Copper flute?

[DeathSuperMario]

I live in Estonia. No bamboos here.
So I was thinking to use copper tube.

I find this http://www.aflauta.com.br/hist/bamboo.pdf
Problem is inside diameter and wall thickness.

If I'm getting it right for every key is right inside diameter and length

I can buy straight copper tubes/pipes:

15mm(outside diameter) x 1,05mm(Wall thickness)
1,05x2=2.1mm
15-2.1=12.9mm(inside diameter)
18 x 1,0
1,0x2=2
18-2=16
12 x 1,0
1,0x2=2
12-2=10
10 x 0,8
2x0,8=1,6
10-1,6=8,4

Whats the best? I was thinking to use 15mm and 18mm tube
18mm for key a
15mm for key d

I ended up with 15x1,05 copper tube.
Thinking how to use this:
http://11wall-west.com/~ph_kosel/flutomat.html

If I use this measures http://www.phy.mtu.edu/~suits/pvcflute.html
I get 7.2mm for blow hole and 6mm for finger hole. My tube I.D is 12.9

Is there any flute calculator that calculates hole sizes for right key?
I am also thankful for any flute related help what helps me to make copper flute

[LorenzoFlute]

You could try to copy a low whistle. Never heard of copper flutes, maybe brass could be a better choice...?

[Mr.Gumby]

Peter Broderick is reported as having won his 1955 All Ireland on a home made copper flute.

[klandfors]

... and with the price of copper going up, it may be very valuable someday!!!

[Latticino]

One issue to be concerned about would be keeping the interior of the copper tube from corroding. While arguably material doesn't have a huge impact on tone produced, surface finish of bore clearly does. You will want to do something to keep the flute interior clean and shiny (maybe a thin coat of some kind of lacquer?).

I think there was something posted on the flute makers group on yahoo regarding simple copper flutes recently: flutemakers@yahoogroups.com. If you join the group, which you may want to do anyway, you can read the relevant messages (#2401).

Personally I would stick to PVC. Better wall thickness for the height of the embouchure hole. Doug Tipple's flutes with the lip plates and wedge are even better.

[Lars Larry Mór Mott]

Peter Broderick is reported as having won his 1955 All Ireland on a home made copper flute.

Did he use a tripod for support? I can only imagine what a copper flute would weigh..

[DeathSuperMario]

Aluminum don't corrode easily. Also aluminum is lighter weight.
So I was thinking that aluminum maybe better choice.

[brad maloney]

I made a flute from copper pipe a long time ago. It wasn't optimal, as mentioned the wall thickness was too thin and it had all sorts of tone and intonation issues.
IME, Schedule 40 CPVC pipe will be the best "hardware store" flute material for a G or A pitched tooter.

This site will help you design the instrument and hole layout.
http://11wall-west.com/~ph_kosel/flutomat.html

Its a fun first step into the hobby.

Good luck!

[brad maloney]

Also, a copper pipe flute is actually on the light side and aluminum corrodes too. Albeit very slowly for both - shaking and swabbing out the flute would prevent that anyway.

As an aside, dense materials are favored for flutes, aluminum is considered porous in machinist/metalurgical circles. Orchestral players favor gold, becuase it is dense and does not corrode.

CPVC or PVC are the best choices in the plumbing dept.

[Feadoggie]

So I was thinking that aluminum maybe better choice.

Really, PVC or CPVC pipes are generally less expensive and more readily available - at least they are over here in the US. PVC comes in sizes with a more useful wall thicknesses too.

Keep in mind that you will probably make a pile of "lessons learned". So starting off with a material that helps keep costs down until you have a handle on flute making might be a consideration.

But in a pinch either aluminum, brass or copper can do the job. Whatever material you have at hand can work to get started.

Feadoggie

[DeathSuperMario]

I try on PVC until I'm getting working flute.
Then I copy that on both copper and aluminum.
PVC has tone problems. Wooden and metal flutes sounds better to my ears.