hardly ever do this, but Paulsdad I have to correct you here. It’s OK I get corrected all the time.
I’ll give ya that there could be some spit in the whistle, spit being the fluids that come from the glands under your tounge. Anything else mixxed in with that fluid would have to go into the spitwad catigory. I’ll leave that well enough alone though.
This is a perfect thread to prove my point. If you have ever played a Hall “crystal” flute you can actually see the condensation build up in the tube. It aint spit.
About the tone of a crystal whistle, I’d like to hear one myself, I’m putting money on it being shrill. But I know someone out there can make it work. They always do!!
Jack “I am a scientist” Orion
In regards to the condensation question, I’ll take your word for it …sort of. It’s always fun to “stir the pot” and see what kind of reaction you get.
Happy whistling!
You can get 3/4" Clear Acrylic Tubing from
US Plastic. It’s a bit more expensive than ordinary PVC but would make a nice Low-D.
Nobody has mentioned the Crystal People yet.
Clearly 
these Crystal flutes & whistles are part of their masterplan.
Just thought it should be mentioned…
Closest I’ve come to making a clear whistle is one with a lucite fipple plug. My first few wooden whistles had wooden plugs which kept swelling and clogging. While I was looking for a good substitute for the wood, I came across a small piece of lucite rod by the side of the road while I was out jogging-- looked like part of the handle of a makeup brush or some such thing. I turned it down on the lathe, and it made a rather nifty, unusual looking plug with a bit of polishing. No clogging either. I finally settled on Delrin, for a more conventional look. Took that whistle out the other day, and was surprised to see that a crack had developed in the lucite, so I guess the Delrin was a better choice in the long run.
I got a response from Hall!:
Greetings from the head of the research department (also Production manager,
Production crew, and sweeper of the shop floor.)
I have been thinking about making penny whistles for quite awhile. The main
problem is making the fipple out of glass. It is hard to get glass to hold
an edge with out rounding when you put a torch to it.
One option is to make the body out of glass and use a black plastic mouth
piece. Do you think that it would sell if it was not completely made out of
glass?
I responded that I believed a plastic fipple wouldn’t detract from the saleability. Wonder what will come of it! (Still haven’t heard from Yamaha!
What about a clear plastic mouthpiece, in keeping with the clear glass body? Is black plastic any stronger or easier to work with?
Okay, I have located a source of drills which will let me make the holes as described in the Bloody Hand whistle instruction thingy. Yes, I could melt them (the holes, not the plans), but my plan is to drill them out and use a blowtorch to increase their size to tune.
Now, all I have to do is locate a local source of pyrex tube, plus check my life insurance. I’m trying to find a local supplier as I may have a crack at this this weekend.
Good idea about the clear plastic headpiece btw…
Richard
If all else fails, look for pyrex tube with a beadmaking materials supplier. I use Franz Bead for my supplies. The tubing is used for bracelets and some fancy tube beads.
-Patrick
Drill bits for glass should be available from a stained glass supplier. Glass hobbyists (which should be recognized as different from Hobbits or Crystal People) use them when making glass windchimes.
You may have to keep the bit wet, (with water, not spit)when drilling. Working with glass is a little tricky because of the tiny shards of glass. I used an old paintbrush to clean them off my hands and the work when making stained-glass projects.
Happy whistlin’