I want to make flutes, can anyone help?

[arb culture]

I'm wanting to make transverse flutes out of wood.

 

I've seen some really lovely ones which play well, and want to have a go myself.

 

Does anyone know of an easy to use guide/calculator for bore diameter, length, hole position etc?

 

Cheers

 

Arb

[stickstalker54]

Try youtube, i'm sure i've seen something on there whilst looking for how to make whistles etc', Pete.

[se7enthdevil]

this guy might be worth emailing?

 

 

Temple Wind Flutes-Handmade Bamboo and Wood Flutes- Anasazi, Native American Style, Drone, Harmony - Handmade Native American Flutes, Drone Flutes,Anasazi Flutes, Bamboo Meditation Flutes

[Fin]

It's just easy.

 

1. Choose a flute size

2. Choose a tube: (sizes in mm)

The Flute Tube

The length of the tube is roughly decided by the

flute’s low note, which is also its “key.” The longer

the flute, the lower that note. This measurement is

for the flute interior only--in other words, from the

open end of the tube, up to the stopper.

The inside diameter (I.D.) of the tube--the distance

between the tube walls--must vary with the length,

for the sake of range and octave tuning. Longer

tubes should be wider. For a simple flute, the best

ratio of I.D. to length is about 1 to 23, or 4.35%. A

wider tube than that will favor low notes, and a

narrower tube will favor high notes. This

measurement too is shown in the table.

3. Clean the tube up:

- The wall thickness of the tube is important mostly because it determines the

depth of the finger-holes.

- A thin wall helps volume, tone, range, and octave tuning. Aim at 1/16 inch

(1.5mm) to 1/8 inch (3mm) for most materials, and never thicker than 5/32 inch (4

mm).

Step 4:

Metric ruler in millimeters

pencil

thin stick (to find the exact depth of the tube stopper to place the mouth hole properly)

burning tool: I use double headed nails driven into a wooden

dowel handle (a piece of old broomstick will do), and then

cut the top head off with a hacksaw.

gas camp stove

sharp knife

Step 5:

cheap electronic instrument tuner: I am using a and a.

hacksaw with 10” blade and 10 teeth / inch (rotate the tube as you cut to keep from knocking

splinters out of the bottom edge of the tube)

Step 6:

measuring chart

good metric yardstick in millimeters

burning tool

gas camp stove

sharp knife

electronic instrument tuner (or a good set of ears)

Step 7:

damp cloth

fine sandpaper

hemp twine

beeswax

natural furniture polish or oil (olive, walnut, orange)

[/size]

[peatff]

I've made a few PVC whistles out of overflow pipe from plans on this site. The mouthpiece will be different for a transverse flute but the hole spacings and sizes should be similar for similar size tubes whatever material.