Care and Maintenance of Tin
Whistles
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Tin whistles normally don't require much maintenance. However, there are a few things you can do to improve their tone and keep them playing well.
Many modern whistles with the plastic mouthpiece, such as Generation whistles, need some work after purchase before they are really playable. The mouthpiece on such a whistle is often cemented on, which renders the whistle untunable. To remove, it, put the whistle in a cup of hot water for ten or fifteen seconds until the cement loosens. Be sure the water is not too hot (boiling), as this can damage the plastic of the mouthpiece. Hot tap water should do it. You can then remove the mouthpiece and clean out the cement; after doing so, dry the whistle and mouthpiece and replace the mouthpiece. You should now be able to slide the mouthpiece forward and back a bit (although perhaps with some effort). If the mouthpiece is now too loose, put a small piece of teflon tape, available at hardware stores, between the whistle body and mouthpiece. Moving the mouthpiece has the effect of lengthening or shortening the whistle, which lowers or raises its pitch, respectively.
Often during the manufacturing process, small plastic ridges are left in the mouthpiece which will disturb the flow of air, causing a scratchy tone, especially in the upper octave. To remedy this, remove the mouthpiece, and then use a small modeling knife, such as an X-ACTO knife, to carefully scrape away the residual plastic. Be careful not to damage the mouthpiece's blade, as the plastic is very thin there and is easily cut or dented. Make sure the inner sides of the mouthpiece are smooth, as well as the opening of the windway facing the blade.
Peridodically, you will need to take off the mouthpiece and swab out the bore of the whistle with a cloth, because condensation from your breath on the interior of the whistle will attract and collect dust. You may also need to clean out the mouthpiece itself, especially if you carry the whistle around in your pocket as I sometimes do, because lint may collect in the windway. Also, as you are playing, moisture will collect in the mouthpiece, impeding the smooth flow of air. You can blow it out by placing your index finger atop the blade in the mouthpiece, leaving a small space for air to exit the windway, and blowing hard several times into the whistle. Alternately, you can tap the end of the whistle on your pants leg.