What is the general consensus out there on fixing cracks…
I have a 19th C flute with a crack in the lined head. It does not go anywhere near the embouchure and doesn’t affect playing. I have only had this flute about 6mnths at most in which time it has not got any worse.
Is it worth having it ‘repaired’ or is it best ignored? I would be hesitant to have it filled as I would imagine this might aggravate the problem and pinning seems a little excessive.
I apologise if this is a tired old subject but just try putting the word ‘crack’ into the search and see how many threads come back!
If you truly wish the crack repaired, you will have to submit to having the inner bore “stabilized” with a modern polymer by a Pro. This will seal the crack and stop all the water swelling that caused it, but it may alter the tone slightly and will affect the resale price. Thin metalic headliners are an option too, and “reversable/removeable” before resale.
In Hammy’s book I think he advises strongly against filling the crack with anything which seems to make sense as cracks will run along the grain and putting anything in it is likely to act almost like a splitting wedge.
My Rudall & Rose has a crack along the headjoint on the opposite side to the embouchure. The head is fully lined. Depending on the temperature of the flute, the crack opens and closes because of the expansion of the metal liner. It would seem silly to try to fix it in one position, given the range of expansion/contraction. It doesn’t seem affect tone at all.
Deirdre
(Edited so that everything’s in the same tense… :roll: )
I have repaired many cracks. Head joint cracks don’t mandate repair provided the crack isn’t through the embouchure-- and even then it may not affect the playing.
To repair a head crack properly the liner should be removed and the buildup of corrosion removed from inside the wood and from around the liner. The head joint is then reamed so that when the wood is snugged around the liner the crack disappears and the liner is able to slide smoothly into the wood. The liner is then epoxied carefully back into place.
Tuning barrel cracks are more likely to affect playing since there may be an air leak. Again, the best repair is done when the liner is removed. But it is possible to make an effective repair by filling the crack with a mix of super-glue and wood dust and to refinish by carefully removing the excess glue/wood filler and sanding with 400-600-1200 grit sandpaper.
If the repair cannot be done properly it is best not to do it. It is a bad idea to fill the crack with wax because it will eventually make a proper repair more difficult to accomplish. Cracks will not get worse unless the care of the flute is neglected.
Finally, the best advice regarding cracks is cautionary: buy a $20 hygrometer and make sure that the flute is kept in a moist (45-55% humidity) environment and that it is played regularly.
