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Notes from the workshop

Limited Edition Blue Pro Ds

5 CommentsThursday • April 5, 2018 • by Mk Admin

We have a small batch of limited edition Blue Ds available here.  This is the second batch of blue Ds we have ever made – so they are pretty rare!!!

Posted in: MK DESIGN BLOG, Mk developments, MK MUSIC BLOG, Notes from the workshop

New Pro A

2 CommentsFriday • January 22, 2016 • by Mk Admin

While it had always been my intention that the Low G would be the next key to follow the Low D and the F, it is in fact the A that has come to fruition first.   The G remains very close, but it still needs that little extra something to give take that final 1% to being absolutely ‘there’.  The A definitely is that- those who have played the prototypes seemed to consider it to be best A they have played.  I’m certainly happy with them and I hope you like them also!  They are currently available to buy on this page.

IMG_9972

Notes: The new As feature a slightly different tuning slide to the brass slides as used on the Ds and Fs. They are still low profile, but use a low friction plastic lining instead of brass.    They are also available in a satin plain aluminium finish.

Posted in: MK DESIGN BLOG, Mk developments, MK MUSIC BLOG, New Developments in Whistle Making, Notes from the workshop, Toob design

Update on New Keys

0 CommentsMonday • August 3, 2015 • by Mk Admin

I’ve been answering a lot of emails recently about when keys of whistles other than the D and F are going to come to fruition.  I thought I’d provide a general update here.  Though I had envisaged the G would be the next key, and we have taken a substantial number of advance orders for these, it is in fact probably the A which will be ready next.  Those on the waiting list for the Gs (some of which have been waiting for almost a decade!!!),  will be given first offer on the As.  In a best case scenario we would also see both the G and the Eb available before the end of the year.

 

MK prototype whistles

Posted in: Mk developments, MK MUSIC BLOG, New Developments in Whistle Making, Notes from the workshop

Prototyping!

4 CommentsTuesday • March 4, 2014 • by Mk Admin

prototyping whistles, design, testi

Posted in: MK DESIGN BLOG, Notes from the workshop

A busy workbench !

0 CommentsThursday • February 6, 2014 • by Mk Admin

a busy workbench for making Mk Whistles by Misha Somerville

Posted in: MK DESIGN BLOG, MK MUSIC BLOG, Notes from the workshop

Tagged with: carft, craftsmanship, Low Whistle, quality, whistlemakers, whistles, whistlesmith, workbench, workshop

Micro tools! (for doing the fine work)

0 CommentsWednesday • March 20, 2013 • by Mk Admin

image

Posted in: MK DESIGN BLOG, MK MUSIC BLOG, Notes from the workshop

Tagged with: workshop

Back to chromatic

0 CommentsTuesday • March 12, 2013 • by Mk Admin

image

Posted in: MK DESIGN BLOG, Mk developments, New Developments in Whistle Making, Notes from the workshop

Tagged with: Chromatic whistle

Stuck low whistle tuning slide

0 CommentsSunday • June 10, 2012 • by Mk Admin

How to fix a seized whistle tuning slide

(please note this applies to metal tin whistles and low whistles -not wooden ones).

A seized tuning slide has long been a problem on many woodwind instruments.  I thought I’d take the time to talk through the ins and outs of seized tuning slides – an age old curse of woodwind musicians including low whistle players.

First I feel it’s worth mentioning that the best solution is to prevent the tuning slide seizing in the first place – as obvious as it might be to say so!   Contrary to popular belief tuning slides rarely, if ever, seize as a result of dirt getting trapped in the slide.  The two parts actually get stuck because the surface of metals corrodes as it reacts with air – in a similar process to steel rusting.  This reaction on the surface of the two adjacent and touching parts causes the parts to fuse together.  Some metals suffer more from this phenomenon than others.  Aluminium or steel are quite reactive in air and therefore fuse relatively quickly.  Brass and titanium are relatively stable (or ‘inert’) in air and will therefore take much longer to react.

The simplest way of stopping the two parts seizing together is to stop the reaction at the surface of the metal.  This is where tuning slide grease (or cork grease) comes in very useful – it coats the surface of the parts and creates a barrier between them and the air, hence stopping the reaction.  The handy thing is that putting a little on can last for long time.

So you have a seized tuning slide?

The tuning slide on your prized music instrument is seized – what should you do?  The first thing to remember is don’t panic!  …or start twisting it with massive pliers or hitting it off things in a blind rage!  The trick is to break the bond which has developed from the corrosion.

Rather than reaching straight for a huge wrench, it’s best to try more gentle methods first and build up from there.

One of the first things to try is a little lubricant like WD40.   Leave it for a while to penetrate after dropping a few drips down between the two brass parts of the slide.  Any excess can be cleaned off with a alcohol based cleaner – e.g. IPA or Meths – before trying to rotate the parts.

If this hasn’t worked then applying some heat may work.  By far the best way of applying heat is with a heat gun, but this should be done very gently so as to avoid any damage.  It can be better to start with a hair dryer which will be a more gentle source of heat, and work up from there.  In any case care should be taken not to burn your hands.   We really only want to heat the outside tube so that it expands and breaks the seal.   The seal can be checked by rotating, using fabric or gloves to protect your hands.

In extreme cases, where you don’t have access to a heat gun, using a blowtorch at a distance and sparingly will break the seal, though many would prefer to send the instrument to an instrument maker before reaching this point!

Of course once you’ve unstuck the tuning slide, make sure to keep some grease on it so it doesn’t happen again!

 

Posted in: MK DESIGN BLOG, MK MUSIC BLOG, Notes from the workshop, Whistle instrument care

Tagged with: cork grease, grease, low, sieze, siezed, slide, slide grease, stuck, tin whistles, tunable, tune, tuning, tuning slide, tuning slides, unstick, whistle, whistle players, whistle tuning slide, woodwind instruments, woodwind musicians

The Slow Game

2 CommentsMonday • April 23, 2012 • by Mk Admin

Sometimes it can seem like the most frustrating thing: 12 years after starting out and only the D and the F have made it into the hands of musicians.  As a musician it often seemed that an idea cooked up that day, or even on the spot, could make it out into the world and be enjoyed by others right there and then.  As an instrument maker it all changed.   Things took years, decades, or even lifetimes to come to fruition, and the more you tweaked, tinkered and listened the longer it took.  I’d like to think that it pays off though.  Well made musical instruments are not only capable of incredible feats with the right partnership, but they can also go and go for many years.

Posted in: MK DESIGN BLOG, Notes from the workshop

Working late into the Night

0 CommentsThursday • January 26, 2012 • by Mk Admin


low whistles makers

 

Posted in: Mk developments, MK MUSIC BLOG, Notes from the workshop

Tagged with: low whistle makers



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