I just received a new Oak D from an internet vendor. After about 5 minutes,or less, my lips got tingly,then numb…too bad, it has a lovely sound,but really don’t want my lips to rot off. Is there any solutions anyone has found?
chapstick.
Washing it with dishsoap will take the edge off it as well.
It may just be a matter of time and airing out. Many plastics outgas pretty badly for awhile when they’re new, but then become fairly neutral. You might just put it aside for a couple of weeks somewhere where it’s open to the air. Others who’ve had poison Oak whistles may be able to report whether they did become more neutral in time.
Best wishes,
Jerry
I’ve just given up on Oaks, unfortunately. Why bother, when Gens sound so good?
After tyring all the conservative remedies like dishwashing detergent, leaving it to air out, etc. to no avail I coated the portion of the mouthpiece with a thin layer of cyanoacrilate glue (Krazy Glue, Super Glue) as was suggested here a while ago. It worked very nicely to get rid of the toxic effect but when I finally got some time in on the whistle I got frustrated by its quirky air requirements and went back to my Generation.
If you want to try it, just fine-sand the area where the glue will go, then apply a thin coating of glue, being careful not to let it drip into the windway. Let it set for a few hours and sand out any irregularities if needed. Add a second coat if you like. Once the super glue is dry it’s non-toxic and you will bea able to play your Oak without your lips getting numb.
Mike
edit
I had the same problem with the Oaks, but even after coating the mouthpeice I had problems. My solution was easy, put the thing away, play another whistle.
I know this may come out wrong, but when I get a whistle, I dont care how much I paid for the thing, I should -not- have to do a single thing to it to make it playable, and the thing should certainly not be making me sick in any way.
Just makes me mad, 
you would think that with all the people having problems with their fipples, someone in the company would wake up and do something about it. -grumbles-
I have an Oak which doesn’t give me any numbing problems. Oaks are one of the few whistles that come in a near air-tight sleeve & I think this prevents the airing that Jerry suggests. I left mine out for a while and it seemed to work for me.
I agree with Nightshayde though, why should we have to tinker with our purchases? We can if we want to, but it shouldn’t be a given requirement.
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=10385&highlight=poison
Supposedly, Oak has changed the mouthpiece material, according to the above linked thread. If that’s true, you must have gotten one that was made before the change. If you can’t get it aired out, you could return it for a refund and order a new one from the source mentioned in the thread.
Best wishes,
Jerry
edit
they’re not poisonous it’s just that some of them make people’s lips numb. Mine doesn’t, I think it’s just luck and chance…
Right. I coined the name Poison Oak to be cute. But I am assured by the distributor that they are not harmful–just bad tasting.
I feel that there are probably a lot of vendors who still have old stock sitting around, many of whom don’t even know about the problem.
Return it and ask for one that was made in 2003.
My Oak (C) is great. I like the sound, the playability and the lack of numbing!
I’m with Sam on this one.
I have both an Oak and a new-model Acorn (they use the same fipple).
I have no numbing problems with either.
Best,
–James
Well I figured put a workable solution. I wrapped the mouth piece with teflon tape and…no more problem. The whistle now is one of my favorites. Lovely tone, solid spot on tune,just a hint of chiff. The best of the inexpensives in my book.
What a good idea!
I have an Oak D, as well as an Oak C, neither of which has ever caused any lip numbing. I bought both of them about three years ago, so I’m not sure if this was before people started noticing this problem or not. Anyway, I consider myself fortunate after reading of the troubles so many whistlers have had with them.
But I still find the Oak to be, in my opinion, the absolute best cheap whistle available. And I do so wish that whoever coined this assinine terminology “poison Oak” would cease and decist! After all, the whistle is NOT poisonous!!! 
~Larry
I agree that the Oak is the best inexpensive whistle going. It’s just unfortunate that the mouthpiece causes lip numbing and tastes like a toxic waste dump. Seems to me that the maker would do something about it.
Not poisonous? I had one. It turned me into a newt. But I got better. I gave it to Bloomfield, who said he likes it.
I have an Oak C that has never bothered my lips. My husband bought me a D on Valentine’s Day (awwwww…isn’t that romantic?) and I was surprised at the numbing/stinging effect. It was REALLY BAD! And it didn’t sound very good to me either.
HOWEVER, just this week, I’ve started playing it a lot and have found that the poison sensation is completely gone and not only that, but I absolutely adore the thing! It takes a little different technique to play, yes, a more…I don’t know…specific technique I suppose. But seriously, it’s a darn good little whistle!
Edited to tell Ridseard 
(he posted while I was posting)