Here is a video of a steam whistle I'm working on. I have no idea what I'm doing, just started out with something that looked like a whistle then kept whittling on it until it made some noise. Any pointers on what I can do to make it sound deeper, or will it sound deeper on steam? It is very loud. 2" diameter .05" wall and 24" long. I'll make a bronze base for it when it's finished.
-Ron
Steam whistle test
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Aheadslow
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Re: Steam whistle test
First nice whistle. You can tune the Note of the Whistle , by adding an adjustable Cup shaped piston to the bell of the Whistle :see image.
The drawing is a bit rough but you get the idea. right? Any how it is best to use steam when trying to tune the whistle because it will sound much different than air.
p.s. I never tried to tune a regular steam whistle before , but this is how it works on a Calliope
this little modification has the virtue of giving you the ability to tune through several octaves.
or er it should .
The drawing is a bit rough but you get the idea. right? Any how it is best to use steam when trying to tune the whistle because it will sound much different than air.
p.s. I never tried to tune a regular steam whistle before , but this is how it works on a Calliope
this little modification has the virtue of giving you the ability to tune through several octaves.
or er it should .
Human beings have an inalienable right to invent themselves.
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artemis
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Re: Steam whistle test
There is a steam whistle group on Yahoo http://groups.yahoo.com/group/steam-whistles/ - it's mostly about trains but there is an ENORMOUS amount of info on whistle design and construction.
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marinesteam
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Re: Steam whistle test
I second Ron's recomendation of the Yahoo group. I havn't been on it for awhile, but it's how I got the information I needed to build the bells for my whistles. I had picked up to whistles on flebay, one had a damaged bell and the other had a bell that was scabbed on from another which was too big for the bowl and the languid plate was damaged as well. The first now has a new bell and I need to finish the bowl and paint the lever to complete it. The second is still more of a work in progress but will become a three chime. The first attempt at the three chime using formulas from the Yahoo group for note selection and stop locations was spot on. I damaged it during polishing and now am re-making another bell to the same plans.
I don't have any experience with organ pipe style whistles, but if the theory holds the same I think that you may have too small a diameter tube for the note that you are trying to get. If you take a look at most whistles, the lower the note the longer the tube. A the tube increases in size they also tend to increase in diameter. I think at some point the diameter becomes critical and either the whistle won't sound (or have greatly diminished output) or will blow at an octave that is a division of the actual length (a harmonic?) more suited to the diameter.
My single chime bell is 2 1/2" diameter and about 8" in length (IIRC) and blows a B# below middle C. I'll post vid tonight
Good job on the whistle so far.
Ken
I don't have any experience with organ pipe style whistles, but if the theory holds the same I think that you may have too small a diameter tube for the note that you are trying to get. If you take a look at most whistles, the lower the note the longer the tube. A the tube increases in size they also tend to increase in diameter. I think at some point the diameter becomes critical and either the whistle won't sound (or have greatly diminished output) or will blow at an octave that is a division of the actual length (a harmonic?) more suited to the diameter.
My single chime bell is 2 1/2" diameter and about 8" in length (IIRC) and blows a B# below middle C. I'll post vid tonight
Good job on the whistle so far.
Ken
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marinesteam
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Re: Steam whistle test
As promised:
I used the air hose instead of directly from the compressor to the whistle and I think it is starving for air volume.
Take a look at this site if you haven't already
http://www.crosby-steam.com/cow.htm
Cheers
Ken
I used the air hose instead of directly from the compressor to the whistle and I think it is starving for air volume.
Take a look at this site if you haven't already
http://www.crosby-steam.com/cow.htm
Cheers
Ken
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DetroiTug
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Re: Steam whistle test
Thanks for the tips on this,
Joined the Yahoo group and have been looking through the docs there.
Ken, at the link you posted above, the videos show a huge difference between whistle on air and the same whistle on steam. To really test, I'm going to have to fire up the boiler out in the parking lot. Probably going to go with two cut ups. On that site, the sound from the 12" whistle is amazing.
I emailed the guy that makes those whistles, if he's reasonable, might be better just to buy one. Brass tube is sort of expensive to experiment with.
-Ron
Joined the Yahoo group and have been looking through the docs there.
Ken, at the link you posted above, the videos show a huge difference between whistle on air and the same whistle on steam. To really test, I'm going to have to fire up the boiler out in the parking lot. Probably going to go with two cut ups. On that site, the sound from the 12" whistle is amazing.
I emailed the guy that makes those whistles, if he's reasonable, might be better just to buy one. Brass tube is sort of expensive to experiment with.
-Ron
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DetroiTug
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Re: Steam whistle test
Ken, The single chime whistle video you posted, have you tried that on steam? That one sounds pretty good on air. I'm thinking a 2" diameter of similar length could sound close to that.
-Ron
-Ron
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DetroiTug
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Re: Steam whistle test
Here is test 2, this seems to work pretty good. Two 90 degree 180 opposing of the circumference cut outs and .040" clearance at each opening in the languid plate. Not sure how it will sound on steam. I'll go ahead and get it finished and give it a try. It's pretty close to what I was wanting.
-Ron
-Ron
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marinesteam
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Re: Steam whistle test
I haven't tried it on steam as I don't currently have access to a boiler. It's on the list, as the engine gets closer to completion.
My understanding is that there isn't much difference between air & steam, only about a half note tone difference but there will be a big difference in the "quality" of the voice. Steam being much more mellow and full than air, which I have heard described as having a sick, raspy sound.
I like your second vid, very nice note, should be even better on steam.
Ken
My understanding is that there isn't much difference between air & steam, only about a half note tone difference but there will be a big difference in the "quality" of the voice. Steam being much more mellow and full than air, which I have heard described as having a sick, raspy sound.
I like your second vid, very nice note, should be even better on steam.
Ken