PVC for flutes in the UK

Irish Flute
1

Hi all,

I’m new to the boards. so “hello”!. I’d really quite like to make some flutes out of PVC - having seen all the wonderful things people are doing with it.. but I just can’t seem to find the right stuff here in the UK. All the big high street style DIY places seem to do lots of odd barrier-style piping, but I can’t seem to find some good old u-PVC pipe anywhere.

Anyone got any suggestions where I might find some materials to get me going and making some flutes??

Sam

2

Hi Sam,

Try a plumbing wholesaler. or try www.pipestock.com , they stock both metric and imperial standards of PVC pipe.
check PVC-U Pressure Pipe 16 bar metric, or PVC-U Pressure Pipe Class 7 Inch (imperial), metric pipe is sold by outside diameter, imperial pipe by inside diameter, in 6m length, grey colour. Check under PVC specifications.

What you find in DIY stores are PE-X speedfit pipes, which is crossbonded polyethylene barrier pipe. i’ve used that for flutes, but it does not glue at all, due to being chemically very stable.

Hope this helps, good luck!
~Hans

3

Hi there,

Thanks for the reply. I notice at pipestock you can only buy in bulk - does anyone know any way I could get hold of a small quantity of PVC pipe for a couple of flutes?

Thanks!

Sam

4

Sorry Sam I did not check that. But just check your local plumbing stores, the one’s which are specialised for supplying the trade. They always sell to individuals too. I’ve seen grey PVC pipe at the local builder’s merchant here. Keep looking at the trade stores.

5

Hi Sam, I find PVC a difficult material to work with, as it’s a bugger to file.
Can I suggest that you try the electrical conduit available in the UK at B&Q, that is much easier to work, I’ve made a low A and G Whistle using a Generation Bb head which fits nicely into one of the jointing pieces available.
I think that perhaps the best material to use is ABS, as it comes in a wide range of sizes, glues well, and is non-toxic.
John S

6

Hi John - thanks for the info!

I presume the electrical conduit is ABS? What size does it come in? I feel a trip to B&Q coming on this weekend for some fun!

Thanks all

Mark

7

Electric conduit is usually PVC, and it may be more toxic than the PVC piping used for domestic water. It smells more too, so I guess it is more toxic. Mark Shepard on his PVC flutemaking page writes:

DO NOT use ABS pipe for flutes. Since it’s meant only for drainage, there are no restrictions on the toxicity of the chemicals added to it. Also avoid gray PVC electrical conduit, both because of possible toxicity and because of its greater wall thickness, which will hurt octave tuning.

~Hans

8

Hi Hans.
That’s interesting, here in the UK the ABS I’m thinking of using is certified safe for use in the food industry, and it’s the material that plastic recorders are made of.
PVC has a low toxicity but may contain phthalate plasticizers.
I think the toxicity problems are minimal with both these materials.
John S

9

Almost forgot, B&Q conduit is definitely not PVC.
John S

10

Hi all,

Thanks for all the replies - I went to Wickes here in the UK today and picked up some 22mm PVC electrical conduit - which is white. Also noticed they had some 3/4" PVC pipe in the cold water plumbing area but they were out of stock - will have to go back to get some of this!

Will keep you posted how it goes.

Sam