Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: Michael C. on March 01, 2011, 08:10:16 pm
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I posted a flute I made recently for a trade and there was some interest in a build along and I thought I would go ahead and start one. Just a disclaimer though the posts may be a bit sporadic, because that's kind of the way I work :) Hopefully when I finish with the builds I will have a Gm flute and a branch flute that I have no idea what key it's going to be, since I've never done one. I don't use any specific formulas just estimates that I have sort of learned to start with depending on the key I am trying to make. The flutes don't always work out, kind of like my bows. I am not determined enough/smart enough to work out a specific formula and at the risk of sounding to spiritual the wood kind of makes me do what it wants me to.
These first few photos are just to show some basic measurements I usually start off with on making my flutes. You may not do it this way and if you've found something that works for you feel free to speak up, cause it may work for someone else too, but this is how I do it.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/fluteLayoutHigh.jpg)
The most important part in this mock up is the place where the air is going to go from the spot you blow into across air hole. I usually start off by making it a bit longer than 7/16ths of an inch because it's easier to take some off then put it on.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/measurements.jpg)
Just a close up of my painted ruler and the area I'm talking about.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/branch.jpg)
The branch I'm going to try and make into something playable
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/both.jpg)
another shot of the branch after I um... debarked it and the two pieces I cut out of the board I'm using to make the typical flute you see most everywhere
The board is about an 1 1/4" wide for both halves, 1/2 thick and around 24" long.
If you look at the diagram it shows where the air chamber around 5" (the part you blow in) and the flue 7/16" (where the air flows over and hits the sounding edge) this is the area I will be concentrating on the most in these first few steps after I get the bore carved out.
Since I am going to make a G flute for the board I am going to take it to about 3/4" bore. I had a guy, who said he learned how to make them from an Indian in Colorado who lived in a tipi, tell me since I don't carve all of mine out that they aren't genuine Native American flutes. I told him I am NA and I've never met any NA who still lives in a tipi and that if NA would have had access to an electric router they would have used it, because they were primitive not stupid. Anyway if it makes you it feel more "genuine" for you then feel free to carve it out, if your like me then you will route out most of it for the rough shape and maybe do a bit of carving on the bore for the board. The branch flute I will be carving out for sure just because it is a weird shape and I don't want to screw it up with power tools.
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VERY Cool. I'll be watching this one!
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This should be interesting. Sporadic is fine :)
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awesome very interesting
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Cool build along Ron
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This should be fun to watch,Thanks. :)
Pappy
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Hi Michael,
I would be glad to talk with about branch flutes, et al. In case you would be interested...branch flutes are my thing...can't claim to be NA other than through DNA... Like that branch you are working with.
Rand
Catahoulaflutes.com
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I'm hooked.
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Michael, you stated you usually start off by making it a bit "longer" than 7/16, because it is easier to "take off" than to put on.....? Did you mean make it "shorter" than 7/16 ?
Wayne
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Thanks for starting this ill be tuned in ;D
Josh
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Hey Wayne I made a typo on that it should have been 7/8ths here is an illustration I made, hopefully it clears it up a bit. Don't worry about the 7/32nds area just yet because right now we are just concentrating on the bore area and not the true sound edge/hole or the actual floating area for the air travel. Just make sure to leave enough room for you to have 7/8ths of solid wood for you to make your air channel.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/illo.jpg)
I labeled the area I'm talking about with the 7/8ths and the sound edge which will either make or break the flute is the delicate bit that I will go into detail on later. I have a couple of different builds on these going on, one for you :), so I will have plenty of photos to put up once I clean them up and re-size them. I'm glad you asked and please if anyone has any questions feel free to bring it up here and I'll try and expand or clarify what I'm trying to say.
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Here is the actual bored out piece using a 3/4" router bit, take your time routing it out, you don't need to get it all at once. It's best to take off a little, check it for the right radius and take a little more off if you nee to, because if you take off to much you're going to get a different key than you planned for and the circle on the foot will be more of an oval.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/bore.jpg)
And the two halves that are going to go together to make the whole.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/halves.jpg)
You can see that my routing skills have something left to be desired sometimes :) As long as you have at least 1/8" thickness on the walls to work with your ok, if you go to much thinner than that the flute will play but it will break easily and the tone won't be as full as it would be with at least that much wood to resonate. I usually miss the center, which is one reason I leave room for error in the width of my halves, I always end up having to clean it up so if you can avoid this more power to you it will save you time.
