Polymer Clay Whistler Tutorial

In this tutorial you will learn how to make polymer clay whistles. Two sizes of whistles are described, one is based on a 1/4" core and the other is based on a 3/16" core.

It is a good idea to start making whistles on the 1/4" core with clay thickness set to #3 Atlas (1.62mm). Whistles made on this core are sturdy enough to stand on their own or be decorated.

The slender 3/16" core whistle allows for decoration without adding too much bulk. I use clay thickness set on #4 Atlas (1.3mm), then I add decoration at the most vulnerable part of the whistle near the fipple hole.

The design of the whistle is simple but each step requires attention to details. You may achieve success the first time that you try but then it won’t go as well the next. Just hang in there. Once you master each step, you will get close to 100% success.

Materials

1. Conditioned clay

2. Liquid Polymer Clay (aka LPC)

3. 22 gauge square craft wire

4. Armor All Original Protectant or other release agents

5. Whistle forms - You can order tubular steel whistle forms from my Etsy store. If you want to make your own.

6. Extruder disc - You can buy extruder disks from this Etsy store. I also show and alturnative option.

7. Pasta machine - The thickness setting numbers are for an Atlas machine but I have also included metric thicknesses.

8. A straight blade - This blade should be stiff enough to cut cooked clay as well as raw clay.

9. A pointed art knife - I use an Xacto #11 knife but any similar knife will do.

10. Needle nose pliers to remove the whistle barrel from the form after cooking.

11. A brush to apply LPC - In a pinch you can use a bit of folded paper as an applicator.

12. A metal rod or knitting needle to push the cooked windway out of the cooked whistle barrel.

13. A needle to pierce a cord hole - This is necessary if you wish to make your whistle into a pendant without a wire loop.

14. Two working surfaces - One that is unscratched for rolling clay and one that you don't mind cutting onto.

15. A piece of clear Plexiglass roughly 3 x 6" (7.5 x 15 cm) - This is used as a paddle to make rolled whistle cores, to smooth whistle barrels and straighten raw whistle cores.