I have a wooden whistle and the inlaid portion of the fipple keeps getting loose and can easily be pulled all the way out. When I fit it back in, the whistle plays just fine. I know, from a purist’s point of view that this piece is supposed to be a gloriously-precise friction fit. Well it’s not. Is there any good reason that you know of why I can’t just put a dab of the right kind of glue on it, so it stays put? And, what IS the right kind of glue to use, anyway?
Dunno whether or not there is a good reason not to glue it back in, but I know that there is special carpenters glue made especially for wood. You can find it in the hardware section of stores. Super glue may work just as well, although I wouldn’t try that one until someone more knowledgable comes along and verifies.
What manufacturer is the whistle from? If it is from any of the reputable makers that frequent this forum, and many that do not, I would suggest contacting them to get a solution. They may well need for you to return the whistle and refit a new fipple block for you.
Let us know and then a more reasonable suggestion could be mentioned for you.
The fipple block of my ancient mystery whistle ( http://www.coastalfog.net/whistles/mysterywhistle.html ) is a bit loose. I discovered this while swabbing condensation from the upper section.
The fit is pretty tight, but I’m tempted to apply just a tiny bit of casein glue, like Elmer’s Carpenter Glue (the yellow stuff), which is waterproof when dry, but easy to clean up with water before it dries.
I was holding off on doing anything to it till I found out where it came from, but neither of my queries to the Sweetheart folks has elicited any response, and that’s the only suggestion anyone had about a possible origin for it, so I may go ahead and glue it.
I’d nearly bet money it’s a Sweetheart. Mine had the same size/shape/looking tuning slide, and was also wound with red thread..
James Peeples also has some sweethearts, and could probably say the same.
a very tiny dab of the aforementioned carpenter’s glue will do the trick. You don’t want to glue it in TOO securely: if the whistle ever needs revoicing the maker will need to be able to knock that plug out. Be sure to get the plug back into exactly the same place. Once you apply the glue, test play the whistle all the way up and down the octaves before the glue dries.
Wouldn’t beeswax do the job?
I suggest “SEX WAX” 
aka, Carnauba wax. This is the sticky stuff used for bowlers grip or surf boards. It will seal and hold your plug and can be easily removed for reapplication/setting.
emmm, you see, i didn’t say anything, nuthin.