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Thanks that really helps. ;)
Wayne
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Here is the branch after I sawed it in half, I'm going to be taking all of that pretty heartwood out. From what I have been told the idea is that you are supposed to fill where the heartwood was with your own heart while you are playing. I guess that may sound kooky to some people, but honestly if you've ever played one long enough you end up forgetting your even playing after a while and the song sort of carries you instead of you carrying it.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/branch-cut.jpg)
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This is great! I have 3 real nice sized Juniper (ERC) branches pretty close to the correct diameter...ends are sealed but should I take the bark off while they are kinda green or cure them as they are?
Thanks!
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One of my buddies dad has 240 acres and he cuts some of the cedars down to clear his line of site from his tree stands and that branch was just a piece from one of those trees. I imagine if you've sealed off the ends and left the bark on it should dry fine, it might take a while and I don't know if you split it if it will check or not. This is the first branch flute I've made and most of the branches I've picked up and meant to do this with have all been fallen and dried out, so I wouldn't have a clue how to dry them correctly, sorry I couldn't help you more on that point. One of the members here who goes by the handle Catahoula pmed me and said he has made a few of these branch flutes and said he would be glad to answer any questions I have, so you might want to hit him up.
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Hi Michael,
I dry my branches for a year...usually seal the ends with my old bottle of tightbond III...but you can use wax, varnish, or paint. I really do like doing what you did and find a branch from a tree that has passed or has been taken down in a storm and is already mostly dried...love the spalted branches...
When carving the branches out I use flexcuts and learned the hardway that wearing kevlar gloves is real smart and wearing leather isn't as I sliced the mess out of myself finger, hand and leg when a spalted magnolia busted on me as I was carving it out...
I was wondering how you traditionally lay out your holes...I use a formula that was taught to me by my teacher several years ago (a boo flute maker here in SC) but interestingly enough the Cherokee method that the famous Hawk Littlejohn used almost always winds up being the same as my fancy mathematical formula!!
Your build along will be fun to watch...I will be demonstrating making a branch or routed flute at the Tenn Classic...still need to get up with Pappy to make sure that is ok with him...
You can see my flutes at Catahoulaflutes.com (I do not sell my flutes via my site so am not hawking anything)
Sure is nice to see interest in flutes as they really are quite wonderful and you sure are right...you start playing and two hours later realize that you aren't stressed about what ever was messing with your head before you started playing...
Rand in SC
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hah I wish I had waited a day and then read your post Rand as I cut the snot out of myself yesterday and ended up with 5 stitches in my hand. I think the worst part was the tetanus shot and the numbing shots, as many times as the stuck me to numb it they could have just sewn it shut. I wasn't going to say anything cause I felt pretty stupid after I did it and it was with a flexcut set too, so I don't feel so bad now :)
(http://distillery.s3.amazonaws.com/media/2011/03/02/83b5fd3006bd417fa04caa83bece01e5_7.jpg)
(http://distillery.s3.amazonaws.com/media/2011/03/02/370e072556354eb791ab3f3e6172c219_7.jpg)
I learned a couple of different ways to measure depending on how I was making them, the first few I made were from cane that I found near my house and I just went to work on them. One of the older guys that saw I was trying to learn on my own made a few different knotted strings to use as measuring tool, he also showed me how to just use my hand as a guide. Now I just use a ruler or guess about how far equi-distance from the sound edge and from the bottom of the flute then make my initial holes there then use a Korg tuner to get the key matched so it can be played with other western instruments. I will make a photo series to show how you use your hands to measure. Some people ask for it to be made this way if they don't care if its in tune with other instruments. I used to ask but most people want it capable to play along and they usually end up playing it more if it's scaled that way. I just ask them to give me an outline of their hand, kind of like the turkey drawings you made when you were a kid and use that if that's the way they want it.
Thanks for the info on drying, that will help out in the future if I end up cutting any. Nice site by the way, do you have a place with some sound bytes of your flutes. I plan on making a short clip once I'm finished with these so everyone knows the actually play :)
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Dang, I didn't know this Flute making this was such a rough "sport" :o
hope you feel better and heal fast....
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If you don't already knapp, blood letting is part of it. ;D
Wayne
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More cuts like that and he might take ther perminate nap.
Watch yourself guy, I mean heck, Who will finish the build a long if you do some serious damage?
