I have always had a big interest in flutes and flute playing, I have over the years made flutes from tubing etc. I have now decided to attempt to make a flute from derlin or wood.
I have got a set of detailed plans for making 4 different types of flutes.
I have also just got myself a gun barrell drill and in the process of getting a tapered drill bit made to the taper of the bore which I require.
I have a few questions about lathe’s before I buy one.
Should I buy a wood turning lathe or an engineering type lathe (for metal work etc)?
Anyone have any recomendations for a lathe? (Keep price in mind its not a full professional set-up I’m after)!
I take it I have to buy a chuck for the lathe (3 or 4 jaw or does it matter)?
Will the chuck hold the timber or derlin steady enough until I drill the centre hole?
Keys-doe’s anyone know where keys can be purchased (Pakistan or other) or is it better to try to make your own?
If anyone has any other tips or anything I should be doing please let me know. I know some of the other makers may not want to give any of their secrets away!
I checked Terry McGee’s site and found it very informative.
This project may not amount to anything but its something I have always wanted to do-make my own flute!
Thanks.
I hope to have a basic flute making video sometime this fall to help people with such inquiries.
For a lathe a good yet inexpensive kind to start with is an old Sears 6" or 12" lathe made by Atlas or Clausing. Here is a great example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140256330472&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1123
Avoid the ones that start 109.xxxxxxx
You can usually buy these with all the chucks you will need. 3 jaw is best, along with various live, spur centers, etc.
This particular one is strong enough to make your own reamers with. The steady rest is used when boring unless the headstock spindle is hollow enough that the flute part is mostly inside the spindle.
I started with the 6" version of the same. Now I have 3 Myford lathes, one which is in its original setup, the second with a Rod Cameron hollow headstock for boring, the third modified for high accuracy and finish copy turning. Am planning a Baseball Bat lathe for turning blanks round only, and an ornamental turning lathe/Rose Engine. Someday.
Keys are always made by the maker. Simples are baroque style keys cut and bent from brass or bronze and most complex are the hand forged ones on pins and everthing in between. You don;t need to do these now however. Get the basic flute (keyless) down and worry about keys once you are satisfied with that.
www.lindsaybks.com/ is a great site for books on how to operate these old metal lathes. Your local wood turning club would be a huge source of wood turning wizardry that you could tap in to before you get your feet wet. Books on jewelry making techniques will teach you about keywork and silverwork. And sometime this winter my video tutorial on how to make a post mounted keyed flute and other types of woodwinds.
Casey
Casey, Thanks for taking the time to type up such a great reply, its very much appreciated!
I now know what to look out for lathe wise and you have given me a lot of great pointers. I would be very interested in your video of flute making when you get it released.
Thanks again!
Not sure if you are going to take the plunge to integrating keys, but one possible idea, rather than getting into silversmithing right off the bat, would be to get one of those “improved” Empire ebonite flutes off e-bay and pull all the keys off that. They are post mounted, and not completely horrible, so for the first couple of trials it might be worth the $40 investment to get a set of 8 keys.
Great stuff, Casey. Put me down for a copy of your video when it comes out - I’d be fascinated to see how another maker approaches the same questions (and some different questions!).
While we wait, Sporting-Paddy, I assume you’re aware of the flutemakers group at Yahoo groups. Sign on and go through the archives before asking any questions. (We’re pretty much covered the one everyone asks “how do you put the hole up the middle?”)
I whould also mention the flutemakers essential reading list at:
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/bibliography.htm
and the plans available at:
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Plans.htm
No excuses left!
Terry
Hi just getting back online now.
Thanks Terry for your post I find your website really informative. I did not know about the Yahoo groups but will look into the flute forum.
Also Latticino thanks for your advice. I will start of trying the keyless flutes and further down the line possibly add keys if things are going right!
Thanks for the tip about the Empire pakistan flutes.
I managed to pick up an old video of bagpipe making which gives some really good advice on lathe work and takes you through various stages of the lathe work. I will try to possibly get a few clips online if I can work out how to transfer the old video tapes onto computer.
I am going to start of with trying a Polymer material first of all and take things from there.
As I said before I have always had a great interest in flutes and have always wanted to make my own. Hopefully I willget things upand running!
Thanks again everyone!!