Make a whistle from bottle-tops.

We've all heard the amazing loud "survival whistles" made from bottle-tops or acorn caps.

I wanted to make something more ... controlled.

(you can probably work out what to do just by looking at the photo, but read on.)

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Step 1: What you need

I made this with two soda bottle caps and a piece of drinking straw, using hot-glue, my Leatherman and a drill with a twist-bit for wood (I'll warn you in advance that the hole in the caps must be drilled - if you melt the hole, the edges will be too rounded to make the whistling noise you need).

boom man56 says: Oct 14, 2012. 6:29 PM

its soooo cool. I made one and it works!!!!

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Kiteman (author) in reply to boom man56Oct 15, 2012. 1:37 AM

Awesome!

emilyvanleemput says: Sep 16, 2012. 7:51 AM

I'm gonna make this right now!!!!!
O, wait, homework first...
I'm gonna make this a.s.a.p!!!!!

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Kiteman (author) in reply to emilyvanleemputSep 16, 2012. 8:11 AM

Cool - post a picture (or a video?) when you do!

blinkyblinky says: Nov 18, 2011. 5:17 PM

Is that you because Wilgubeast's picture of you as Feature Author was different.

You look younger...

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Kiteman (author) in reply to blinkyblinkyNov 19, 2011. 3:23 AM

They're both me, just several years between projects.

blinkyblinky in reply to KitemanNov 19, 2011. 6:10 AM

That's cool...

Dream Dragon says: Oct 22, 2011. 6:31 AM

A very small and simple "Ocarina". Pitch is affected by the size of the holes, and can also be adjusted by "Shading", bring something CLOSE to the hole don't cover it completely and notice the change in pitch, (about a semi tone). It's the way a "Bosun's Call" works.

poza says: Sep 24, 2011. 6:59 PM

mine isn't working - what size hole did you drill here? i noticed the side hole is 3mm, but you don't mention the size of the top hole.

also, i wonder if the size of the straw matters - both width AND length.

once i get this to work, i was thinking of trying two peanut butter lids and a barrel from an ink pen.

NinjaBoy12 in reply to pozaOct 19, 2011. 4:50 PM

i had to make a really big hole for it to work
just try making a hole then blowing over it if it doesnt sund make it bigger

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Kiteman (author) in reply to pozaSep 25, 2011. 3:07 AM

The whistle is very sensitive to the precise angle the air hits the edge of the hole, and I found that it worked better when I slightly flattened the straw.

NinjaBoy12 says: Oct 2, 2011. 10:57 AM

i tried very hard to use the wistle and every time i found the spot for the straw and picked it up to put glue underneath it it lost all its sound and didnt work. i also couldnt get the straw to stay flat. HELP!!!!

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Kiteman (author) in reply to NinjaBoy12Oct 2, 2011. 11:10 AM

The straw will stay flat enough if you squeeze it hard and crease it.

If the position is proving fiddly, try a small blob of modelling clay or blue tac:

Stick the straw roughly in place, then fiddle until it's right, and while the clay holds the straw still, glob around it with the hot-glue.

NinjaBoy12 in reply to KitemanOct 19, 2011. 4:49 PM

thanks

dragonmamath says: Sep 20, 2011. 12:55 PM

Awesome!

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Kiteman (author) in reply to dragonmamathSep 20, 2011. 2:51 PM

Thank you!

bajablue says: Sep 11, 2011. 8:11 AM

This is EXCELLENT for someone who is whistle-challenged... and that would be me! ;-)

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Kiteman (author) in reply to bajablueSep 11, 2011. 8:52 AM

Thanks!

hrodriguez7 says: Sep 10, 2011. 4:37 PM

i'm havin' FUN man!!!!
this things awsome!
i'm stating to get dizzy, though......

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Kiteman (author) in reply to hrodriguez7Sep 11, 2011. 2:12 AM

Cool, but maybe you should sit down for a while?

lucasunodiecinueve says: Sep 9, 2011. 10:25 PM

Thanks. Is so easy, funny and free whistle.or OCARINA ( aztec instrument) Show me more!!!!
http://www.google.com.mx/imgres?q=ocarinas+aztecas&num=10&hl=es&rls=com.microsoft:es-419:%7Breferrer:source%3F%7D&biw=1138&bih=535&tbm=isch&tbnid=kSjAS9YJEkiUIM:&imgrefurl=http://html.rincondelvago.com/musica-en-las-culturas-prehispanicas.html&docid=tHAwEYYOI4cg6M&w=500&h=160&ei=R_RqTtz-HqLLsQKw7K3pBA&zoom=1

Mutantflame says: Sep 9, 2011. 8:54 AM

Nice whistle!

How did you enter this in the contest? I thought it was only open to those who live in the US or Canada? Have I been missing something?

I haven't made any contest entries because they all say that you can't enter if you live in the UK.

Z

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Kiteman (author) in reply to MutantflameSep 9, 2011. 9:08 AM

_{_{(The "how" is "tick the box to enter the contest" - the website system doesn't know where I am, because Instructables don't keep a record of members' addresses. They will only officially know where I live if I win, and they need my address.)}}

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Kiteman (author) in reply to MutantflameSep 9, 2011. 9:04 AM

I'm hoping that they beat the lawyers into submission before the contest ends.

Mutantflame in reply to KitemanSep 12, 2011. 9:16 AM

But, if you were to win, to where would you send the prizes? Or would instructables just refuse to send them to you and send them to second place instead?

You got my vote nonetheless.

Mutantflame in reply to KitemanSep 9, 2011. 9:55 AM

I like your way of thinking.

rimar2000 says: Sep 9, 2011. 5:06 AM

Nice! my little granddaughters will be very happy with it.

It is almost an ocarine, you could name it "ocar" or so. VOTED.

Was a good idea to hire Robert de Niro for the video! The project deserves it.

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Kiteman (author) in reply to rimar2000Sep 9, 2011. 5:38 AM

Haha, thank you!