I’m looking for some ideas on keeping whistles warmed up during performances so they don’t clog. I’m not keen on putting soap or solutions in the windway. If the whistles start to clog some I’ve learned to suck out moisture with my in breath and I don’t want to get soap in my mouth. I switch instruments a lot during performances and when I pick up the all metal whistles like the Chieftain low d and low f I try to warm them up the best I can by holding the fipple in my hand or against my neck. It takes too long especially when in a cool setting. (I live in Minnesota!) I once saw Aodh Og O’Tuama from 4 Shillings Short set his whistles on an electric heating pad when not in use. Any other ideas either to keep them warm or to warm them up quickly?
Pat
I’ve seen Brian Finnegan from Flook walk on stage with a whistle sticking out of his back pocket!
I’ve used a cup of tea on several occassions to warm a whistle - just be careful it isn’t too hot,
or the shrill noise won’t be coming from the whistle 
HTH
This still may not be fast enough, but I have found that breathing in the bell in rather than the fipple end to warm it up works pretty good. However, this works in Texas…it might not work nearly as well in Minnesota where you have to play with gloves on. In Minnesota…your only option might be a welding torch 
When I’m playing, I generally tuck metal whistles that aren’t in use either under my arm (since that’s warm enough to take a temperature from), or under my leg so that I’m sitting on the whistle. Under the leg is more convenient, but doesn’t keep the whistle as warm.
Seems like the heating pad woluld be good for several whistles, if it has a tempature control?
I also use a heating pad & a towel for my metal whistles when we play during the cooler months.
I was thinking a pocket added to the lower leg of the pants would be long enough and keep them close enough to the body for warmth, extra close and handy.
What would Mae West say?
If you use Ecover they won’t clog so there won’t be any need to suck.
Another idea… I was looking at a baroque flute/r*******r site yesterday and they were selling bags that had a slot to put a hot water bottle in to keep them warm.
Something ‘interesting’, I’m sure!
they sell heating pads filled with cracked corn you just pop it in the nuke and they stay warm for quite a while also they have gel packs to keep food warm I think corning ware sells them
There are some great ideas above. Some I can’t use. I can’t sit on the whistle since we stand when we play. The hot tea I will surely spill on something electronic and I don’t like tea. The problem I see with the non electric heating items is that they have to be warmed up before I leave home which with travel and set up time can be two hours before the performance starts so the preheated stuff may be all cooled down by the end of the show ( five hours from heating). Especially in winter here everything gets cooled quickly with loading/unloading. I’m liking the heating pad with a towel idea the best so far though I’d like something a bit smaller and classy looking.
Pat
Message to screech.
The Christmas tree business is actually good for earth’s ecology. Growing them pulls carbon out of the atmosphere. As long as they are turned into mulch or placed in landfills, that carbon is out for some time. Burning them, of course, brings everything back to square one.
Good answer.
How about a whistle bag with a pocket for a heating pad? Oh, and it will need a cover for the cord.
I think you forget that those plantations were actually planted on virgin native forest land that contained far more carbon.
The spruce plantations are of absolutely no use to our native wildlife, fungi or wildflowers. They just destroy everything that is beautiful. And for what?
All i see when i look around is a planet on the brink of disaster because the natural native species are struggling to survive. Replaced by selfish money making spruce farms that give no consideration to the natural environment and order whatsoever.
Trees are for life, and life belongs to Nature. Keep taking from Her and you will regret it.
Good for wood instruments, too. That’s what oboists do (Yes, I"m sorry – I don’t know much else but the oboe world). I just finished a (too) long Christmas concert where I played english horn on only three pieces, but they were important solos. The eh warmed up in about 3 minutes on my lap, under a lightweight (think baby) blanket. If it’ll warm up an english horn that quickly it should be even quicker for a teeny tiny ol’ whistle!
edited to add:
Especially in winter here everything gets cooled quickly with loading/unloading.
Sheepskin carrying bag. And a heating pad on a wooden whistle is probably not a good idea. I imagine you’d want it body temperature for best playability.
That’s the problem I had when I tried a hot water bottle. Even in Georgia’s mild winter it cooled off too quickly.
I’m liking the heating pad with a towel idea the best so far though I’d like something a bit smaller and classy looking.
That’s why I use the towel; it makes it look a little better. My pad is an old Sears model that’s just about the right size for a half dozen whistles of assorted sizes. I did learn to turn it off while we’re playing; the PA was picking up intermittent noises from it!
I would be willing to bet that the local sporting good shops , in your area , carry a variety of handwarmers and heated socks for the hunters and fishermen. I had a pair of battery powered hunting socks that you could tuck a number of whistles into. Nice thing was that , being battery powered , you could turn the heat on and off and they were totally portable. Hope this helps in your situation. 
Have a Great Day and Fun Whistling !!
This reminded me of the picture Dale posted of the mystery flute girl with a whistle tucked away in her skin tight…
Link to the thread anyone? 
One year for April Fools day, I proposed whistle with a built-in electric or cordless butane heater.
It never went past the idea stage, after all we can’t people getting burnt on whistles.
Maybe a thermos whistle.