I’m learning a keyed concert-type flute, which is nice, but not easy to just pick up and take for a walk (or bike ride). Just something for noodling away on.
So was thinking of making 6-hole for chucking in the rucksack. I’ve been checking the flutomat calculator
But what key to make it in? Low D sounds nice, but is a bit long.
How about F#? C?
Are the smaller 6-hole flutes very much harder to play than the larger flutes?
Smaller/higher pitches are generally easier to play (up to about Bb - when you get into piccolo territory the greater embouchure control needed can be challenging). Check through current and past threads on F flutes. Both F and G are good for comfort, portability and sound. F# would be unusual to say the least, but why not, as you wouldn’t be expecting to play it in company particularly. Or pick up a Bb band flute cheaply off eBay - wouldn’t matter if it was HP for your purposes - and they can be very sweet-sounding - rather less hassle than setting about making one! (I have at least one HP one available overhauled if you’re interested.)
I have no experience with his flutes, but Tipple also makes a range of PVC flutes that might fill the bill, and has a G available it seems.
Doug Tipple
Tipple Flute Sale
b flat isn’t an option on the calculator - I could just go for B and try that.
Thanks for the advice.
(ps thanks also for the offer of a cheap one for sale, but SWIMBO must be pacified)
A is a nice key and gets you two keys used in ITM, A and D.
Umm, uhh, oohh kay! There is A#, right? 
just or equal?
I say justice. My wife seeks equality.
A critical distinction in the battle of the sexes.
Oh you three (last above) - your posts are just awful… and equally bad! 
The Flutomat just shows A#, with a frequency of 466.16Hz which is equal to Bb for the purpose of stating the bell note of the flute. What you do with the other notes is up to the flute maker.
I’m glad to see we’re all feeling happy today.
Feadoggie
I’m so jealous!
Mine doesn’t seem to want to give up much of anything…
sorry…this was for a prototype, wasn’t it
gonna have to lip it a bit anyhow
close enough!
Let me guess, her definition of sharing means “You have something I want”
oh, it’s been years since I’ve… 
Keep in mind that the key of the instrument might sit better in different sized tubing. Just because you can make a D piccolo out of 1/2" Sch. 40 PVC Pipe doesn’t mean that it is the best key for that bore size. Bb (A# for the sake of this discussion) would be about as high as I would want to go, I think, and F and G might be as low as I would want to go before choosing 3/4" PVC. If you want to hang out in the lower two octaves (for a given bore size), choose a higher pitched key, if you want to hang out in the middle to upper octaves, find a lower pitched key.
You will have to ask yourself what you want and decide on PVC size and key depending on what you want out of it.