Delrin flute suggestions for 2024?

[pancelticpiper]

Says the guy who plays bagpipes!

Yes, and I only play wood bagpipes because Delrin pipes are much heavier.

It doesn't make sense for makers use the same wall-thickness they use for wood, when using a much heavier denser material like Delrin.

There is one maker, Roddy MacLellan, who makes a thinned-wall composite Delrin Highland pipe. The outer wall is thin Delrin, the inner wall is some sort of polymer which gives a warmer tone and absorbs moisture (condensation buildup is bad for stability of tone). These pipes are lightweight and sound quite like wooden pipes. https://www.maclellanbagpipes.com/revelation

Which Delrin flutes have you tried? Since you haven’t played flute in decades?

Right, I gave up flute and switched to Low Whistle around 2005. The issue is ergonomics. I still try flutes whenever I encounter them. I've given a blow on dozens of plastic flutes over the years, all of them were very heavy. I think a lightweight flute might be do-able for me, probably either boxwood, aluminium, or a thinned-wall Delrin.

Check the flute weights thread I started.

Thanks for doing the flute weights! I'll check that out.

Things have moved along a bit. That said, some makers still make their Delrin flutes too darn heavy...

I think that's to be expected if they're using wood flute OD's.

[PB+J]

I'm also very interested in a keyed Delrin flute. I have a Forbes keyless with is very light and loud, with big holes and a big squarish embouchure cut. Nice tone, well in tune, loud. Big embouchure cut makes it hard work to get the air out of the tone. I have a Copley which is heavier, smaller embouchure cut and smaller finger holes. Very focused tone and nimble. Noticeably heavier than the Forbes.

Very interested in what Thompson is doing

[Jayhawk]

Very interested in what Thompson is doing

I can let you know in 9 to 15 months. I have a 6 key for sure, but possibly an 8 key (if he gets that working with his unique mounts) on the way. I had a Baubet keyless and 5 key that were on the lighter side (partially lined headjoints), but I can't recall what they weighed. Ben Power has the 5 key...JD has the keyless.

Eric

[Flotineer]

Very interested in what Thompson is doing

I can add that he’s not doing keyed flutes in F at the moment. I do own a keyless F and keyless D, both of which are lovely.

[Tradman]

I can say without any hesitation that Dave Copley makes excellent flutes. I've got a six key blackwood flute from him and I've tried a delrin Bb (the beast it is).

[Tonehole]

The Copley & Boegli delrin flute is my favourite travel waterproof flute too. The intonation is very good although the third octave sounds flat (not many people here go there I suppose) I need to play more with the adjustable head cork which I keep forgetting is adjustable.

It's a shame Glen Le Bot's resin flutes don't get much exposure here for his keyed flutes. The Boosey & Hawkes ebonite keyed flutes and the Rudall Carte Rockstro in ebonite still sound outstanding. They sound so good compared to the contemporary flutes albeit not ideal for camping.

The ebonite is discontinued due to its carcinogenic potential. I guess that's why silver lip plates are handy.

[pancelticpiper]

Whatever happened with Casey Burns' 3D printed flute project?

It was looking very promising, great-sounding lightweight flutes for a low price.

[TKing]

Whatever happened with Casey Burns' 3D printed flute project?

It was looking very promising, great-sounding lightweight flutes for a low price.

He made a post of Facebook maybe a month ago updating saying he was soon to stop taking orders for keyed flutes and has stopped bulk producing his folk flute, moving to a waiting list model for those. He's still making his standard model flutes. He followed by saying he is "tooling up to 3D print" his flutes and says he's had some good success with his prototyping. He also will be starting up (and hopefully documenting!) his glass flute project again.