Bevan R
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Heh, yeah I felt really dumb as soon as I did it because I knew better than to be cutting the way I was. It was just a "one more shaving from this spot and I got ...... uh blood is spurting outta' my wrist, I think I better get to the er." I walked into the er with my hand over my head and the lady asked me if she could help. I said yeah I have a question, she didn't get it, apparently they don't raise their hands in school where she is from. I did go out today to buy one of those carving gloves, I asked them if they had one that would fit over my whole arm :P
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How 'bout a little less bleeding and a little more flute-making please!
Just kidding bud, I'm glad you're ok!
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You have a packing plant anywhere near you? My brother is an inspector at a plant in MO and because of his heart, is on a blood thinner. He has to wear kevlar from finger to sholder and metal mesh under that, and the arm shields over that.
Bevan R
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Jesus!! That's possibly the ALST thing I expected to see in a flute build-along!! :o :o
Caught me more than a little off guard but the second pic shows that the first looked worse than it actually was/is.
Heal fast pal, watch yourself ;)
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Aha! :o So those flutes are actually just plain ol pine, and you stain them to look like cedar! ;D
Won't that stain turn sort of brown later on? ::) How come there are ants on those flutes?
Wayne
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great build along ;D
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Hi Michael,
I would be glad to talk with about branch flutes, et al. In case you would be interested...branch flutes are my thing...can't claim to be NA other than through DNA... Like that branch you are working with.
Rand
Catahoulaflutes.com
Just in case anyone is wondering where the branch flute is I plan on calling Rand this weekend sometime to get some pointers. I want to make sure I'm approaching it in a way that will work before I cut my other hand off (even though he's not NA) :) Just kidding Rand, I look white as a feather when you put me up against all of my relatives on my Moms side. I'm only a quarter and all of my cousins and full blood buddies pick on me as the token white guy in the bunch 8) One of my Comanche friends said you Chickasaws have it all wrong you are supposed to show up covered in your enemies blood not your own, after he saw that pic of my hand.
Here is where I am at on the board flute
Use a 5/32" drill bit at the largest if you want to only drill one hole or a smaller bit to drill 3 - 4 holes to get your sound edge and air chamber flue started. You can use the marks you laid out on the flute to approximate where your sound edge and the exit for your slow air chamber is going to be. If you were like me and routed with crooked eyes make sure that you find the center according to your bore mark it and drill on both sides of the 7/8" area I wrote about earlier. The photo below shows the bottom, but drill from the top using the marks I am talking about. It's not critical if you get a little bit off, just don't get to crazy with your hand drill or drill press and you will be fine. The drilled holes are prep for where you will be carving out your sound edge and flue.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/drilled1.jpg)
The air chamber is important and the sounding edge is critical at this stage, so make sure to do a good clean job of carving it out. Make sure to get the whole channel clear of any splinters that might cause the air to shift one way or another while you're playing. You can see in the diagram I posted that both the air chamber flue and the sound edge are angled about 30 to 35 degrees make sure not to forget to angle it because that will give a nice crisp sound that you can sustain with light or heavy breathing.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/soundEdge8.jpg)
Sometimes I put a bevel in the top of the flue and sound edge but it's not necessary; I tend to bevel if I compress the wood just to clean it up a bit. If you do compress the wood don't press down too hard and damage the sound edge or flue, I also soak a little ca glue in those areas just to harden it a bit on these softer woods. If you're up to it you can inlay a tougher wood into these areas for the same purpose.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/soundEdge5.jpg)
Once you have that all cleaned up you want to oil the inside of the flue and sound chamber before you glue it up, just be careful to keep away from the areas that will be glued together. I've started using general finish butcher block oil with beeswax melted into it, but have also used an olive oil beeswax mixture, so that no one is kissing an oil that may be funky. Just make sure you don't use something that might chip off or toxic since you're putting your moufff up gain' it.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/butcherBlockOil.jpg)
Here are the halves after they've been oiled up and the edges cleaned off with some Everclear, at this stage I slap on some titebond 3 and put the inner tube wrap on it. I like to use old bike inner tubes or some sort of heavy packing wrap, because It's easy to over tighten clamps and end up cracking your flute and it puts even pressure all around the flute so you get a nice clean glue line.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/oiledHalves1.jpg)
Didn't get a shot of the wrapped flute yet cause I went to bed right after I got to this point.
