DIY Train Horns

Go to the hardware store and purchase a pine wood block and wooden dowels. The sound that the whistle creates depends on the size of the wood you select. Select a 2-inch by 2-inch by 10-inch square block of wood and a 4-inch-long 7/16-inch dowel rod. Purchase wood glue and sandpaper if needed.

Cut off 2 inches from the pine block and save this for later. Use a lathe or drill press and drill four 7/16-inch holes in the top of the whistle. Locate each hole 3/8 of an inch from the adjacent side. Drill each hole to a different length at 7 1/4 inch, 4 1/4 inch, 6 1/4 inch and 4 3/4 inch. Cut 30-degree angled notches at the four corners of the block located 3/8 of an inch from the corner edge.

Cut four 1/2-inch lengths from the 7/16-inch dowel rod. Sand each piece of dowel so that it is flat on one side and you have removed about one-third of the thickness. Insert the four dowel pieces into the four holes of the pine block. Continue to refile and sand the dowels as necessary to achieve the desired sound. Glue the dowel pieces into place 1/8 of an inch from the top.

Take the 2-inch piece that was previously removed from the pine block and drill a 3/4-inch-diameter hole 1/4-inch deep into the exact center. Glue this mouthpiece onto the top of the whistle making sure to align both pieces. The end of the 2-inch piece with the hole should go against the top of the whistle. Wait for the glue to dry. Cut off the top of the mouthpiece leaving exactly 1/4 of an inch, and sand the mouthpiece into shape. Sand and bevel all edges of your whistle until it is smooth. Decorate the whistle to express your personality.