Chiff and Fipple Forums

I drill a little undersize, turn a little oversize, use an EasyBake over for a week or two, then let it rest for several days in ambience.

I began building a hydraulic system. 48" cylinder and a self-contained hydraulic power unit. These are commonly applied to a pickup truck for plowing snow. My rack-and-pinion arbor press still serves well. I even used it to make tapered tubing for my Boehmflute in F above C. I also experimented...

Once the forming is done, and the tube is stuck on the mandrel, here's how to remove it: Using a smooth burnisher (or screwdriver shank), hold one end in the lathe chuck and burnish the outside with long strokes, going all the way around. Be firm. Think of what happens with a rolling pin on pizza do...

Hi Roger, Well, I did make some rumblings but found the task daunting. I haven't given up on the idea. I figured-out some good ideas in the past year or so, and wanted to incorporate them into reality in a timely manner (as a keyless flute). I just bought one of Dad's Firth-Pond flutes with eight ke...

Hi Folks, Thanks for your kind words about the Shannon. I've learned a few things in recent years, and I really want to go up a level (or two). I felt the Shannon was priced right, and I'm glad it was an affordable alternative; my cost was lower because the last batch was very big. I didn't feel com...

For years, I've been buying reamers from Gammons in Manchester, CT*. The cost has been well-worth the experience it gave me. My preferred design has a right-hand cut and left-hand spiral (RHC, LHS). Cobalt-steel costs a little more (and takes a little longer to deliver) but it lasts much longer; for...

Charlie, Recent learning for me: The initial bore can be off center. For best results, I must do the initial drilling (and drying), then hold the workpiece between centers. Skim a little off the OD so it's concentric with the ID*. Making the workpiece co-axial with the tool reduces chatter and the b...

Gents,
Thanks for your thoughtful replies and kind words.
I'm working on a new model, so I needed some feedback. Thanks again.
Walt

Friends of the Flute, About the tuning of my Shannon flute, I'd like some feedback from experienced players. Would some players say the tuning is unusual? Especially the pitch of B in the second octave. Of course, I thinks it important always to compare the pitch to related notes. Please let me know...

Hi, I'm looking to buy (or rent) one of Guo's Treble Flutes in G. That's a Boehm flute halfway between the size of a flute and a piccolo. Thanks. Please PM me.
Walt Sweet, Enfield CT

Does anyone have a Shannon Flute to sell me? I'm all out! Please contact me by means of PM.
Walt Sweet

Hi everyone, I'm preparing to make some wooden keyless flutes, lined with metal in the head. A few steps of development beyond my SHANNON . My question: Does it have to be sterling silver? Is brass a dealbreaker, or does brass put the flute in a lower class? Is Nickel silver any better/worse? If bra...

Regarding the details, here's a quote from Poor Richard (or Colton?):
"Details are trifles, but trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle."

Sounds like you need a Swiss piccolo. Key or D (non-transposing), with 6 keys, same system as Irish flute.
Walt

Dear Ben, It's fair to say that his 1-key flute was an invention, with no pretense of asserting any historical precedent. Some of the English band flutes (Bb fifes) had that single D# key. It greatly improves the pitch of E3 which is firmly in the midst of the playing range (for those instruments in...