I’ve been looking a Luc Verhoeven’s baroque flute site. What beautiful tooters! Every one is different. It seems like the guy must be having the time of his life.
It’s got me thinking.
What kind of equipment would a guy need to start making flutes for his own enjoyment?
I’m not looking at making a business of it but it seems like it would be a lot of fun.
Anyone been down this road?
Doc
Why not email Luc and ask him?
Clive Catterall has some stuff in his site:
http://www.flutes.fsbusiness.co.uk/methods.html
Terry McGee has stuff too:
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/making.html
but he’s been in this business for a long time, and he has more equipment than most small makers.
The Yahoo Flutemakers group is a good place to discuss this kind of stuff. This topic (of how to get started) comes up regularly.
g
Hasn’t Jon C made a few flutes? And I think JessieK has made a flute or two as well. You could PM either of them.
I think that would be a pretty fine hobby, if the equipment isn’t too costly ~ the kids might enjoy it too…
Mary
Hi Doc,
Tis a great hobby! There is a little learning curve though…
All you need is a:
Lathe- I have a 1950 Atlas metal lathe
Grinder
Drill press
And a few odds and ends.
And a lot of free time!
I will send you some plans, when you are tooled up!
Jon
P.S. Look in the flutemaking arcives for everything you need to know.
Heh, heh - it’s those odds n’ ends that are the tricky part…
Having a milling machine of some sort around doesn’t hurt either.
Loren
I make em out of any bit of pipe I think would sound nice.
All you really need then is, be cheeky, all the bit sizes from 1/4" to 1/2’ and hole rebater ( very handy for fine tuning! … and amazed will you be to find the particular places have different requirements ..ahem ) a good quality tuner … a software version is fine except you may suffer computer attacks from people who think you are competing with them. Instead just go out and buy one from the music mall. Bits of sanpaper and stick of varying sizes … and lots of patience!
I recommend domestic water pipe (1/2 inch schedual 40) to start and work on making a G flute, since C or D in that size is a little tricky to get right but it can be done!
When you play your first tune on your first Flute…ahhh
BTW My first tune was “The Minstrel Boy”.
Good luck and happy tootlin
:0)
Having known several instrument-makers I’d say you have to be a little bit crazy.
Hmmm, I think that may be one of my strongest qualifications. 
Patrick
Hmmm… I didn’t say that though it did cross my mind.
If you could teach each kid just a little bit and develop some sort of assembly line, why just thnk of the output that you could maintain. Flutes would come pouring out of Idaho faster than… than… potatos?
Yeah, I could get them to do all the tedious parts and could spend all my time doing the fun parts. Er…forgot to ask…there are fun parts right?
Doc
Doc, get a used lathe, and learn to make head joints for the flute you have.
different chimney thicknesses, different embouchure cuts, turn rings…
you could make an Eb head from your flute. Once you’re happy with the work, and the one you made plays better for you then the original, move the a barrel and slide.
You can do all that with out a mill.
good luck, it’s all fun.
Eilam, Does it matter what kind of lathe?
Any reason to choose hand tools over the mechanical metal-lathe type bits (pardon my lack of jargon).
Your idea of starting with the headjoint and copying my way down the flute is what I was contemplating. Thanks.
By the way gang, Eilam has a very cool website. Check it out.
Doc
I would go with wood lathe and regular woodturning tools, the results are much nicer when a flute is turned by hand.
a 12" lathe would be good because the length of the bed is long enough to have a steady rest supporting your work while you drill the socket on the head joint.
You could even make this work: ebay 2490475802
keep us informed - and I’d be more then happy to help - I may have some turning tools I could send your way, if you get a lathe.
Hi,
If you got a metal lathe, it would be easier to drill the blanks, using a gun drill bit (one of those “odds and ends”). Also you need to make a reamer for the conical bore. You could turn the reamer out of wood if you like, there is some plans on the internet.
With my lathe, you can hand turn on it also, and speed up the lathe for wood turning. The old Atlas was designed for the homeowner, so he could turn metal or wood, back in those days people still worked with there hands… 
For me, the most fun is turning the outside of the flute, the reaming is kind of boring. And of course fine tuning is kind of fun. (NOT!)
Good luck!
Jon
Jon, do you actually have a tool rest on your lathe? is it on the saddle?
would it go up to speeds of 3000 RPM (for buffing, and fine sanding)?
I think that every one should have a metal lathe - such a great tool !
Hi Eilam,
Yes, I attach it to the tool holder on the saddle.
I don’t think I make it to 3,000 rpm, but have never tacked it, maybe about 2k… :roll:
Jon
the reason I was asking is that Buffing with say: Carnuba wax needs to spin about 3000 the heat up and melt the wax.
so don’t give me no :roll:
Wax? Fer crissakes, it ain’t a car Eilam
Honestly Doc, these guys are making it sound a bit easier than perhaps they should. Before you go spending money on gear, I would highly recommend you get some hands on instruction in wood and/or metal turning: Find a beginners wood turning class at a store like Woodcraft or Rockler. Another option is to find a local wood turning club with a mentor program. Also, a machine tooling class would be extremely helpful, if you can find one in your area.
Loren
My wife’s Dad is a machinist and a wood turner. I was hoping to involve him in my escapades. THanks for the advice though.
Patrick
Well - thats true, each person has his own way of learning. The Lathe that I thought would be good enough to start was $35, I did not advice to start with a CNC mill.
Loren - are you saying you guys don’t buff the instruments? I have two Von-Huene recorders, even the fine sanding should be done at high speed.
hey - speaking about cars - do you still have the “blue-Devil”?