{"id":104952,"date":"2019-06-20T06:48:26","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T11:48:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=104952"},"modified":"2021-06-01T17:57:14","modified_gmt":"2021-06-01T22:57:14","slug":"how-to-make-whistle-from-a-soda-can","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/skills\/survival\/how-to-make-whistle-from-a-soda-can\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make a Whistle From a Soda Can"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/whistle1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104993 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/whistle1.jpg\" alt=\"A soda can whistle.\" width=\"650\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/whistle1.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/whistle1-372x230.jpg 372w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/whistle1-320x197.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/whistle1-640x394.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One of the most common items included in a basic survival kit is a whistle. This essential tool can mean the difference between life and death if lost in the wilderness. Along with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/articles\/wilderness-survival-know-your-distress-signals\/\">signal fires<\/a>, the call of a whistle is just about the only way for search crews to locate you when you\u2019re in a dense forest or hilly terrain. Whistles are so useful that many pieces of outdoor gear integrate them into their design, including headlamps and backpack straps.<\/p>\n<p>But, despite how common they are, plenty of people hit the trail without one. If you&#8217;re adventuring this weekend and don&#8217;t have a whistle, you can whip one up in your house in just a few minutes and for literally no cost at all (unless you happen to be fully without beer\/soda). Knowing how to make one on the fly could also come in handy in a survival scenario (discarded cans can often be scavenged even in the woods); while I use things like a ruler and marker below, a rough version could be accomplished with just a pocket knife and can.<\/p>\n<p>Note: Be careful when working with aluminum. Jagged edges can be razor sharp, and it can be easy to cut yourself when completing this project. <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Supplies<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104953 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7170.jpg\" alt=\"Supplies used to make soda can whistle.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7170.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7170-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7170-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Ruler<\/li>\n<li>Aluminum can<\/li>\n<li>Scissors (or knife)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Marker<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>Step 1: Cut off the top and bottom of the can.<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104954 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7171.jpg\" alt=\"Cutting of a soda can from a top.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7171.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7171-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7171-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Step 2: Trim the resulting cylinder so that you get one long sheet when laid flat.<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104955 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7172.jpg\" alt=\"A long sheet of a soda can.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7172.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7172-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7172-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Step 3: Mark out a rectangle.<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104957 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7174.jpg\" alt=\"Marking the rectangle on a soda can sheet.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7174.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7174-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7174-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mark out an area about 3.5 inches long and 2 inches wide \u2014 the size of a standard business card. The exact dimensions aren\u2019t critical here; what\u2019s important is that you make a rectangle at least a few inches wide.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 4: Cut rectangle.<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104959 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7176.jpg\" alt=\"Rectangles made with soda sheet.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7176.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7176-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7176-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Cut out the rectangle, and then cut in half lengthwise so that you end up with two strips of equal length.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 5: Cut again.<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_104961\" style=\"width: 660px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-104961\" class=\"wp-image-104961 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7178.jpg\" alt=\"Curled pieces of coda can sheets.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7178.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7178-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7178-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-104961\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">You&#8217;ll notice the pieces are curled a bit. That&#8217;s alright. No need to try to flatten them.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Take one of your strips and cut it in half the short way. Discard one half. At this point, you should have two strips of aluminum of equal width. One should be twice as long as the other.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 6: Overlap the shorter strip on top of the longer to form a cross.<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104962 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7179.jpg\" alt=\"overlapping the short piece over long sheet.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7179.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7179-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7179-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Step 7: Fold.<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104963 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7180.jpg\" alt=\"Folded sheet over long sheet of a can.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7180.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7180-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7180-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Fold the sides of the shorter strip behind the longer strip.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104965 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7182.jpg\" alt=\"Cross backed long sheet.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7182.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7182-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7182-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Then fold the top of the cross back as well.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 8: Curl the opposite side of your whistle into a P-shape.<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104966 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7183.jpg\" alt=\"Curled loop of same side of the whistle.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7183.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7183-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7183-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Curl it so that the loop is on the same side of the whistle as the folded parts from the previous step.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104967 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7184.jpg\" alt=\"Open mouth of a whistle.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7184.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7184-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7184-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Step 9: Open up the mouthpiece.<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104968 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7185.jpg\" alt=\"Opening the mouth of whistle with scissors.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7185.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7185-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7185-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Use your scissors (or a knife tip) to expand the opening on top of the whistle. This is the mouthpiece where you&#8217;ll blow.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 10: Whistle!<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104969 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7186.jpg\" alt=\"Final result of a whistle on a hand.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7186.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7186-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7186-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-104970 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7188.jpg\" alt=\"Soda can whistle DIY.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7188.jpg 650w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7188-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/IMG_7188-640x426.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Hold the whistle, at the loop, with your thumb and forefinger sealing off the sides, leaving only the slit in the top of the whistle. Now, give it a blow! If you don\u2019t get a solid sound, adjust the position of your thumb and forefinger. The whistle won\u2019t work well unless you make a perfect seal on the sides.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most common items included in a basic survival kit is a whistle. This essential tool can mean the difference between life and death if lost in the wilderness. Along with signal fires, the call of a whistle is just about the only way for search crews to locate you when you\u2019re in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":104986,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,42259,277],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-104952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-skills","category-survival"],"featured_image_urls":{"large":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/whistle-538x280.jpg","aom":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/whistle-372x230.jpg","reactor-320":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/whistle-320x213.jpg","reactor-640":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2019\/06\/whistle-640x426.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104952"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104952\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":125188,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104952\/revisions\/125188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104952"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=104952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}