Replacement cork - What size should i get?

[jemtheflute]

I’m sure Robert Bigio would turn you a conventional 8-keyer’s straight-sided/flat topped (with face-decorative turning) crown for one of his gadgets if you asked him! http://www.bigio.com/stoppersandcrowns.html

[Cathy_Wilde]

Thanks! That’s what I’m after.

[ChrisCracknell]

I’m sure Casey will correct me if I’m wrong, but I seem to recall that my folk flute has a (turned? standard size?) wooden dowel wrapped in thread. However the flute is out on loan at the moment, so I can’t check. Seems to work fine.

[Denny]

yes, he does

[plunk111]

@jemtheflute

When I do up flutes, to replace defunct or missing corks I mostly use the modern plastic corks from wine bottles (the more solid rather than the foamy-centred ones are best) and cut them to size by gently heating up the male tuning slide of the flute (the projecting part of the head liner - and no, I haven’t cracked or singed any heads thus…) and then pressing it down on/into the cork to cut off the excess diameter and get a snug fit. You’ll need a dowel to push it back out! Then cut to desired length, use a hot skewer to make a hole in the back end if it is to go onto a crown/stopper adjuster set-up (doesn’t sound like this one is?), seal the front face by heating a knife blade and smoothing off the end (best done with it inside the head - use the liner tube end to guide)… or you can make a metal face plate from a suitable coin and glue that on… All of which is much easier than sanding down an oversize natural cork, I find. I haven’t yet come across wine corks (brand new or recycled - and I’ve got a few of the latter! ) that are just the right size to use without down-sizing. I can’t detect any discernible tonal effects/differences.

Remember to grease whatever you use well before final insertion!

I didn’t know anyone else did this! I do the same thing, using synthetic corks, but don’t do the heating part. I just twist it back and forth, slicing down into the cork, until I reach the desired size. I think your way (Jem) is better, but I’d be worried about the “heat” part. One thing you can guarantee is that the cork WILL be the right size!

Pat