http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321025674211
Just listed my Wilkes boxwood flute on Ebay. Believe some of you know this flute and maybe a couple of you remember that I was kind of full of myself for getting it. I deserve a splat or two for that, but my reasons on Ebay are actually quite honest. Honestly.
Nice flute, I remember this one from 2011. 
Could the warp have come from it’s time in Kandahar?
Interesting. Yes, I bought this flute from its owner while he was working in Afghanistan and the warp has been pretty much the same since I got it. I’ve never tried anything to straighten it other than to just play it to keep it from drying out. Was is straight when you saw it? If so, maybe the original owner was right when he said it would straighten out in high humidity or maybe the desert dryness caused it to set that way. I just don’t know.
I haven’t seen the flute live Libraryman, but I know it has spent time in Kandahar, and just now I’m reading a book “Butcher and bolt” about the stupidity, and humiliating defeats of the British army in Afghanistan during the Anglo-Afghan wars of the 19th century. Seems to be a land of very extreme temperatures, not the ideal environment for a boxwood instrument. I’m sure Chris Wilkes or Olwell for example could straighten out the warp if you or whoever buys the flute wanted it done. It’s a minor cosmetic detail and this is one of the rare chances to acquire an unique, quality instrument by Wilkes.
Should have asked for you advice before listing it! I could easily have asked Patrick Olwell about it since I live in the same state. But actually, it didn’t bother me playing it and didn’t want to try soaking it in oil as was once suggested or anything else since it is a valuable hard to get flute. Well, I’ve listed it now and will live with whatever it goes for or does not go for. If it doesn’t sell, I’ll take a trip downstate.
Yes I bet it’s a good flute. I have a blackwood Wilkes and it took me a while to be able to do it justice. I was tending to blow too sharp on the 2nd octave. It’s a Rudall model, extremely responsive. Have more experience now and listen more and adapt better. All the best
Winning bid: US $1,782.57 (1.112 sterling).
I’m sure Chris Wilkes or Olwell for example could straighten out the warp
That’s interesting - are you guessing or have you experience of straightening bowed or warped boxwood - I’m not trying to be funny but I come across warped wood a fair bit and know no way of straightening along the grain without steaming or taking a saw to it.
“That’s interesting - are you guessing or have you experience of straightening bowed or warped boxwood - I’m not trying to be funny but I come across warped wood a fair bit and know no way of straightening along the grain without steaming or taking a saw to it.” JohnB.
That’s what I was thinking of, the careful use, by a flute maker, of a steam chamber and/or a press, could possibly correct a warped flute. Yes I am guessing, but I think it could be done by someone with experience.
http://4umi.com/wood/conservation/endingthebending.php
Flute is on its way back to England and I think its buyer will consult with Chris Wilkes. The bow did not affect its playability for me, but it would be nice if the higher humidity worked to return the wood to its original shape. Its a power player’s instrument and deserves more than I could give it. If the buyer ever posts on this forum, maybe he will give us an update on Chris’s suggestion. For my part, I think I was right to let well enough alone and not attempt any drastic measures. Leave something like that to a pro and who better than the guy who made it?
Yes I am guessing, but I think it could be done by someone with experience
Those techniques are for treating wood in planks or boards, very unlikely to work in the case of a cylinder of wood IMHO.
I would have thought extracting moisture from one side of the bow using humidity and heat and then putting it in a press would’nt do the flute much good but maybe there is a technique - stick the flute in a steam box til its all bendy, pack it with sand, then into a jig to hold it in an opposite bow til it cools! (and stick some ammonia in at the same time - might darken down that bright boxwood colour 
)
Sounds risky to me. I build guitars and even with a special side bender for flat thin wood, sometimes the sides crack. You need so much heat to get them to soften. Mahogany is harder to bend than rosewood and maple is the easiest. But maybe boxwood bends more easily. Maybe one of the makers who posts here could let us know his or her experience.
I’m sorry you had to let the Wilkes go Libraryman, but hopefully it will get played a lot. I play every day and have three flutes that I rotate. The newest flute which is the oldest still freaks me out. I’m paying particular attention to it as the coming winter is predicted to be very harsh here. A wolf winter, an appropiate term as wolves are down here now, even in southern Sweden. Sheep have been killed. So it’s a piece of sponge in the flute box and plastic bag time. Your boxwood Wilkes must have been an unusual flute. Don’t think Chris has made many of them?
It’s a VERY cool flute. And it’s gotta be one of kind. Safe travels to it!
Only observations here, but about boxwood … I seem to accumulate boxwood instruments (not really by intention, though they do go nicely with my hair 
), and each varies in its degree of response to climate changes. In the case of a rather curvy boxwood flute and a warped uilleann-pipe tenor drone (each made in Ireland), both visibly “unwarp” in higher humidity. They don’t completely straighten out, but it’s enough to make me wonder how they’d behave if they returned to a more humid climate for a year or two.
My other boxwood flute, made in libraryman’s neck of the woods, responds to humidity changes by warping very slightly in the sockets (the foot socket in particular goes a little out-of-round) but overall it seems to remain straight. My boxwood uilleann-pipe chanter also shows no visible change.
Anyway, they all play fine and the “banana flute” is a great player and conversation-starter, so life is good.
Finally … don’t beat yourself up, libraryman! There are other sticks in the tree.
Thanks for the kind words. I’ll miss having that Wilkes and the Olwell I sold before that, but I’m not feeling sorry for myself. I haven’t any more of those, but I do have some fine fine flutes left in the box.
I seem to accumulate boxwood instruments (not really by intention, though they do go nicely with my hair)…
Bless you. Come visit us! Bring your hair.
I had the flute for about 12 years before selling it to libraryman. The warp would come and go with the seasons and how much i played it. After a while I always kept in a humidified tupperware container and well oiled. And cleaned out after playing and oiled periodically.
is a great flute aesthetics aside, am wish it well on it’s travels and tunes.
michael copeland always called it the “Texas Flute” because it was loud and flashy, he also said it was like a puppy always wanting to be played.
kandahar is hyper-arid and a flute or anything wood would crack quite quickly, I’m sure steampacket has enjoyed the stories of maiwand and other battle fields of that area, such a sorrow filled country filled with lovely people and a few headcases some being from NATO or coalition forces.
still quite happy with my stevan morvan flute which interestingly has a longer middle pratten joint than the wilkes.
have fun
Aw, thanks, D. Will you ever be in the Great Northeast (or even the Midwest) again, or are you lost to Clare? Larry and I are trying to figure out how to have that happen to us … anyway, you’re welcome to stay anytime.
And Bil, I’m still kicking myself for not catching up with you at the Tionól this year. It was so crazy! Our Sunday-morning tunes a couple years ago with the Texas Flash are among my favorite memories. I hope you’re doing well.
Thanks, gavin’s is always madness, to much going on, and i’m feeling my age lol. I’m in Philly, back just over a year and will be here for awhile until i make my way to nakong suwan thailand, haven’t been to Clare or Ireland, don’t have the desire though would love to go to asturius.
hopefully see you again at the NE Tylenol next year or maybe St. Louis, off to thailand next month ahhhhhhhhh.
have fun
Bil, forgive me for selling your flute. You drove way out of your way to deliver those rings thanks. it wasn’t for money, I just did not have the power for it, but am definitely grateful for the chance to have owned it for awhile. Hope we catch up some time.