Well, I think I may have developed a blackwood allergy and I’m in need of some kind of lip plate around the embouchre of my flute. I e-mailed Peter Noy, as he’s about the closest flutemaker to me (I live in Portland, OR) and received a short reply that he’s concentrating on making flutes now and avoiding doing any repair or restoration work…Bit of an eyebrow raiser…Anyway, can anyone give any recommendations on others that I could contact who would be willing to do this kind of work? Preferably someone that lives within driving distance of Portland? I’ve got some electrical tape on the flute now, which seems to work fine, but I’d like to find a more long-term solution sooner rather than later.
Do these irritations ease up after switching off to a different flute for a few months, and then going back to the blackwood slowly, or is the allergy permanent?
Hi,
I would’nt use any type of glue on or near the embouchure, these glue’s keep giving off fumes in a very small way, long after they have cured,
you dont want to keep breathing these vapour’s into your lungs, if you do then you may not see any effects right away or for sometime, but eventually it will do damage, read the instructions on the label where it says do not breathe in vapors etc, and coating over the glue does not stop the vapor or fumes.
I’d be really surprised if CA glue isn’t completely catalyzed after a day or two- probably within hours. And it was developed as a surgical glue, and is still used for that purpose.
Eating food that was wrapped in plastic, drinking pop or water from a plastic bottle, or using a plastic toothbrush probably gives you a much higher exposure to whatever.
Another option may be to have a different head made. It might sound like forming a Frank’n flute, but these fife players seem to like the sound of pink ivory better than blackwood.
Jon C.,
Also clear packing tape works as well as anything else,
it’s nearly invisible and it’s very cheap.
People go for expensive solutions but this
is entirely adequate functionally and aesthetically. IMO.
Seems like he has the tape thing working for him now, but wanted a long term solution. Electrical tape may not seem elegant, but the thing is blackwood not boxwood, so it should be fine.
Personally, I think two heads are better than one. It gives a person a chance to upgrade embouchure cuts.
PS. I am a know-nothing-hack. Consult someone in the know before taking my advice.
If it’s contact allergy, it’s permanent, and gets worse with repeated direct contact. Trust me. I know firsthand, and I’m not the only one.
Yes, jumping to conclusions is always to be advised against. Ruling out simple irritation from friction, it IS always possible that one’s own bacteria could turn against one and cause redness (or purpleness), swelling, burning, pain, itching, and seeping blisters, but I think it’s pretty remote. One way to do a layman’s test would be to try other flutes made from other Dalbergia species like cocus or the various rosewoods. Even another blackwood flute would do, really, if there’s a bacteria question. If you get a reaction, my money would be on allergy, hands down. Reactions vary, and some Dalbergia woods are more potent than others, but the general rule is allergic to one, allergic to all. They’re full of toxic oils and resins to keep from being eaten, so it stands to reason that some people’s skin, especially the moist and tender area under the lip, would react to the stuff. Usually it takes time to develop the condition. And not everyone does: those with the allergy are in the minority.
Why fingers tend not to be affected in the same way is still a mystery to me, although after a long period of playing, my finger pads will feel somehow a bit different the next day.
You don’t install lip insets yet, Jon? Dude. Now’s the time to learn. Not on The Sporting Pitchfork’s flute for starters, of course, but, you know. It seems not every flutemaker does insets. I had Pat Olwell install an inset for me one time but it was only the second he’d ever done, and although he did a topnotch job - as ever - he was a bit leery to do it as he said he hadn’t worked out how to set up a routing jig to make the process easier and more foolproof. Dunno where he is on that issue now.
Pitchfork, maybe you could give give Olwell a shout; see if a year’s wait or less would be reasonable. Hammy Hamilton does them, too, last I heard. I would definitely consult with anyone who’ll do this for you as to what profile you want the plate to display if it matters to you. There are a number of ways to go about it.
I realise these guys are about as far from Portland as you could ask, but I suppose it’s a start.
Thanks everyone for your replies and advice. Of course, I cannot be certain at this point that my flute has not acquired some kind of strange Martian space fungus, but I’m guessing at this point the cause was the beginnings of a blackwood/rosewood allergy. I tried the superglue barrier as suggested and so far, so good…
Well there is always a first, might be a fun project. But I don’t live in Portland either… But I am game.
I can relate to Mr.Noy not wanting repair work, it does kind of eat away your time! So many repairs, so little time!
But I am game.