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Hi Michael,
You are doing a great job with your pictures and explanations. I found my kevlar gloves on amazon for about 7 or 8 bucks and my tuner as well (Korg CA cromatic tuner about 14 bucks). Since I sell my flutes to my flute circle members here in the Carolinas I do tune my flutes with a tuner at 72 degrees so that they can be played with other flutes.
For anyone who finds that they are really getting interested in flute making there are two Yahoo groups on flute making...free to join. BTW...guys who are into trading you will find a well tuned flute is a great item for trade for bows, knives, staves and on and on.
If anyone reading this is from SC/NC/GA and wants a free lesson let me know...also...most states have several flute circles and most flute circles have flute makers who will be glad to give you a free lesson. The Carolinas Flute Circle has an annual Makers Meeting and all the guys are happy to answer questions and teach a newby.
I am not in anyway trying to steal Michael's thunder by waxing on about stuff...He is doing a great job explaining all and it sure is fun to read this and see his excellent pictures!
Rand in SC
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Not at all I'm glad you brought up flute circles, I had forgotten to mention those. Can you look those up on the INAFA site Rand, I used to go to one in Norman OK back in 2000. They are a great place to meet people and take his advice if you have one in your area they will be able to help you progress a lot faster just like hanging out with other bow makers.
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You can get stainless steel mesh, and Kevlar mesh (Fish cleaning) gloves at Wally - World. ;) Oh, by the way, just for general info, Wally - Worlds are owned by each individual franchise purchaser. Only the advertised specials, are consistent with each store. Other general merchandise, can vary in price from store to store. My Girlfriend just found out tonight, after seeing a difference in price for Diet cola. She talked to the manager, and that is what she was told. Anywho back to our program, I think the gloves are around ten bucks or so. Somewhere in the range, maybe less, or more. I bought a couple of steel mesh gloves. Not sure what the heck I did with them. I was going to get back into carving again, and well....... ::) anyway, This is a great build along. Sort of like reading your favorite author, and finishing one book, and awaiting the next. ;) Mike, I didn't get your package shipped out today, :( but I will be sure to get up early tomorrow, and run down to the Post Office, and get it on it's way to you. Thanks for doing this build along.
Wayne
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As long as your not watching a netflix movie at the same time as you're carving you should be fine. I broke the Cub Scout/Webelos rule and wasn't paying full attention to what I was doing.Oddly enough the movie I was watching was called "Tapped" which is exactly what I did :) It's good to have the protective gear but it's even better to pay full attention to what you are doing. I have been carving wood blocks for printing the last 3 years and never had an accident, what happened to my hand was completely my fault and preventable if you pay attention to what you are doing. Like I said I knew I was doing something stupid before I even cut myself, the only thing that went wrong is I didn't get away with it this time ::) Just remember that when you are cutting, blades are not forgiving and if you need to get something by all means please go by some full body mesh, but otherwise if you are careful and follow the rules you are good. It is worth buying the 60$ glove to avoid the 400$ er bill though to be sure.
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Michael, following along here with interest. Thanks for taking the time to post.
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Hi Michael,
When I sliced myself I got my leg too...been looking for a piece of moose hide like one of my knappin friends has to put on my leg...I lucked out (I throw pots and bought a used raku kiln and got a kevlar sleve to that my wrist up to my elbow is covered too. But if you are making routed flutes you won't need all the armor and if you are not doing a bunch of branch flutes gloves will be fine. Will be interested in seeing how Michael does the flue on his flutes as there are several ways to do this.
Rand
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Just an FYI - I've seen more than one person slice their hand open through a kevlar glove. They don't stand a chance against a really sharp blade and a little bit of force. Sure, it might help, but I wouldn't be any less careful wearing one.
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Right I will keep that in mind when I'm cutting away, it's just a preventative not a solution :) doesn't mean I can be careless. I had to many things going on this weekend to really work on anything else, so I will just add the glued up halves so I don't start carving on it and forget to get a shot.
Some of the knots you see may present a problem but with some ca glue and maybe some rock or other filler it will turn out fine. If they fall out you can always take some of your sawdust you have from making your flute and put it through an old flour sifter if you have one get the fine dust and some ca glue will cure that.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/four-sides.jpg)
These are the four sides of the flute after it has been glued up and the next few steps are going to be to shape it, then to get the root key adjusted before we put any finger holes in it.
