Say a Fellow Wanted to make a flute...

Jon C. · Post by **Jon C.** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 11:16 pm

Hi Eilam,
Yes, I attach it to the tool holder on the saddle.
I don't think I make it to 3,000 rpm, but have never tacked it, maybe about 2k... :roll:
Jon

eilam · Post by **eilam** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 12:19 am

the reason I was asking is that Buffing with say: Carnuba wax needs to spin about 3000 the heat up and melt the wax.

so don't give me no :roll:

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 5:44 am

eilam wrote:the reason I was asking is that Buffing with say: Carnuba wax needs to spin about 3000 the heat up and melt the wax.

so don't give me no :roll:

Wax? Fer crissakes, it ain't a car Eilam

Honestly Doc, these guys are making it sound a bit easier than perhaps they should. Before you go spending money on gear, I would highly recommend you get some hands on instruction in wood and/or metal turning: Find a beginners wood turning class at a store like Woodcraft or Rockler. Another option is to find a local wood turning club with a mentor program. Also, a machine tooling class would be extremely helpful, if you can find one in your area.

Loren

Doc Jones · Post by **Doc Jones** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 6:28 am

My wife's Dad is a machinist and a wood turner. I was hoping to involve him in my escapades. THanks for the advice though.

Patrick

eilam · Post by **eilam** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 8:29 am

Well - thats true, each person has his own way of learning. The Lathe that I thought would be good enough to start was $35, I did not advice to start with a CNC mill.

Loren - are you saying you guys don't buff the instruments? I have two Von-Huene recorders, even the fine sanding should be done at high speed.

hey - speaking about cars - do you still have the "blue-Devil"?

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:39 am

Jon c.

You could turn the reamer out of wood if you like, there is some plans on the internet.

You mentioned that there are reamer designs on the internet, do you have any links?

I would be very interested if any one knew where I could find/purchase quality drafting dimensions of a conical bore fife/piccolo in Bb, or D.

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 2:36 pm

eilam wrote:Loren - are you saying you guys don't buff the instruments? I have two Von-Huene recorders, even the fine sanding should be done at high speed.

hey - speaking about cars - do you still have the "blue-Devil"?

Yup, still have the Blue Devil, although it's off the road for the time being.

We buff on a cotton buffing wheel with compound. Sanding is done around 1500 rpm.

Loren

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 2:51 pm

Eilam wrote: "I would go with wood lathe and regular woodturning tools, the results are much nicer when a flute is turned by hand."

I disagree with you Eilam, one can't tell the difference between an instrument expertly turned on a metal lathe vs. a wood lathe, especially not once the sanding and buffing are done.

I do think that hand turning on the wood lathe is more fun, and in some ways more satisfying, especially if repeatability and production are not issues. However, there are wood turning artists who use only a metal lathe as well, so..... get both!

"a 12" lathe would be good because the length of the bed is long enough to have a steady rest supporting your work while you drill the socket on the head joint."

Yes, but it will be too short for long center sections, especially for boring/gundrilling. Best to get something with a longer bed, or at least a lathe from a company that offers bed extensions for that model.

Loren

eilam · Post by **eilam** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 3:23 pm

Loren, most 12" swing lathes have a 36" bed.
and one can easily tell if a flute was turned on metal or wood lathe, and thats a fact

Doc Jones · Post by **Doc Jones** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 6:36 pm

So tell me about reamers.

Does a fellow get those custom made or do you have to be smart and make them yourself (Eek!

)?

Is there an Irish flute reamer store somewhere on the internet? :roll:

Doc

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 9:12 pm

Doc - I just wanted to say thank you for starting this thread...you're asking all the questions about flute making I've ever wanted to ask.

Back to lurk mode here...

Eric

eilam · Post by **eilam** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 9:29 pm

if there is a local collage around your place, take some Machine shop classes, that will give you access to all the tools you need.
If they have a CNC lathe, thats even better, because you could easily turn reamers, and accurately make changes in the reamers for intonation..............
of coarse it's not necessary, and one can make a wooden reamer with a hacksaw blade inserted, or grind down a file, but it's much less accurate, and the end result is very much depended on luck.
Maybe you could hire Jon to make you a reamer? but for a head joint, you don't need any of this.
Doc, do you have access to machine shop tools?

Jon C. · Post by **Jon C.** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 11:26 pm

I.D.10-t wrote: You mentioned that there are reamer designs on the internet, do you have any links?.

http://www.flutes.fsbusiness.co.uk/Wooden.html

Doc wrote: Does a fellow get those custom made or do you have to be smart and make them yourself (Eek! )?

You can always go to a machinest and farm it out. I don't know how much it would cost, or you can go with a wood version.

Loren wrote: We buff on a cotton buffing wheel with compound. Sanding is done around 1500 rpm.

Ditto to that, that is all I have used. I guess the wax would be nice on some of the types of wood, like boxwood? I was thinking of trying it.

Doc you might want to hang out at your father inlaws house and try out his lathe, but I warn you: IT IS HABIT FORMING!

Jon

Doc Jones · Post by **Doc Jones** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 6:37 am

Yes Eilam. My Father in law has a full machine shop. He could probably build a car from scratch! He also has an extensive collection of wood-working & turning tools.

I guess what I need mostly for now is to know a little more about making or getting my hands on a reamer.

Patrick

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 2:39 pm

Eilam,

Since we were talking about gear for a beginner, I was thinking about less expensive equipment (table top "midi" size lathe), and so assumed you were talking bed length, rather than swing, when you mentioned 12'.

Hardly matters though now that we know Patrick has access to a full shop.

The rest of your question is a bit difficult to answer Patrick, other than to say, if you show your machinist in-law a flute, he no doubt would be able to tell you how to do each bit, tuning and voicing aside that is. So buy some plans, show them to your father in law, and he should be able to get you started. He'll be able to explain reamer making as well, or he'll be able to make one for you from the measurments on the plans. Terry McGee is offering Pratten plans that should be good for a first flute, not to much tinkering with the tuning will be required.

Loren