Hi all,
Im pretty sure this has been discussed around here before,
but could not find it…
I am looking for a flute stand for convenience during practice and on stage.
So, it should be foldable and have room for 2-3 flutes. No need to go fancy, as long as it works, folds and doesn’t fall over.
Any good tips? They had a few nice ones at fluteworld.com, but I’m not too sure they’d fit into an Irish flute.
Cheers;
Eivind
It seems the K&M stands rule the scene…right?
I much prefer the Spyder stand. I don’t believe the standard K & M stand would fit a conical flute. The Spyder stand has a small “knob” at the top that can be removed to fit a conical flute just fine, and it’s very much more stable than the K & M (I’ve had both). It’s more expensive, but worth it. http://www.music123.com/Spyder-Stand-for-Clarinet--Flute-or-Oboe-i81472.music
Dana
If you’re handy and have a few tools, you could make one like this yourself in an hour or two:
A friend of mine made this for me years ago; the dowels sit in the end and you pull them out as you need them. The only problem I found is that the dowels swell with the moisture that drips down on them, and at the end of an evening you can find it awfully hard to pull them back out.
You’ll notice one of the dowels in the “assembled” picture isn’t quite vertical; it’s not warped, I just didn’t insert it fully into the hole so it’s tilted a little!
I don’t actually use this stand anymore; I used to use it for concerts but now I just put the flutes on a cloth by my feet.
I use at home a simple basket, you can purchase these at many places,
made of wicker. I put some bubble wrap or towelin the bottom. It holds
many flutes in a more or less upright position. Looks good
and it’s quite cheap, and nothing could be easier to use. On sale in supermarkets, asian import stores,
etc.
Right now I have a polymer, so this isn’t much of an issue, but in the future I’ll have a low A flute, which will be considerably longer and obviously more fragile.
I am getting leery of any sort of a vertical stand, especially in a crowded session. It just seems too easy to have somebody blunder into it and knock the thing over, with nasty results.
How about one of these - if set on a TABLE. (Not the floor).
Yep, I had a contra dance caller get too excited once, and kick over my $5,000+ oboe (sigh). Now I use a Blayman stand with a lead base and interchangeable pegs, but they are quite expensive. https://www.wwbw.com/search/?src=blayman+base
I like that little cradle stand you showed us, Wormdiet – where did you get it? Or do you make them?
It’s kind of a guy thing. . . those are “samurai sword” stands used by every closet-ninja for their plastic & stainless steel katanas! I dont happen to own one or make them.
A drawback with horizontal holders, IMO, is that the flute
doesn’t drain; condensation pools.
A last plug for the basket: these are now made clothlined.
I believe they are really smallish clothes hampers.
Serious question: what impact would that have if the horizontal stand is used, say, once a week in 3-4 hours of session? And for probably 60-70% of that time, the flute is in the players hands. . .
we designed these stands with wood flutes in mind specifically (and whistles)
http://home.earthlink.net/~dmigoya614/id47.htm
Kevin Crawford was using the double last time I saw him.
That Multi is nice!
Knocked my Noy off the stage last evening. 
It was on a vertical stand, and I thought I had it in a good place! Oddly enough, not a nick on the stick, and fortunately the stage was at a pretty low elevation. After a relieved inspection, I said to the horrified others, “Just watch. What d’you wanna bet it’ll play even better now?” I don’t recommend the gamble, though.
I like the basket idea, but I need collapsibility more. Tricky business, flute placement in tight spaces. I may come up with alternatives yet.
I have seen cloth baskets that were like a spring. Crush them and they look like a Frisbee. A sandbag in the bottom would work for stability. Probably too flimsy for a good flute though.
What about a thick cloth sock? Won’t roll and provides protection and is quick on the draw.
I do NOT like the idea of sticking something up the bore. Harder than the flute and the stick will dent the inside, softer than your flute, dust sand glass, what ever will embed into the soft thing and continue to scratch your flute. Either way your flute will be destroyed in 100 years or so.
that’s right, but you can pull out the fat dowel and insert a narrower one -
dowels like wht you can get from some place like Home Depot. I stuck
mine in with blu tack (the cure all). Dana’s also correct that it isn’t that
sturdy. I only use it at home or at “concert-type” gigs where there’s a
safe stage setup. For a session it would only be safe on top of a table!
Lesl
Answer: it would have no impact whatsoever.
I suppose it’s nice to have the flute vertical
when unused during a session, cause it does drain and might
sound better, but if it works, no problem.
Certainly won’t hurt the flute in this
time frame.
Now you’re talkin’. Something to hang from the mike stand…hey, I’ve got an old leather jacket that I cut up for popping straps and stuff. A long leather bag (I knew those sleeves’d be good for something) with ties at both ends instead of a rickety little stand might be just the ticket. I’ll be giving it a try! Thanks much. 
That was skillfully doneFlute, leather and bondage!
Is that the biker style jacket? Does it have a padded lining?
inquiring minds and all, eh.
Nah, just your basic flimsily-lined brown fabric-grade cheapo leather overcoat sort of thing that covers you down just past yer butt. Nothing I’d wear, Heaven forfend; I’m too vain for that style. Bought it at Ragstock expressly for the purpose of dismembering it as need and inspiration arose. It’s too thin for really good popping straps, but the one I made from it will serve until I can find a heavier one. It may be just fine for a fluteholder, though. Experimentation will tell.
Igor! To the lab, quick! There’s work to be done.