Could someone direct me as to where I could buy a keyed polymer flute, preferably used? It seems that people put keys mostly on wooden simple-system flutes, which I can’t afford 
Keys would be the major part of the expense (plus the holes they cover). Otherwise, there is generally an extremely small difference in the cost of Delrin vs. wood flutes. Michael Cronnolly does offer an 8-keyed blackwood flute for €850.00 , one of the lowest costs I’m aware of. However, don’t expect keywork like on a Rudall or Holmes-McNaughton flute.
One aspect of a polymer flute is the easy care and robustness in extreme conditions. You give up that reliability by adding keys.
Kevin Krell
Actually, I believe the holes are free. 
Doc
Kevin’s right BTW, the material doesn’t dictate the cost of the flute.
Both M&E (Michael Cronnolly) and Desi Seery make keyed delrin flutes. As a rule, keyed delrin flutes will have post mounted rather than block mounted keys, mostly because flute makers hate working the stuff as it is (they’re usually wood lovers) and getting the stuff to cooperate with the block-making process would be a bit of a nightmare.
Doc
What?.. delrin flutes aren’t cheaper?
Thanks for clearing up that misconception.
I’m playing on a keyless delrin Seery right now. Would it be possible to get keys added to it? How do Cronnoly flutes play?
Also, what wood makes a lower-maintainence flute in terms of humidity, etc.?
I gotta tell ya.
There isn’t really a cheap way out.
You get what you pay for.
I know M&E does a post keyed polymer and well… see my previous statement.
You might be better off upgrading to a better keyless… a wood keyless to boot.
Keyed flutes are great sure but they can be a headache too.
Save your money and get a good flute that will last you.
Chasing cheapies will cost you more in the long run.
How much you looking to spend?
Yeah? Try getting them put in without buying the keys. You’re in for a lot of tape or putty. And, it probably helps if they are put in the right place, and have the seats machined in.
Kevin
I’m sure Maurice Reviol would add the keys for you, if Desi Seery doesn’t. I never saw a keyed delrin Seery, though.
Check http://www.reviol.co.nz, he’s a great guy to deal with and not too expensive.
Des Seery’s keys are handmade and used to cost (about 5 years ago) about $150 per key. They’re nice post mounts. Unless he has changed his policy, he’ll post mount on to your flute.
Anvil apparently is not a fan of M&Es…especially when keyed. The keys are cheap, but they work as well as any other post or block mounted flute I’ve played (I bought mine used, and 3 years later it’s still going strong). Michael Cronnolly doesn’t seem to have prices for keyed polymer flutes anymore - so you’d have to ask what he charges (or if he’s still keying polymer). Price was the same for a 6 key as he is currently charging for his 8 key blackwood. Michael is a good guy, and one of his goals is to make flutes people can afford to play and that will last. Personally, I’ve owned both a Seery and an M&E, and I loved both of them. I sound the same on them as I do on Hamiltons, Olwells, McGees and antique flutes…I sound like me. Keyed M&Es are a phenomenal value.
Eric
Wasn’t going to jump in on this one, but… I highly recommend the M&E and Michael Cronnolly in general. I asked him if I could get keys added to my polymer M&E flute and he told me he didn’t do that any more but that he had an 8-key blackwood that he would sell at a price that I couldn’t pass up. I have been more than pleased with it in the months since I bought it. It plays great, is in tune, and looks great, too! Sure, the keys aren’t up to what you would get on a Terry McGee or a John Gallagher flute and they are post-mounted instead of block-mounted, but at less than 1/4 the price, who cares? Someday I will get a Terry McGee 6 or 8 key flute, but until then, the M&E is MORE than adequate. I would HIGHLY recommend you look at Michael and Evelyn’s flutes and don’t even bother with the polymer.
Pat
Nope not a big fan of the M&E poly nor the key work.
I won’t go into details… I don’t think its needed.
Not trying to piss anyone off.
Its just this one man’s humble opinion.
I’m sure MC is a wonderful fellow.
He loves and makes flutes… whats not to like. 
I’ve yet to see any of his wood flutes so of those I have no opinion.
Blasphemer!!! Heretic!! All the faithful know that it is the FLUTE that makes all the difference in how you sound! Get ye BACK oh flute Satan!!! 
IMO- The M&E is great and plays like some of the best of them. The keys work well. Everything about it is functional, but it hasn’t got the same finish and attention to detail as the expensive ones.
Yeah- you get what you pay for. There is going to be a trade off somewhere, but it isn’t in how it sounds or plays.
Also, Blackwood is by far the most stable wood, but it’s not as stable as polymer obviously- it’s wood.
Just my 2cl of
whisky
I follow threads like this one with great interest, since I hope to be able to afford a keyed polymer flute eventually. Most of my flute playing takes place out of doors these days, so I find polymer/Delrin flutes a real blessing.
… and they don’t mind if I dribble a bit of my whisky in them (cheers, Henke). 
Sitting here drinking a CAOL ILA 12 year old, I feel I should share with you my very real appreciation for my 8 key M&E blackwood flute, yes the keywork is functional but it functions and functions very well, and as has already been pointed out, at a cost which is a fraction of it’s more expensive counter-parts.
I’ve had this flute for about 6 weeks and my flute teacher, young enough to be my son, and who plays an Ormiston, is very impressed with both the tone and intonation, and waxes lyrical about the G, on my flute.
Having previously played a delrin Seery I would strongly recommend that you check out what M&E have to offer, you may be very pleasantly suprised.
Henke - the Caol Ila 12 yr old is very pleasant but, for me does not compare with a 10 yr old Laphroig, or indeed a Bruichladdich, not quiet the same intensity of smoke, peat and iodine; Ah Islay Malts - are there any others.
10yo Laphroaig is good, the 10yo Cask Strength is fantastic. Which Bruichladdich are you talking about? They’re usually unpeated except for special releases like Octomore.
I hold the Caol Ila 12 in higher regard than most other people seem to do. They do seem to vary a lot between batches.
You may want to try to air it a little. Caol Ila 12 seem to taste better and better the further you get into the bottle and the longer it has been opened. I’ve tried it with 2 different bottles of Caol Ila 12. The best one had a rather loose cork and I left it standing with less than a fifth left in the bottle for 2 or 3 months. Taste was fabulous after that.
Obviously I can’t guarantee good results, so don’t hold me responsible if the whisky ends up ruined. And don’t try it with sherry matured
whisky