I didn't get a chance to call Rand this weekend for the branch flute but I am also planning on getting in touch with him tonight and see if he has a few minutes to talk.
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Hi Michael,
I nice filler is malachite...you can do it the hard way by crushing up the malachite or turquoise in a metal tube mortal and pestal style or do it the easy way and use an old electric coffee grinder and grind it in seconds...then you sprinkle the dust on the hole or crack and put ca over the dust and malachite pieces...after it dries sand it and you will have beautiful inlaid stone...a random orbital sander is great for doing the sanding on flutes...looking forward to your call.
Rand
I wanted to post a picture of inlay but can't figure out my Apple computer which I went with when my old Sony croaked...you can see inlay on a flute on my site called Holly branch flute with turquoise inlay. I have seen some inlay on bows too...pretty neat looking.
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Chatahoula - I had to google malachite just to find out what it was. Sounds like you got a pretty good idea there. Where do you get it? Also, what's the link to your website?
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Just wanted to chime in and say I'm enjoying this build along greatly. And on a side note if I remember right malachite is toxic in some way shape or form if you inhale the dust. At least thats what a lapi??...lapida?? ..person who polishes rocks told me
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Had a great convo with Rand and it gave me more confidence in how to work with this branch, he gave me insight on some other things as well. I enjoy talking flutes, so thanks for the knowledge and now that I'm not askeerd of my hand tools anymore, I will be working back and forth again. Great idea on the coffee grinder there.
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Hi,
Anything is toxic and I recommend wearing a mask when messing with it...not a household dusk mask but a N95 and above which you can find at Lowes and such...but the coffee grinder keeps the dust inside it...once it settles it is easy to pick up and doesn't produce too much floating around dust...I get my malichite at Michaels or Hobby Lobby...look in the bead section and read the label of the bag to make sure it is malichite or turquoise and not colored glass...catlenite or pipestone is also nice for inlay...(my spelling on all those is probably off)...lots of guys save the bandsaw dust from purple heart and ebony or Africanblackwood and use it for inlay too...If you got a crack then filling it in with something cool really shows it off (not just with flutes but with other art work too). If you live anywhere near Fort Walton Florida you can go to the Echoes Flute Festival or Melborne Fla the Native Rythyms festival and see lots of inlay in flutes...when I enter the flute makers contests at those festivals I enter branch flutes and have a hard time competing with some of the guys who inlay with jewels, gold, silver and such! Back to toxic...the thing that gets me (strangely enough) is red cedar...have to soak the sinuses in salt baths after just being near the the dust!...each person seems to have his or her on bugaboo...
Hope that helps...
Rand
Catahoulaflutes.com is my site...(note I don't sell flutes via the site and am not trying to promote myself)
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Rand when is the festival in Melbourne?
Wayne
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Here is the flue I put a bone inlay on the sound edge trying out an idea that Wayne (stickbender) gave me. I also put some turquoise inlay with the bottom of the triangles indicating where the block should marry up to.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/flue.jpg)
The air channel should be 3/8" wide 7/8" long and about 1/32" deep, you can either use a small file or carve it out with some flat edge razor or chisel. You will need to find the sweet spot by testing it out with whatever block you have made, it will be about 1 7/8ths" L x 3/4" W. Be careful to keep your flue area flat for about 2 1/2 to 3 1/2" long depending on what sort of totem you plan on making or just preference. I get sloppy sometimes when I get to this step and have to do some clean up. Just remember the more cautious you are the less you have to clean up :)
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/side.jpg)
This shows the flue from the side, you can see how it remains flat.
You also want to get your root note at this point, I am shooting for a Gm so I will trim off 1/2 to 1" portions until I get what I need from the foot of the flute. I typically use a Korg tuner I think it's a ca 40, I can't find it to make sure. I have an app on my ipod that works with tuning a guitar, but sometimes it's sketchy with flutes. I got my root note so the next bit is going to be on how to determine where your holes are going to drilled.
Thanks for all of the gratitude and I am glad that you are all enjoying this as much as I enjoy sharing what I can.
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Here is a soundbyte of the root note at this point, it may shift a little as you're tuning your holes so keep that in mind. The first breath is the plain jane and the second breath is the all famous canyon reverb finegal.
http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/flute-root-note.mp3
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Cool! 8) Sounds good. ;)
Wayne
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I love this!!!! Great build along!!! Keep up the good work and hurry up so you can start on mine ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Hi Michaeel,
Never thought of using bone for inlay...duh!!!...this is cool...and how did you load the sound bite?...that is way cool too...
