How to Make a Whistle Using Bamboo

If you like working with your hands, you may be looking for something interesting to make. With a piece of bamboo and a few tools, you'll be able to make your own whistle that is sure to impress your family and friends.

Things You'll Need

• Bamboo
• Measuring tape
• Handsaw
• Knife
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

1. Get two pieces of bamboo that are hollow. You want one of the pieces to fit snug inside the other without having to force it. The wider one will be for the whistle's body and the narrower one will make the two inner pieces of the whistle.

2. Create the body of the whistle by using the measuring tape to measure out a 5-inch piece of the wider bamboo and cut it using the saw. Take the narrower piece of bamboo and cut this piece into two smaller pieces that are each 1 inch long. These will be for the mouthpiece and air plug.

3. Make an opening on the body of your whistle for the air to escape. To do this, measure a mark 1 inch down from one of the sides. Use the saw to cut into the mark until you have reached the hollow center. Make another mark 1 inch down from the saw cut. Place your knife on this mark and cut at an angle towards the first cut. Reveal the opening by removing this cut piece.

4. Take the small piece of bamboo for the mouthpiece, and shave off one side of it with the knife. You should only remove enough bamboo to create a flat side without cutting into the center. Insert the mouthpiece, with the flat side up, into the air opening end of the whistle. Glue any gaps of space between these two pieces so air will not escape.

5. Get the other small piece of bamboo, which will be the air plug, and seal up both of the ends with glue. This will prevent any unwanted air from passing through. Add the plug to the whistle by placing it into the bottom end of the whistle. Fill in any loose areas between the plug and whistle with glue and let it dry. Your bamboo whistle is now complete.

Tips & Warnings

• If your bamboo is not hollow, use a pen or drill to remove the interior.

• If no sound comes out of your whistle, check to make sure there are no remaining gaps between the pieces. If there are some, seal them with glue.