I’d go for something more substantial than tissue. I’d buy or make a swab made of cotton or silk. I like silk best: it dries faster and fits through narrow spaces more easily than cotton. I don’t like to leave any visible moisture in the flute.
i don’t use the fishing line thingy on the hj. what is nice about it though is you can drag a long piece of clothe thru the bore, as long a piece as you want.
i mop out the hj with a clothe attached to a piece of metal wire which i got from a metal coathanger, folded over the end of the wire to form a slit, slide the clothe thru it, and wrapped the clothe around a few times to form a little ball at the end of the wire. custom made so the overall length fits the length of my hj’s and the diameter of the ball of clothe fits the internal diameter pretty snug too. there’s even a little handle at the end that you hold, so it can be turned round and round. maybe i should set up shop and market these on ebay. they would go well with all those yukistani flutes.
yeah, the indoor humidity is dropping where i live too. i will tend to shake the flute, let it drip out, disassemble it, put it in tupperware while it still has that ‘glow’.
i’m mad about these swabs, i already bought 4, and i’ve only one flute 
,
there’s never any risk for scratching the bore with these, and they’re very quick and handy!
the “Short Fixed 14” Length Version" are best value for money at 20$,
but they don’t fit in the foot joint of my Copley, i use a a conical swab there.
That does it. I’m gettin’ a flute rack for my pickup truck! 
Doc
uh, excuse me…
who said anything about LEAVING the swab in the flute??
it’s designed for that on metal flutes…
but I said use it as a SWAB on the wood flutes.
I’m hardly a rookie at this.
Can any of you imagine that I would mistreat any of my flutes, even the slightest, to elicit the kind of disagreement you make here, such as leaving a damp swab inside a wooden flute?
C’mon folks. Read carefully and use common sense.
I’ve got WAAAAY too much money invested in these things to treat them with the disrespect you seem to suggest I have…or with the dopey ignorance.
Sheesh.
You know what…
go ahead and keep using newspapers and cheap hankies and any other pieces of crap you’ve been using…
and continue to ask everyone else, “what do I do?”
David,
As a professional in the field, I have to say that sounds like the beginning of a very good ad.
And wait, let’s roll a TV spot …
VIDEO: [SERIES OF DISSOLVES BETWEEN OVERCRANKED (24 FPS) FIRELIT VIGNETTES OF VARIOUS AND SUNDRY SNIVELING CAVEMAN/PEASANT-TYPES IN MATTED FURS SHOVING ALL MANNER OF HANKIES, KLEENEX, NEWSPAPER, AND OLD T-SHIRTS INTO THEIR FLUTES.
AUDIO: SFX: A BODHRAN THUMPS ARRHYTHMICALLY IN THE BACKGROUND.
ANNCR (VO): If you’re still using anything but WoodSavers Swabs to dry your precious flute …
VIDEO: CUT TO BONUS VIGNETTE OF A WOMAN HOLDING A PAIR OF SEVERELY DISTRESSED TIGHTY WHITIES UP TO THE FIRELIGHT; WE CAN SEE THAT THEY’RE STAINED OR SOILED IN THE SEAT WITH A DISTURBING BROWNISH COLOR. AS THE WOMAN REACHES FOR HER BONE SCISSORS, THE ANNOUNCER FINISHES HIS LINE.
AUDIO: ANNCR: … you don’t know … well, you know.
VIDEO: CUT TO LOGO, FADE TO BLACK.
AUDIO: BODHRAN OUT.
Whaddya think?
Thanks for taking a perfectly good rant (and poorly timed, I might add!) and turning into one funny moment of my day.
whew
that feels better
thanks, Cathy
I needed that
I went from
to
to
I loved it
and I hope no one took my tiff personally 
As did I.
Very nice Cat! getting towards the edge there, girl!
Whew!
David, I got nothing but respect for ya, I never really thought you’d be keeping damp furbies in your flutes!
Did you know I got to go to Denver again this year, and caught the session at The Patriot & the Loyalist? Wonderful friendly folks, and a really great session. That’s the second time I’ve caught that session–I’m going to have to find another class or some other excuse to get back up there one of these days!
You’ve got some wonderful friendly folks up there, and they make a powerful music.
Maybe we’ll get to meet one of these days at knock out a tune or three.
Take care,
–James
Maybe indeed James. You’re surely welcome!
The Patriot session is actually an extension of the one that began 6 years ago at Fado downtown (and morphed several times over the years). Used to be THE session, but not so much anymore.
I haven’t tried the Patriot session as yet. I’m not big on large numbers of players scratching away. It’s nice to come in for a pint and fellowship, yes, but I’d rather play at a more close group. Ours ranges from a regular 5 to about 10 players, all of considerable skill/talent.
I suppose sometimes we forget that playing at sessions is for the mutual enjoyment. By that I mean accomplished players often launch into tunes that most of the less-experienced don’t know. That gets boring for them after several times, especially if it is their “regular” session and the “players” are merely visiting.
Too, players tend to get easily bored by simple tunes done over and again at less-than-desireable speeds and without sufficient variation. Ergo, when they visit sessions frequented mostly by “beginner” players, they tend to launch into their own junk and the others just roll their eyes.
Anyway, I’ve seen this many many times and find it annoying. Can’t change it, but at least have it identified.
We are fortunate to have a very cozy set up now in a place called Scruffy Murphy’s. A non-smoking bar whose owners adore our music. We keep it intimate and simple and he keeps it music-only on Sunday nights. The sound system and the TV volume are turned off. Period. It’s great.
We have many people attending on occassion, recorders in hand and what not. We learn theirs and they learn ours. It’s a nice deal.
. . . PAUSES IN MID-SNIP . . . GUILTY LOOK ON FACE . . .
So, umm, then I shouldn’t expect to get a lot of takers for pieces of my old cotton pants?
I wouldn’t say that.
How do you look without any pants on? 
What do lambs look like without pants? 
Thanks for not getting mad, David. After I went home I thought … “uh-oh, I’ve really put my foot in it this time!” So … whew.
And FWIW, I have great respect for your wisdom, ability & experience.
(and no, this is my spot … so we WILL NOT cue AUDIO: SUCKING UP SFX)
Well, see for yourself. Here I am getting a farewell hug from one of those lovely boy scouts who rescued me from the Helping Hands Humane Society in Topeka, Kansas, last month.
What a nice young man he was!
Oh, and Talimirr, I think this should settle the gender question adequately, hmmm?
Can you imagine? Last night Talimirr mentioned in chat that he thought I was a guy! And Saturday, BigDavy said I was too short! Well, gentlemen, look what you are missing!
Hmmm, I have heard (herd) disturbing rumours about them thar boy scouts in Kansas and what they get up to with the livestock when there’s no-one else around. Its hard to tell from the photo what LC thinks about the recent defrocking, and if she is smiling or not.
djm
Well, there WAS someone else around . . . so you can stop worrying, Deej.
I wasn’t too happy with the defrocking, given the time of year. It’s been a bit chilly. Most annoyingly, I’m going to have to forgo my annual appearance in our outdoor “Christmas in Bethlehem” program. You can see there is nothing left! All my lovely winter wool! Gone! Well, at least I didn’t get lice! And someone in Topeka will have a nice shawl.
That’s not quite a smile on my face . . . an expression of utter bliss is more like it. That young man was very sweet and gave my ears the most delicious rub!
After those ham-handed petting therapists at Helping Hands–so irritating! I’m afraid I had to nip one of them to get him to leave me alone!–I was sorely in need of some affectionate ear-pulling.
Where do I buy the old underwear?