Chiff and Fipple Forums

So I picked up a very nice compact plastic case used for $1. There is nothing on the inside. What I would like to do is to take a piece of foam and cut the foam so it will hold the pieces of the Flute. If I can do this the Flute will fit nicely in the Case. My question is how do you get those clean perfect cuts that you see on some Flute cases that already have the foam as well as other items that already have the foam? And also where might you purchase the foam?
I know I can use an X acto Knife or Box Cutter, but will they give me the clean sharp cut I'm looking for?

You can buy foam of different type at any fabric store. It's not all that easy to work with. It will cut easily with a razor blade, except that you can't manage clean lines because it compresses as you cut it. I've sometimes clamped a board on either side of a cut I want to make, to pre-compress it. I've also used rectangular blocks of foam and hot glued them together. That works well, but you still want to get a straight consistent cut. Scissors can work. It's kind of a pain to work with.

If you use rigid insulation foam, which you can buy at Home Depot type stores in big sheets, you can score and snap it or cut it with a saw or sharp knife. It;'s very easy to shape and iy you want to get fancy yu can use a hot wire foam cutter: https://hotwirefoamfactory.com/

For open-cell foam, the best tool I’ve found is an old-school electric turkey-carving knife. The kind with 2 blades that reciprocate. If you have one of those, you’re golden.

[ed.-spelling]

An alternative might be pick-and-pluck foam, chopped up into cubes already and you just pull out sections to create holes:

https://www.amazon.com/Insert-Bottom-St ... 559&sr=8-7

Hi Ben, all

As I've probably mentioned before, I use hot-wire cutting to a) cut down foam sheets to fit into the flute case, and b) to scoop out hemi-cylinders in the top of the block for the flute parts to live in. It's not something that you'd probably be equipped for at home, but I just mention it in case you do have access to suitable equipment. You need an adjustable source of low voltage high current power.

That pick and pull foam as always been a PITA to me, so I cut it with an x-acto type knife after outlining the body parts with a gold paint marker. Here are pics of what I end up with:





Being such a thin case (although very sturdy), I have to pluck the top down to the case to accommodate the low C/C# keys, and I have the open space up top to allow for carrying one of my O'Brien Rover whistle.

Eric

I have one of those Pelican thin laptop cases Jayhawk pictured, and I like it but the pick and pluck foam tends to kid of fall apart. There's a guy on Youtube who sprays it with that spray rubber or spray plastic stuff to keep it more in place.

Also the thin case doesn't have a handle, which bothers me. It comes with a short strap which is for me at least too short for a shoulder strap and not a good handle.

PB+J wrote: ↑Tue Jan 24, 2023 12:21 pm I have one of those Pelican thin laptop cases Jayhawk pictured, and I like it but the pick and pluck foam tends to kid of fall apart. There's a guy on Youtube who sprays it with that spray rubber or spray plastic stuff to keep it more in place.

Also the thin case doesn't have a handle, which bothers me. It comes with a short strap which is for me at least too short for a shoulder strap and not a good handle.

Definitely if you like a handle, not your best choice, but if you're a backpack stuffer like me, it takes up less real estate than any other flute case I've ever owned.

Eric

I've just made some wooden cases. I cut and plane a bat of rigid Styrofoam insulation, then use a router bit in the drill press. Bump-outs can be cut with a Dremel sanding drum. Then I glue velveteen in the channels.
Walt

waltsweet wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 9:43 am I've just made some wooden cases. I cut and plane a bat of rigid Styrofoam insulation, then use a router bit in the drill press. Bump-outs can be cut with a Dremel sanding drum. Then I glue velveteen in the channels.
Walt

Hey Walt , I remember your Dad had fabricated the interior to make some Irish Flute cases out of the standard plastic cases you see with all Metal Flutes . I think I had bought a rosewood 4 key Flute of his that was in one of those Cases.. He said what a pain in the Ass it was to refit those Flute cases . I stupidly sold that Flute and I'm sure whoever owns it still has it in that case. BYW the 4 key Rosewood Flute he made was a great Flute and I wish I had kept it!

[/quote]
BYW the 4 key Rosewood Flute he made was a great Flute and I wish I had kept it!
[/quote]

I mistakenly sold one of those great flutes, too! I was paranoid about wooden flutes cracking at the time...great flute but not yours...didn't have that nifty case.

Eric

Jayhawk wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 7:43 am

BYW the 4 key Rosewood Flute he made was a great Flute and I wish I had kept it!
[/quote]

I mistakenly sold one of those great flutes, too! I was paranoid about wooden flutes cracking at the time...great flute but not yours...didn't have that nifty case.

Eric
[/quote] I do remember now the path that the 4 key Sweetheart Flute that I owned took. I bought the Flute new for I believe $350 dollars at a Highand Games in Archdale NC from a gentleman named Reggie that was a vendor there. He also had a small shop in Charlotte and would host Sessions. I believe he is deceased now. But I digress,so anyhow I was playing in a Pipe Band at the Event. I bought the Flute and kept it for awhile and then sold it to Dave Levine, who in turn sold it to a Doctor Friend of his. This Doctor apparently still has the Flute but has no idea as to where he put it. I'm not sure he was an active Player. Ive been in touch with him and he has assured me he will let me do a buy back if and when he ever locates the Flute .I'm thinking he has a big House with many Closets I'd like to message him every few months to see if he has located the Flute, but then again I don't want to hound him!

Ben Shaffer wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 11:02 am I do remember now the path that the 4 key Sweetheart Flute that I owned took. I bought the Flute new for I believe $350 dollars at a Highand Games in Archdale NC from a gentleman named Reggie that was a vendor there. He also had a small shop in Charlotte and would host Sessions. I believe he is deceased now. But I digress,so anyhow I was playing in a Pipe Band at the Event. I bought the Flute and kept it for awhile and then sold it to Dave Levine, who in turn sold it to a Doctor Friend of his. This Doctor still has the Flute but has no idea as to where he put it. I'm not sure he was an active Player. Ive been in touch with him and he has assured me he will let me do a buy back if and when he ever locates the Flute .I'm thinking he has a big House with many Closets I'd like to message him every few months to see if he has located the Flute, but then again I don't want to hound him!

Just how does one "lose" a flute? Enquiring minds want to know...

Jayhawk wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 2:13 pm Just how does one "lose" a flute? Enquiring minds want to know...

You may understand once you reach "a certain age". I think I've mentioned here previously how one evening I carefully oiled a Delrin flute...

Best wishes.

Steve

Steve Bliven wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 6:09 pm

Jayhawk wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 2:13 pm Just how does one "lose" a flute? Enquiring minds want to know...

You may understand once you reach "a certain age". I think I've mentioned here previously how one evening I carefully oiled a Delrin flute...

Best wishes.

Steve

haha!, this is me if you ask me the whereabouts of some of my Clarinets that I've not played in Years They are squirreled away in different areas of my House. I to have reached that certain age
And truth be told this Doctor that has the 4 key Flute probably has bigger fish to fry! than looking for a Flute
BTW Oiling that Delrin Flute is there a problem?
BTW again, my Young wife who is 14 years Younger than me likely could put her hands on any of those Clarinets in a few minutes , Maybe I should be asking the Doctors Wife where that Flute is