Train Whistle

**Keith_1** · 21st July 2020, 06:41 PM

Hi All,

I am sick of painting so I decided that I will make some train whistles for needy kids at Christmas. Dallas's (Treecycle) Woodworking Club donates toys at Christmas time so I will give them to Dallas to distribute. I am starting off with ten and we will see how I go from there.

The first one I made was a bit rough - I will keep that one

. Now onto my third and am getting better.

This is how I made the first one

1. Cut 40 X 40 square - 160mm long

1.jpg

2. Cut off 20mm - this will be the cap

2.jpg

3. Mark out 12mm from each side. Where the lines intersect will be the location of the holes

3.jpg

4. Drill 4 pilot holes - 8mm diameter

4.jpg

5. Drill 4 holes - 12.5mm diameter at 4 different depths 70. 85. 100 and 115mm respectively

5.jpg

6. Mark a line 20mm from end and then mark out 45 degree Vees all around

6.jpg

7. Using a piece of scrap timber cut at 45 degrees for support - cut to the apex of the vee and the cut out the remainder of the Vee section. Four are to be cut out

8.jpg 9.jpg

8. Grind an 8mm wide flat on 12.5mm dowel. This will be the reed. Insert reeds in the 4 holes with the flat facing the corner. It is only inserted to where you cut out the vee as per 7. Blow on each reed and you should get varying pitches. If not you may need to widen the flat on the vee.
Glue the reeds in ensuring no glue in the flats

11.jpg

9. Drill the cap with a 35mm forstner bit 10mm deep. Drill a hole to take 10 aluminium tube. Aradite the tube in - this is your blow pipe

12.jpg

10. Glue the top onto the body after cutting off and sanding the tops of the reeds flush. Smooth and round all edges and finish sand the whistle.

13.jpg 14.jpg 15.jpg

It should sound like a steam locomotive whistle

Regards

Keith

YouTube link below

Make a wooden train whistle | 2012 New Years noisemaker - YouTube

**Keith_1** · 21st July 2020, 06:57 PM

Hi All

Sorry about some of the photos. I think I have fixed it now . But I cannot delete the photo after the YouTube link. Don't know why it is there. Didn't put it there.

Regards

Keith

**crowie** · 21st July 2020, 08:09 PM

Top one Keith - wooo wooo....

Uncle Al will love them for all the trains he's making for his clubs Christmas....

**NCArcher** · 21st July 2020, 08:40 PM

Great tutorial Keith. I made one for my kids a long time ago. It was a favourite for many years.

**Chief Tiff** · 21st July 2020, 11:14 PM

Very schmick!

I’ve built a series of jigs for the bandsaw and the pillar drill for batch production of two-tone versions, made out of cheap 42X19 offcuts. These will be for kids at our next Open Day. I’m also thinking of drilling a load of single note blanks for kids to make themselves.

Kids seem to really enjoy things that are loud and annoying; you may not be very popular with parents for a while!

**Treecycle** · 22nd July 2020, 08:12 PM

The club will really appreciate your donation. With a year like this it might be hard to muster up a good contribution of toys and there will probably be even more kids in need of them.
So thanks from everyone. I must start my effort soon. Steve Ramsey does put up some quite achievable projects so you don't feel overwhelmed in having a go at them.

**Keith_1** · 22nd July 2020, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by Treecycle

The club will really appreciate your donation. With a year like this it might be hard to muster up a good contribution of toys and there will probably be even more kids in need of them.
So thanks from everyone. I must start my effort soon. Steve Ramsey does put up some quite achievable projects so you don't feel overwhelmed in having a go at them.

I have 6 completed so far Dallas.

Enjoyable task making them.

Regards

Keith

**htl** · 24th July 2020, 03:35 AM

Great project for all us train building nuts.
This is a project that could get you in the dog house fairly easily so blow with care LOL

**Keith_1** · 24th July 2020, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by htl

Great project for all us train building nuts.
This is a project that could get you in the dog house fairly easily so blow with care LOL

Thanks Bruce,

But it is Cathie going around the house blowing these whistles and ensuring anyone I speak to on the phone gets to hear them

Regards

Keith

**Dalboy** · 28th July 2020, 05:23 AM

Great project Keith I also have made one of those and have been sworn at many times for giving it to a small child

. I did not use an ali tube but turned the mouth piece

**htl** · 28th July 2020, 06:34 AM

But it is Cathie going around the house blowing these whistles and ensuring anyone I speak to on the phone gets to hear them

Sounds like someone was deprived of a whistle when a child.

**Keith_1** · 28th July 2020, 10:11 AM

Continuing on the whistles - up to 20 now

Regards

Keith

**Keith_1** · 30th July 2020, 02:35 PM

Hi All,

Finished 25 whistles. Thomas the Tank labels on each one.

This has been very enjoyable.

Will continue on making toys for Christmas for a while I think. My Thatcher Perkins loco can wait for the tracks, sleepers etc.

16.jpg

Regards

Keith

**Potts** · 30th July 2020, 03:25 PM

Your on a roll, they look fantastic. Some lucky children at Xmas.

**crowie** · 30th July 2020, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Keith_1

Hi All,

Finished 25 whistles. Thomas the Tank labels on each one.

This has been very enjoyable.

Will continue on making toys for Christmas for a while I think. My Thatcher Perkins loco can wait for the tracks, sleepers etc.

16.jpg

Regards

Keith

Magnificent job Keith.
As Glenn said, the children are going to love them.
Cheers Peter

Thread: Train Whistle

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Train Whistle

Similar Threads

Steam Train Whistle

Whittled Dog Whistle

Wooden Whistle

Looking For Steam Whistle Plans

2 bowls - a box and a whistle

Posting Permissions