Any idea on his pricing for delrin? I may be in the market for one soon and if John makes them it would be something to factor in.
when we talked about it (john and i), i think that he was wanting to offer a great flute that would not be sensitive to humidity changes…i think the same amount of labor was going to go into the flute and the price was going to be somewhat similar? but i would find out from john, probably getting a slideless flute…no rings…all those options could bring the price down? he did say that the delrin flute he made sounded amazing, and knowing his work, i don’t doubt it.
Just got the following as part of an email from John Gallagher and asked him if I could post it here (he said OK):
“Regarding the Delrin flute issue, I just made my first two flutes out of it. One is my small hole Rudall Rose design and the other is the large hole RR. It is a great material for toughness and sound and, I think, quite appropriate. It is harder to work and finish than wood is for a variety of reasons so there is no incentive to charge less than for a wooden flute. However, it does kind of dovetail in with my plan for making a flute that would cost less initially for students or anyone wanting/needing to spend less to get a quality flute. The idea is to make a simple flute that would cost less because it is less work to make. So, for instance, a flute without a tuning slide, rings, and cork assembly but still playing like any of my flutes do. As the player wants a tuning slide later, I’ll add it. Same for rings, cork assembly and keys. So you can start with a flute w/o tuning slide, rings, etc. and eventually end with a six keyed flute. I’ve been calling it the progressive flute. And, it can be made of wood or Delrin.”
There are a number of reasons for a wooden flute costing more than Delrin. As Gordon mentions, Delrin cost less than wood. I can order Delrin in exactly the quantity I need from McMaster Carr and it shows up on the doorstep the next day. African blackwood has to be bought years ahead of time, and then seasoned, rough-turned and seasoned some more, so there is a lot of money tied up in inventory. There are hardly any manufacturing losses with Delrin, whereas with wood I always have to reject some pieces at every stage of the process. The worst is when you run into a defect in the wood during the final turning, and have to scrap a piece in which you’ve invested hours of work as well as the cost. That has not happened yet with Delrin. Another cost with wood flutes as the allowance for warranty returns. Even with the best seasoned wood, there will always be some instruments returned for cracks, loose rings, tight or loose joints etcetera, so this has to be factored into the selling price. Again this does not happen with Delrin. About the only process that takes me longer with the polymer is the final finishing - I have yet to find a quick or easy way to get a really good finish, and still put in a lot of time and elbow grease.
Over the years I have and had six Copley flutes (same and different keys) that I had acquired second hand in wood and in delrin. The delrin ones sound, play, and look great. Given a choice, I’d take delrin for the reasons Dave already mentioned.
Just a guess but Delrin seems to taint people’s choices because it’s just ‘cheap plastic’. The same thing happened when 35mm cameras and lenses evolved from metal to plastic cladding. Plastic is lighter, doesn’t corrode, and bounces in some cases (rather then denting). Even some of today’s lenses contain low cost hybrid plastic-glass aspherical lens elements to correct residual aberrations-- outperforming many classic designs-- but the major manufacturers aren’t say which lenses have them.
Funny you should mention this as I was going to suggest Glenn Watson to the OP since he is looking for a Rudall style flute made on that side of the pond. I happen to have the first Delrin flute Glenn Watson made, perhaps the only? I really like my Copley, but physical problems left me needing a flute with a thinner body, and Glenn’s standard Rudall style flute seemed just perfect for me, size wise. The Delrin flute Glenn made for me cost the same price as his wood flutes, so not inexpensive, but it’s a great instrument and I feel I got my money’s worth. Hammy’s flutes are awesome too, of course, but if you are not looking for a Prattenish flute then Glenn would be my suggestion considering your location.
Feadoggie, I’ve always like your inputs and advice when it come to whistles and flutes.
I’m now into buying my first flute ever, wanting most an Patrick Orwell, in D, with keys, but…
In the meantime, I would like to buy, as my first, an Delrin flute. I have thought about getting one from Copley, since many seems to like them, a lot. But as time has gone, since this tread, I was wondering if you would recommend some others? I think I would like a keyless flute or maybe one or two keyed, if possible. Don’t know if the Eb is a good thing to have on an Irish flute?
Other recommendations are “Galeòn Delrin Pratten”, " Des Seery" and maybe “McGee Grey Larsen Preferred”?
Any advice and recommendations/suggestions are very welcome, thankyou. 
Apart from my M&E (in F) & my Tony Dixon (in D), 3 piece flutes, I have a Damian Thompson 2 piece delrin (in D) which I like, might be worth your while taking a look at his website.
https://www.thompsonflutes.com/about
This might also help.
I like to hear that you’re making time for a nice finish on your Delrin flute. I’m thinking seriously of buying on from you. Best regards from Norway.
