surface finish of bores (not boars)

Irish Flute
1

After oiling the bore of my flute, I notice that about halfway down the bore there is an area that is rough (about the size of a US dime). It appears to not soak up the oil in the same way as the rest of the bore. I think it might be a knot or burl in the wood. I have read that the bore finish should be very smooth. Would this rough area cause tonal difficulties? Do any of you out there have similar “features” in your bores?

2

Hmm. My bores (flutes) are all pretty smooth . . . a rough spot could be either a manufacturing defect/feature . . . or a spot where moisture has raised the grain.

What kind of timber is the thing?

A knot in most kinds of flute timber isn’t likely to be as big as a dime, nor a burl. Is there a knot on the outer surface that’s that big?

Stuart

3

There is no surface flaw on the outside of the flute. I’ll take a look at it closer. It might be some raised “hair”. The wood is blackwood.

4

What kind of wood is this? Blackwood is usually mirror-like; other woods have more grain. I’ve seen stuff similar to what you describe in Cooktown Ironwood.

g

5

Yes,my flute bore has a rough spot.Well,actually two.I think they’re from when my oil swab was too big,and got stuck in there,and I had to pull pretty hard to get it out :blush: .Oops.I don’t know how much it affects the tone,but I don’t think it’s much.The flute sounds great anyway.
-Kelly

6

What kind of wood was that, Kelly? Was there a metal stick involved?

7

I don’t believe this rough area in the bore could damage the sound.
a friend in Ireland has a beautiful blackwood Wilkes (actually the one
that was belonging to Kevin Crawford) with some unshiny parts in the bore.
that’s one of best sounding flutes I’ve ever tried.a lot of blackwod flutes

(good and less good) i’ve seen have these rough spots in the bore.
probably is something typical of this timber?
m

8

glauber:
It’s mopane.And no metal stick.
I’m not sure that’s what caused the rough spots,but I never noticed them before then.
When I was pulling the swab out,it kind of felt like it might be doing some damage.
I don’t really know.
-Kelly