The whistle stand on my desk is a 76 mil shell casing from 1945. Turned from solid brass, bottom heavy, 7.5" high. Hard to knock over.
I have a pair of things that stood on my grandparents mantlepiece and which we think are shell casings (about 50mm) with heavy steel bases added by an engineering apprentice. A roll of cloth reduces the diameter so that the flute stands upright. They even have a drain hole. So I need another flute.
I just use a pretty vase.
Here is a thread about dolphinjohn’s pvc flute stand that I thought was clever. The only comments that I remember in the thread is that we would have liked it in black. Maybe we should have a sticky of homemade flute/whistle stands/bags to save all the searching. There are a lot of clever people here and there is no need to reinvent the wheel.
https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/my-new-whistle-stand/68658/1
After a few scary tumbles using the usual flute stands I made this. I got a desk-top mike stand and took off the center pole. I then drilled and tapped some threaded holes to receive the hardware that allows me to unscrew the base from the wooden stand thus making it very easy to tote to gigs in a “flattened” state. The heavy base easily holds up lots of flutes and whistles and even keeps my big Bb Grinter from being knocked over.
I had that same exact stand, and it took a couple of years but it eventually happened to me, and no rock band. Small cramped stage, and the flute not only was bumped over, it went DOWN, as in like a couple of feet to the main floor. Fortunately it only suffered a chip on the endcap.
So, no more flute stands for me, now. Assembled, it’s either in secure repose in my hands, on the table, on the floor (my least favorite but once you square away risk probabilities the gravity’s unassailably good not to mention fully accounted for aside from, like, the ceiling falling in), or in the case of most stage setups, a longish-narrowish flute-holder bag suspended from and attached securely - top and bottom - to the mike stand. Is that dorky? Too bad. First, I value my instruments infinitely more than I would an outsider’s stage decor opinions, and second, whaddayagonna do? I AM a dork.
I wood NEVER put a wood flute on a pole--------------- i have made two burl wood horizontal stands with felt inlay this seems to be great for temporary placement–with the exception of the whistle i commonly use 
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Reminds me of little sandbag rests.
Nice, cavefish, and good for a keyless flute (no need for one with keys), but not practical for stage use.
actually this works great for concert flutes, and the keys never touch anything—this was a home setting stand------ but as you stated “stage use” i would have used something else, which i would have made too much more SECURE- --i Try to make most things myself-----i have a wood shop-------i am thinking of making custom flute caps-like the one on this older flute- i like the older designs-the “irish nipples”
actually i never thought of sandbags-that is a a fantastic idea-------
I like the little sandbags. Very neat.
The cavefish stands look very nice indeed for display purposes. But impractical I think for a session table (knowing the dynamics of a typical session table).
Honestly, for table use, I still think it’s hard to improve on a folded plush cloth, like terry or “grippy” microfiber terry. The flute (or whistle) sinks in, and will not roll unless knocked. The cloth cushions the instrument, including delicate keywork. There’s no danger of the flute being knocked off an inch-high stand. It’s easily portable in your kit. It’s no big deal if lost. And it absorbs the tide of your mate’s spilled Guinness before it washes over your flute. 
And as a ready-made solution for a single flute on stage, the padded drumstick cup may be hard to beat, even without Terry’s elaborate clamping arrangement:
these stands of mine ,as i Stated are temporary home placement stands— with the exception of the whistle stand, and are ONLY are in use for a matter of minutes or hours,AND with proper swabbing first - as it is not wise to lay a flute horizontal all the time when wet , (no drainage, puddling would occur)
If i am working on it and laying it down while eating and such it is used--------------I have KIDS, and YES it would be a terrible break if one “leaned on it” 
so the terry idea is the “safest way” which i Do use when cleaning and oiling---------- besides this is NOT near my kids nor it is at hip level-- 
- the flute stand is high and in the middle of a dresser cabinet, this is a just my way of personalizing things-------i am a wood freak
In a brillaint and serious move of dedication to my craft, I have developed similar skills with my flute. No one ever asks to borrow my flute and humidity levels are maintained satisfactorily.
Added photo to my previous post.
I love the sandbags, too – that’s a great idea, at least for tabletop use at pubs, etc. I’ve also seen a few of these at sessions, though generally for mandolins:
(It’s a neck rest - sorry the pic’s so small!)
But on a small stage, especially with roving fellow musicians and their trailing cords, verticality is a necessity in my book. When I’ve tried it, I just can’t trust that the drumstick bucket is tall enough for my heavier keyed flute, so I think I’ll try the “stick bucket + the clip device” combo.
One multi-instrumental fellow I know has a long narrow “flute sock” of sorts that hangs from an arm clamped on his mic stand (I wouldn’t trust the boom for such purposes). I tried a yoga mat bag, but maybe I’m just a klutz – I kept getting the keys caught when trying to put the flute in or take it out of the bag.
I remember at one point I actually pondered umbrella stands or vases. Hey, ya never know!
Anyway, fun to see all the ideas. Clark, you should think about selling some of your stands if the shipping on the mic-stand base isn’t prohibitive.
Since pub tables have been mentioned - someone in an earlier ‘my flute rolled off the table’ discussion suggested putting one of those elastic hair ties with a bead on the flute. Seems to work.
Sounds like the fabric was the problem, something like a quiver with hook and pile straps might have been better.
I.D. 10-T wrote:
Sounds like the fabric was the problem, something like a quiver with hook and pile straps might have been better.
It’s always good to have another ‘arrow’ in your quiver
Bob
I realize us rockers are more likely to knock things over - no one in a trad band ever drinks or stands, or anything… That said, I do remember a fiddler in one of my Irish bands knocking down an entire mike/boom stand… glad my flute wasn’t on it, fancy basket or not.
Vertical is a necessity, if moving on to another instrument during a set and back again, but putting your flute(s) back in its case(s) during breaks is probably the smartest move…
I can’t recall any of the heavy duty pros using flute stands - Molloy, McEvoy, McGoldrick… have I just not noticed or do they think it’s just unnecessary baggage?
And is this: Choose you this day, whom ye shall serve a reference to kids at the dinner table - serve the oldest one first, say? - or waiting tables in a bar: first serve who appears to be the most likely tipper? Or perhaps, as in tennis, “which of ye shall serve?”
And why “you” in the first clause, and “ye” in the second clause. I don’t get this, either. Help me out here.