Hello,
My 8-key, blackwood flute (approximated around 125-150 years old) has a crack running down it; before I got it, it was filled in, but now the crack is spreading to the center joint, which doesn’t have ferrules; I’m afraid that it will soon hit the first finger hole, and crack all the way through. What should I do?
-Connor Purcell
Sorry to hear about your flute, Connor, but welcome to Chiff.
Flutes crack for various reasons-storing them in too dry conditions; too much playing for a really dried out flute; swelling of tenons and them being too tight in the sockets; being dropped or sat on, etc, so how have you been storing and playing your flute? Maybe you can figure out why the repaired crack started to open and may be getting larger.
Terry McGee is a great diagnostician about cracks…if you can supply some more info, maybe he or someone with the proper experience can advise you best on what to do next about yours. There are others who could steer you in the right direction also, I’m sure, and get you back playing your flute (you aren’t still playing it, right?).
PS In the meantime, you can find out more about cracks by doing a search (top right on the page) and how they are handled, etc. They are fairly common place with wooden flutes, and lots has already been written on it. Good luck!
Barry
Stop playing it and put it in a controlled humidified environment.
A large “tupperware” type container and a small damp sponge should help to get things straight. This is an emergency measure. You’ll need to get a proper set up with you case.
Sounds like its dry and you possibly didn’t take the time to play it in?
Dry outer with rapid wet inner equals cracks every time.
Did you leave it alone for a while or leave it out?
Should he put any type of glue in the crack and then put it into the humid environment so when it equalizes, the crack is sealed?
Talk to a competent flute maker, ASAP.
Where are you?
In the southeast USA, Patrick Olwell would be a good bet.
In New England, Bryan Byrne.
As others have said, first arrest the progression of the crack by swabbing it out, getting it into a humidified environment, and not playing it. Don’t put glue, wax, grease, or anything else in the crack. Do find a skilled repair person to evaluate the instrument and the crack. You haven’t really described the flute. It may or may not warrent investment in a repair. In any case the sooner you can get it to someone who knows what they’re doing the better. If the crack fully penetrates the wall or progresses tthrough the tone hole, everything gets more complicated and expensive. Check out this list of competent repair people.
http://www.firescribble.net/flute/maintain.html
There’s also a link to a page of flute makers, many of whom will take repair work. I can add a vote for Patrick Olwell, but please wait till he’s done working on the two flutes I sent him last week! Good Luck!
Bill