Search found 3326 matches

by Terry McGee
Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:33 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Globulisation!
Replies: 9
Views: 488

Re: Globulisation!

I've seen and heard reports of makers who saturate their newly made flutes in none drying oils, and even some who have tried using vacuum infusion to force oil into the wood. I even thought about trying that myself at once stage, but then decided that it would probably be a bad idea because with sh...
by Terry McGee
Fri Mar 08, 2024 8:58 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Globulisation!
Replies: 9
Views: 488

Re: Globulisation!

I don't think it's moisture. It looks pretty clear (as much as you can tell - it's only weeping) and it feels a bit sticky, even after wiping off and leaving the flute out of the sun for a day or so more. So, I'm guessing it's remnant almond oil. I can't think of any way to test the theory. I did wo...
by Terry McGee
Fri Mar 08, 2024 5:48 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Globulisation!
Replies: 9
Views: 488

Re: Globulisation!

Oooh, interesting. You'll remember the weeping, which I reported as coming from the quarter-sawn planes of the flute tubes. I rationalised that as being the more readily mobile planes for liquids to pass through. This morning the flute is back in the sun, and weeping is again noticeable, but now its...
by Terry McGee
Fri Mar 08, 2024 5:35 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Wood vs metal rings at flute joints
Replies: 10
Views: 371

Re: Wood vs metal rings at flute joints

When I did metal rings, I had to make seven of them in various sizes for a single flute, and it dawned on me at some point that I was spending as much time manufacturing the rings as I was spending on the rest of the flute! Heh heh, I remember years back coming to a conclusion like that. At that ti...
by Terry McGee
Thu Mar 07, 2024 10:44 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Globulisation!
Replies: 9
Views: 488

Re: Globulisation!

Very interesting, Paddler, and makes perfect sense. Ironic that to become a useful lattice for the Cactus Juice, the timber had to be really open grained. So the flute I'm working with probably lies halfway between the premium woods such as Blackwood, and the more open timber such as you mention wor...
by Terry McGee
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:27 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Globulisation!
Replies: 9
Views: 488

Re: Globulisation!

We have certainly had a bit of a run of timber and oil issues lately! And I am expecting more as the planet warms and wooden flutes dry out more. Flutes made in England used to crack when taken to the US, Australia and India. Then of course they invented central heating, and the flutes started to cr...
by Terry McGee
Tue Mar 05, 2024 11:57 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Globulisation!
Replies: 9
Views: 488

Globulisation!

We’re often warned about “the dangers of Globalisation”. I’m writing on a much scarier concern, the danger of Globulisation. I was contacted by the overseas owner of a flute that was behaving badly. It’s a modern flute, but not one of mine. It’s a simple style flute, conical, with no tuning slide or...
by Terry McGee
Sun Mar 03, 2024 10:13 pm
Forum: The Chiff and Fipple Whistle Forum
Topic: Tweaking a whistle with a dirty/harsh sound
Replies: 148
Views: 48239

Re: Tweaking a whistle with a dirty/harsh sound

Returning to this post for an end-of-season update. You'll remember I got violent with a really old commercial whistle that had been relegated to car duty, but was too awful for even that lowly role. I tweaked it (see above) and was really happy with the results. But wondered if the tweaking could h...
by Terry McGee
Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:26 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: A "project flute"....
Replies: 1
Views: 437

A "project flute"....

Been contacted by a chap in Illinois. He has an early Firth Hall & Pond flute that would benefit from a bit of work if someone fancied a "project". The flute appears to be unstained boxwood, with integral wooden turned rings rather than bone, ivory or metal. It comes in four parts, a h...
by Terry McGee
Wed Feb 14, 2024 7:26 pm
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Amateur Maker - Progress?
Replies: 24
Views: 3879

Re: Amateur Maker - Progress?

I’ve seen your metal slide Terry, and it’s definitely an elegant solution. I presume you use a small amount of adhesive to hold things together? Or does friction simply do its part? Just friction and cork compression - I've made cutters for the two ends that just allow for the silver of the slide p...
by Terry McGee
Wed Feb 14, 2024 5:45 am
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Amateur Maker - Progress?
Replies: 24
Views: 3879

Re: Amateur Maker - Progress?

Yeah, looks good, Tking. Keep in mind that a fully lined head is at risk of cracking if brought to a place with substantially lower humidity than where it was assembled. EG: Alaska or New Mexico (unless you happen to be making them in Alaska or New Mexico!) * Unless you can think of a way to buffer ...
by Terry McGee
Mon Feb 12, 2024 4:40 pm
Forum: The Chiff and Fipple Whistle Forum
Topic: 3d printed whistles, take 2?
Replies: 43
Views: 5371

Re: 3d printed whistles, take 2?

Heh heh, so your version of the "fine grained timbers" we so like to work!

Does it have any impact on density? Interesting to compare the weight of a current whistle and one made with the finer nozzle.
by Terry McGee
Mon Feb 12, 2024 12:11 am
Forum: The Chiff and Fipple Whistle Forum
Topic: 3d printed whistles, take 2?
Replies: 43
Views: 5371

Re: 3d printed whistles, take 2?

Thanks again for taking us along for the ride, Wanderer, it's been really interesting.

Do get back to us if there are further insights and breakthroughs. We want to be the first to know here, not the last!
by Terry McGee
Mon Feb 05, 2024 7:20 pm
Forum: The Chiff and Fipple Whistle Forum
Topic: A New Instrument... the Pianoflute! (Anyone want to make it?)
Replies: 35
Views: 1741

Re: A New Instrument... the Pianoflute! (Anyone want to make it?)

I often wonder why there's no such thing as "fipple bagpipes." If attaching multiple reed instruments to a bag works so well, why not attach multiple fipple flutes to a bag? I bet that would sound cool. Heh heh, I've already invented it and displayed it at the Boxwood flute festival in 20...
by Terry McGee
Sat Jan 27, 2024 6:51 am
Forum: Flute Forum
Topic: Help with id - Old wooden flute
Replies: 2
Views: 823

Re: Help with id - Old wooden flute

Or perhaps look through collections of flutes to see if you see any familiar characteristics like key shapes or other visual features.

EG, https://www.mcgee-flutes.com/collection.html