The typical recommendations I see around here include: Copley, Forbes, Somers, and Shannon. Other names I’ve read good comments about are: Thompson and Vincenzo Di Mauro. Then there are some makers who also provide Delrin, though the pricing understandable matches their wood flutes (so a little more expensive than the others I’ve already listed): Paddy Ward, McGee, etc. I’ve also had an M&E, which was a decent flute at a good price as well. Lots of great options for polymer flutes these days, depending on what style of flute you have in mind.
Thankyou so much. Yes, there’s many to choose from and hard to pick one out. I was thinking of a Thompson and VDM, but now I just got an mail from David Copley.
I think I’ll go for his and Marlene’s flute. I mostly play Irish and folk music, sometimes jazz and other styles for fun. I also play for myself or solo. So I’m thinking about getting an flute in E flat, as Copley also makes. I think I will go for keyless, but I’ve also thought about two keys.
Anyway, any thoughts about getting an E flat flute as your first? I have small hands, square amd short fingers.
I’m planning to get a D flute from Olwell, keyless. In fact, I will, it’s a must for me. So therefore I was thinking about a Delrin and E flat flute.
Cheers from Norway
While I’ve never played an Eb flute, I see nothing wrong with having one. The only problem is if you want to take it to a session or play with others, you’ll be out of luck. It seems like some flute players enjoy Eb, but it’s mostly for solo play. I’m in a band with singers, and we have yet to play a song where I needed an Eb. You’d really be fine with any key, as long as it fits your purpose.
EDIT: Something else to consider, if the D flute is uncomfortable, is that many makers can provide offset holes.
There are two main drawbacks to an Eb flute as your first one. The ability to play in common session keys with others was mentioned above, but I guess that doesn’t matter if you always plan to play solo at home. The other big drawback is that you won’t be in sync with the vast majority of recordings of Irish flute or related styles like Breton flute music on D flutes. Learning by careful listening to recordings by master flute players is critical to learning how to play well, I think.
If you get a D flute you can play along to recordings, slow them down if necessary, and have a memory of what you’ve just heard when you practice a tune. It’s technically possible to alter the key of an audio file, shifting it up a half-step so you can play along with an Eb flute. But it introduces artifacts and it would be a huge amount of work to shift the number of tunes you’d want to listen to while learning to play well.
Several flute makers have “ergonomic” hole patterns for small-handed players, like Casey Burns offers with his Folk Flute, a good wooden flute to begin with, while waiting on that Olwell.
Yes, after thinking it through what you both said about the Eb(dyersituations & conical bore), I’ve come to the conclusion to get an D. So now, if I can’t get my hands on an Olwell, I’m seriously thinking of David Copley and now, Casey Burns Folk Flute. I really like that you can get it for small hands and also in “balanced” or off-line grip/holes. And I also like the idea as more you play it in, better it sounds.
Casey Burns makes an excellent flute. My current flute is one of his standard models. There are also other makers who make “ergonomic” models, so definitely ask around if there are other makers who interest you.
I just got an answer from Olwell, and that he/they would get back to me regarding a place on the waiting list. Hopefully it won’t be to much over a year. If so, I think I will pass on the others, since I don’t have to much money to spend. But, I really wish I had the chance to try ALL the flutes mentioned. That would have been fantastic. I’m very interested in both Copley and Burns flutes. I have a feeling that they both are easy to play and easy to fall in love with. But since I’ve heard that the Olwell flute is one of the best flutes on the marked today, and it’s so easy and forgiving to play, I feel that I can’t pass this chance. It’s not easy when you’re the only one that plays whistles and now flute where you’re living. And don’t know anyone who does either, on a personal level that is. So I’m very grateful for the chiffandfipple community. Thanks everyone. And by the way, any comments about an Olwell keyless in D as your first flute, beginner flute, are welcome.
I recently (in Ireland) came across a lovely flute maker Damian Thompson. I had a chance to try some of his (polymer) flutes and they are excellent. Keyed and unkeyed. Powerful instruments. Damian works in GB his website: http://www.thompsonflutes.com - you also find him on Facebook.
You might also consider Geoffrey Ellis’ ebonite Pratten style. Not a polymer, but vulcanized rubber
The Two Pieced Flute in Delrin that can be bought with also an Eb body, looks very interesting. Especially at that price point. A perfect set for traveling and on the road.
I have a Damian Thompson 2 piece beginner flute, it has a lovely tone, & is fairly easy to blow too.
I also have a Tony Dixon 3 piece, bought used, that has a nice tone too, & again fairly easy to blow.
Likewise my M&E in ‘F’.
These 3 flutes are worth their cost.