how do you make a wooden recorder?

[bilko]

Hiya
It's been a while since iv'e been here as iv'e been doing lates and stuff but.....
I went for a walk in the woods the other day and whilst out i collected 2 sticks which i thought might be good for hand drills.
Anyway i left them in the car by accident and forgot about them. yesterday i got in the car and there they were now dried out as they were both green.
I havn't a clue what wood they are axcept that 1 is very light and it's now apparent that it's filled with some sort of spongy material. The other is at least 4 times heavier and when wet had a nasty bark that would stain your hands sort of, possibly hawthorn?
So, i was watching oceans 12 and just happened to have both sticks on the coffe table so i paused the film and fetched a kebab skewer from the kitchen and then spent the rest of the film happily hollowing out the light spongy stuff from the light bit of wood. I am now left with a pretty good hollow stick about 14 inches long.
great i thought, i'll stick some holes in it and make a kind of flute lol.
Anyway, i drilled out a hole near each end on opposite sides thinking that when i blew through it i would get some sort of whistle, even before i drilled the key holes.
And, nada lol. I may as well be blowing through a straw which i suppose i am realy.
So, does anyone know how to turn this now 13 inch long hollow stick into a kind of flute penny whistle thing? i don't want to go buying reeds?
Thanks
bilko

 

[Fluxus]

The wood is Elder. I've tried to make a flute out of it too but it didn't work too well. One end needs to be blocked up and the tube has to be as smooth as smooth can be. You could just make an owl whistle if you collect another bit and don't poke the skewer all the way through... I could show you how, but couldn't explain it in writing very easily.

 

[Keith_Beef]

The wood is Elder. I've tried to make a flute out of it too but it didn't work too well. One end needs to be blocked up and the tube has to be as smooth as smooth can be. You could just make an owl whistle if you collect another bit and don't poke the skewer all the way through... I could show you how, but couldn't explain it in writing very easily.

The one with the pithy centre definitely sounds like elder.

When I mentioned on BCUK that I used this to make a tube for blowing on embers and to make a fire burn hotter, I was warned that some people can have an allergic reaction to elder. So maybe be careful the first few times, and watch your mouth for a rash.

Rather than go to the hassle of blocking one and, and drilling finger holes, you might (if you can get enough) find it easier to make pan pipes.


Keith.