How to Whittle a Pan Flute

instructional photos for each project and provides a strong emphasis on safety
and tool care. Discover the basics of selecting the right pocket knife and
learn how to whittle a pan flute in this excerpt from Chapter 1, “Whittlin'”
and Chapter 5, “Tube Whistles Without a Fipple.”</em>
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<p>Whittlin’ (I know, the
“right” way to say and spell it is “whittling”, but somehow
“whittlin'” just seems more appropriate), is what we call carving
when the only, or at least the main, tool that is used is a knife.</p>
<p>Some modern adults freak out
a bit when the word “knife” or “sharp” is used, and their
children are going to be involved. However, whittlin’ is far safer than
activities that kids do all the time. Yes, it is possible, even likely, that a
whittler will cut themselves, but the injury will be minor compared to the kind
of thing that can happen while say skiing, or cycling or swimming. I am unaware
of anyone who has ever needed a lifeguard while whittlin’! No one has ever
broken a bone in my class either.</p>
<p>Mostly when we say
“knife” in conjunction with whittlin’, we mean a pocket knife. And
what a wonderful device that is! It is practically a magic wand. With a pocket
knife ordinary sticks can be transformed into wonderful and useful things. A
pocket knife folds up and is safe in a pocket when it isn’t in use, but is
there when a whittlin’ fit strikes. These fits strike me quite a lot, and if I
didn’t have my knife with me I would be very frustrated.</p>
<p>It is important to have a
good knife. A good knife will not be cheap. Pay the price. Call it an
investment in mental health, because poor tools will drive you nuts! This is
not to say the knife has to be really expensive. Knives that are excellent for
the projects in this book are available for $25 or so.</p>
<p>Today, good knives are made
in many countries, though the ones made here at home or in Europe
tend to be on the more expensive side.</p>
<p>A good knife is not usually
a big knife. The right knife will be large enough to grasp but not so large
that it is clumsy. A two to four bladed knife is the way to go, with the
smaller blades available for most of the work. A larger blade is useful when a
little extra reach is needed, or when cutting off branches. No knife is a good
substitute for an axe or a machete, both of which are also useful to whittlers
at times.</p>
<p>Avoid
“multi-tools” for whittlin’, and bulky, multi-purpose knives with
corkscrews, unless you want blisters.</p>
<p>When you use the knife make
sure it is sharp, since there is less force required working with a sharp knife
than with a dull one. Always ask yourself “what happens when (not if),
this knife slips when I am cutting this way?” If the answer is “I
will bleed!” cut some other way! It is far better to take the time to turn
the wood around so that you can cut in a safe direction than to take the time
out­–never mind the pain–to put on Band-Aids. Do not cut down on your leg! Cut
down on a board or log or something that doesn’t matter if it gets nicked.</p>
<p>Consider getting a cut
resistant glove for the hand that isn’t holding the knife. They are available
from carving suppliers that can be found on the Internet.</p>
<p>Think! Think safety. Keep
thinking while you work.</p>
<h2>Pan Flute Whistles Without a
Fipple</h2>
<p>Almost everyone has used a
bottle as a whistle, by just blowing over the end. The same thing can be done
with a piece of cane, bamboo, or other natural tube. Just make sure the end is
plugged, either by leaving a joint of the cane on or holding a finger over the
open end. You can cut a bunch of tubes of cane, about the same diameter, with a
joint left on one end to act as a plug. Then tune them to each other in a
scale. Lash them together with some sticks and string to make a pan flute.</p>
<p>This will take quite a bit
of time, and a good ear. Tone deaf people are going to have trouble with this.
Some extra hands to help while the lashing is taking place are useful too. This
makes a good project for a rainy day at camp. Waiting for fish to bite is a
good time for this or other whistle projects too.</p>
<p>It is even possible to add a
second row of tubes with sharps and flats tuned in. I have heard some really
nice music played with a flute made this way.</p>
<p>The native people who live
in the Andes make some very nice music using
flutes made just like this.<hr style=””>
<em>This excerpt has been
reprinted with permission from </em>Whittlin’ Whistles<em>, published by Linden Publishing, 2012. Buy this book from
our store: </em>
<a href=”https://www.motherearthnews.com/shopping/detail?itemnumber=6458″ title=”Whittlin’ Whistles: How to Make Music with your Pocket Knife” target=”_blank”>Whittlin’ Whistles: How to Make Music with your Pocket Knife</a>
<em>.</em>
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