Hi, I’ve seen pictures of great flute players and makers with their flutes standing vertically on a flute stand, rather than taken apart and stored in the flute case. I always take my flute apart and put it back in the case, but is this necessary? Could I buy a flute stand and leave the flute out in the sitting room, standing on the stand or will that damage the flute? Any ideas? S.
Not such a good idea for long term storage of wooden flutes. Polymer ones will work obviously.
I wouldn’t do it because my home is too dry for the flute, I humidify the case slightly.
You may not have this problem, but if your joints are cork lined, the cork will compress and the joints will become loose over time. Also, the joints may swell, stick and crack if moisture gathers at the joints.
I would use flute stands for gigs and similar, but not for storage. It’s a shame because it would be lovely to be able to display the flutes like that.
They would be standing right next to my collection of
whisky 
yep! it’s not a vs. kinda thing
It’s the place between:
in the case
and
being played
Hi, Thalatta,
With a Boehm flute, I use what is known as a peg, on which the flute can stand, vertically, and because the Boehm flute is made of metal, it’s possible to leave it assembled for long periods of time, without damaging the flute.
However, flutes made of wood have other considerations. For instance, most wood flutes are made in sections, and the sections are connected to each other by means of tenons and mortices, or sockets. Moreover, the tenons are usually wrapped with either thread or cork, and for reasons which otherwise amount to a long explanation, it is much better for a wood flute to be taken apart when not in use, and then stored in separate pieces.
What kind of flute are you playing, metal or wood?
Thanks for your replies, guys, that’s very helpful. I play a 19th century Thomas Prowse cocuswood flute with 8 nickel silver keys, and I love it, so I wanted tobe able to have it on a stand - but not if that means it will crack.
My suspicion was that it would become damaged over time on a stand; yet, I have seen numerous pictures of great fluteplayers in their sitting rooms with a few different flutes on stands near the wall behind them. So I was curious..
Thanks again. S.
Yes, seeing as you are playing a wood flute, and an antique wood flute at that, the best thing to do is to take it apart when you’re not playing it.
Otherwise, you could risk serious damage to the flute.
might just want to leave it in the case, eh!
buy a plastic one to play…
too much worry!
i have several of my flutes – Olwells and Rudalls and Prattens – on the flute stand.
I use the case to transport them.
Otherwise, i have a wall rack the flutes are on when I’m looking to use them soon. The room is humidified.
You need a good stand made for wood flutes. I had designed such an animal, so if you’re interested, let me know and i can pass along photos.
Thanks David! Here’s one of the pictures of lovely flutes on a stand - exhibit A: Jean Michel Veillon with some wooden flutes on a stand behind him! http://www.breizh.de/jpgs/veillon_1-02.jpg
But I have to say, I’m still very protective of my Thomas Prowse; are you sure it won’t damage it to have out of its box and standing fully together like that? What about varying room temperatures?
When at home, I usually store my flute sitting on top of its case, being assembled. It’s made from blackwood, and no cracks or other disadvantages have appeared so far.
standing vertically is best. The moisture drains out evenly. Laying it flat for long periods allows any moisture to puddle and soak into the wood unevenly. Many old flutes have calcified deposits in the “channel” that is the bottom of the bore where the flute was resting flat.
Varying temperatures in a room are not as critical an issue (lest the flute is in direct sunlight, which you do not want). At issue is moisture variance of a great degree. I have a humistat in the room (actually two for redundancy of readings to be sure). And a cool-mist humidifier. When the humidity goes too low, on goes the humidifier.
the key thing is that the peg not be made of wood or metal as that can injure the bore of the flute. The design I have uses delrin rods whose tips have been rounded. No injury to even the softest of boxwoods.
of course, you’d like the stand to be far away from any foot traffic. I thought i had a great spot, but only to learn it’s about where my pooch likes to drop her toys from the staircase. Sigh. No damage, but just have to find a different spot.
David,
I’d like to see those pictures of your flute stand, if you’re in a sharing mood.
Thanks,
I’m still in favor of taking a wood flute apart when not in use, especially if its tenons are wrapped with cork.
If cork wrapped tenons are left assembled, it’s been known for cork to loose its elasticity, causing the joint to loosen.
That’s not a major problem, but it’s enough of a reason for me.
As Denny was saying, these days I leave a Delrin flute assembled, for use on the spur of the moment.
sure enough Dow
lemme take a couple shots and post
Oh, I agree with you on that, Cork. It’s certainly the safer thing to do. I just thought that I might pick up an idea or two for what to do with the thing between tunes, if I had to get up for whatever reason. I can certainly glue a dowel into a piece of plywood (as a matter of fact, I’ve got just such a critter that I stand the pieces on when I oil them), but I thought that David might have a more elegant design.
Although, since we no longer have a cat living in the house, it’d probably be okay to leave a flute standing upright between practices, at least as long as it was taken apart every so often to give the cork lapping a chance to recover. Provided, of course that the stand is in a safe place, away from toy-dropping dogs .
Ah, I see that David has answered while I was typing this. Thanks David!
David; you will post the photos here on the board of course? Just making sure you aren’t just mailing them..
Another question: If left assembled, won’t moisture gather in the joints, get in between the tenon and socket and risk making the joint jam? Do you dissasemble the flute after every playing and dry it out, do you dry it out assembled or do you just put it at the flute stand and leave it to dry by itself? Are your joints thread or cork lapped?
Thanks
H&W
whisky 
Great questions above. And lovely playing indeed in your videos. S.
assembled when on the stand.
i swab the flutes out when I’m out playing, disassemble and case them.
At home, i stand them. Occassionally I’ll disassemble.
The flattened cork takes a very very long time to happen. And cork grease should do the trick. Besides, if your cork is THAT tight, that’s bad. A quick solution to the “flat” cork: flame/heat directly to the cork. Carefully, of course. It’s flammable cork. Even if it scorches a little, it will actually raise up the cork and it’s now tight again. Cork grease helps.
Nope, moisture does not wick into the joints (which by the way are also wrapped in teflon tape…to prevent any swelling of the joints that are either cork or lapping) as the flute stands upright.
Also, before standing it, cover all the holes (including the bottom keys if you have them) and give a good hard blow through the embochure (covering it with your mouth, not as if you’re playing it). That forces out any that’s puddled in the tube and disperses it evenly.
Too…corked joints need to be “tweeked” every so often – as do the tuning slides. That is to say, turn them once in a while (every couple days) if your instrument is standing and assembled. Otherwise they will indeed begin to stick. If you have teflon wrap, this isn’t an issue; but don’t forget the slide. Moisture does indeed settle there and it needs to be turned/loosened.
I understand how many people prefer to do otherwise.
I will say this: play your flute, let it stand overnight to dry…then play it in the morning. You’ll be amazed at the better tone almost immediately.
or the ambient humidity is reasonable…
Question regarding room temperature: I don’t have any humidifiers or any kind of machine like that in any of my rooms. I live in a place with snow in the winter and hot sun in the summer, but have central heating. The apartment is never too hot, never stifling. Now, would that be alright for the flute, or would you say “don’t leave your flute out unless you have the humidifiers and machines necessray to keep the air proper”?
Thanks!