I have a Dixon Trad that required a replacement head. It’s ever so slightly looser than the first one, and depending on the temperature it won’t stay at whatever tuning I select. It’s too tight for teflon tape, though.
Suggestions?
Thanks.
Hi, John.
With the point of an Exacto knife, inscribe a spiral groove inside the socket. This will raise a burr along the sides of the groove that will act as a gasket that will tighten the whistlehead. After making the groove, put the whistlehead back on and then take it off again. Look inside the socket, and remove any little strands of plastic that may have come loose from along the groove.
Best wishes,
Jerry
(P.S. I haven’t forgotten your email, will respond eventually.)
showoff.
I don’t understand.
Best wishes,
Jerry
just smile
it was a complement 
I still say it’s a mouse and don’t see how anyone could think otherwise. 
Jason
I recently got a Dixon Trad and it has the same problem. The head on mine will slip up/down, but even worse, it easily twists, causing the hole alignment to end up on one side or the other. Tony sent a replacement head that fits tighter, but doesn’t play well at all with the new head.
I tired the spiral groove suggestion and it helps to keep the head from moving up/down but doesn’t help the twisting problem too much.
DC
In that case, you could try making a second spiral groove, deeper than the first, so as to raise a higher ridge. Unless it’s so loose there’s no hope of that technique working, in which case, teflon plumber’s tape should work.
Best wishes,
Jerry
Yes, it was a compliment. I often get the opportunity to have a problem that I think about and think about and think about and try what I can to fix things without total success and then someone who actually knows something happens by and fixes things in less time than it took me to type this. There is nothing like knowing people who know things. I always say “showoff” to them too but they get to see the smile on my face.
an it’s so much more PC than the alternative
Thanks for the kind words.
Y’all are such nice people. I’m very glad to know you.
Best wishes,
Jerry
I wonder if a coating of rubber cement around the top of the tube would do the trick? Thinner than teflon tape, and easily removable / reversible.
I don’t think rubber cement would work because of the combination of friction and rubbing off/sticking together when you try to move the whistlehead. However, a coating of clear nail polish might do the trick.
Good idea.
Best wishes,
Jerry
How about a second spiral groove, but in the opposite direction to the first?
maybe a single strand of dental floss will fit in there. It is designed to flatten out. I use it on an old Abell.
Thanks. I’ll try this.
John, have you tried beeswax? I have used it on a couple of whistles and it worked fine. Just rub it around the tube where you want the the head to be. If you move it from side to side before lining it up with the holes you will wind up with a nice tight seal.
Mike
I’ve seen my whistle teacher use cigarette papers on his Overton.
Mike thanks. I can always count on you to mind your beeswax
Hi
On my PVC and CPVC whistles, I paint on some superglue (crazy glue) around the tube where it goes into the tuning slide and then sand it down to a snug fig.
Cyanocrylate glue is not poisonous once it has cured.
Owen