Wayne...the Melbourne Flute Festival which is called Native Rythyms is in Nov. of each year...I go each year...got a brother in both places in Florida (Destin and Melbourne) so get to have a family reunion twice a year...both festivals have websites...you can see the flutes that won each year in the makers contests.
Rand
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Thanks, but hopefully, I will be living in Montana by Nov. I will check it out anyway, and see when the one in Destin is. I am going out in April with a load of stuff, and then come back for one more final load. Hopefully.
Wayne
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Very cool!
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Well for my flutes I measure where the center is between the sound edge and the foot, now the foot just means where you have either drilled a hole in your flute, where the flute was cut off to reach your root note or where the carving at the foot of the flute is going to be. For this one I will be carving something on the flute foot, this is why it doesn't look like the holes are measured from the center, so I measure from that point back to the sound edge and divide that by 2 in order to find my center. Once I have my center I will measure from that point 9/16ths back make a mark and 9/16ths forward and make a mark, I like to keep my holes about 1 1/8" just because any farther apart and it gets a bit uncomfortable for most people to play. These two spots are going to represent the 3rd and 4th holes in a 6 hole flute. Now all you have to do is use these two points to make 2 more measurements from the 4th hole 1 1/8" apart and from the 3rd hole down 1 1/8" apart, remember to drill on the center of your mark not above or below it. You can also draw a center line if it's important for you to get it specifically straight, I usually just eyeball it. This is sort of hit or miss sometimes depending on how well you've bored out your flute and how thick your walls are. You're just going to have to experiment and figure it out mostly for yourself :) A bit like making a bow eh? This is one reason I gave the disclaimer of me not having any sort of formula except what I've sort of figured out over the years doing these. One rule of thumb I have noticed though is the closer to the sound edge you make the holes the smaller you have to make the holes to get them in tune and the closer to the foot you make the holes the larger your holes will be, so if you want bigger or smaller holes keep that in mind. The last two pics I have for you are the before and after shots of the finger holes, it doesn't take very long to tune one once you get the hang of it and the hardest parts are over with. If you have a flute that plays then you are doing better than most people, even if it's not exactly in tune.
I've also put a photo sequence in how I was taught to measure using your own hand. These types of tunings don't always turn out being in tune with anything but themselves. They do have a voice unique to the person's measurements you use though which is pleasing to some people.
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_9713.jpg)
Before tuning
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tuned.jpg)
After tuning
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1series.jpg)
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2series.jpg)
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/3series.jpg)
(http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/4series.jpg)
hand measurement sequence
And another sound byte of the tuned flute, turns out it wanted to be a G# not a Gm. Rand I have these on my blog site and just link it from there with some techno wizardry ;)
http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tuned-G.mp3 (http://www.sociallybroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tuned-G.mp3)
It will take a few more days to finish off the carving and I will try and get it finished and posted before I take off to Arizona, if not it may be a few weeks, so sorry to leave you hanging and thanks for sticking around to read the whole thread. I hope I have been able to help some of you out with getting a better idea on how to start exploring another hobby and maybe you will have some to show off when I get back. Until then thanks for being patient and I hope all the photos/links didn't kill your computer, if they did or if they are causing a problem on the board let me know and I will remove the links.
P.S. Thanks to all the other folks who have taken the time to do a build along and thanks for the thanks you've given me, I have a brand new appreciation for what you went through to make your own build alongs :) To anyone who hasn't tried it don't be scared I encourage you to give it a go and share whatever you can.
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Excellenat sound byte. Thanks.
Wayne
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Excellenat sound byte.
Strangely "calming" thanks for posting it :)
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Hi Michael,
Excellent work and demonstrations...I do my holes a little differently as I was taught by a boo flute maker...I measure from the backwall of the TSH to the fundamental (root) and then divide by 2...drop down a bit and then multiply .075 times the length and that gives me the distance between the holes...yep, might be confusing... ya'll use Michael's method...you will find it is the same as mine just dressed up in different language!
Rand
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Done with this one now to get back to the branch :)
(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/196121_208453475831899_100000017437287_840936_96350_n.jpg)
Talon bit is made from cocobolo with some more bone I used for the sound edge inlay sandwiched between the tip of cocobolo. I'll have to wait till the sun gets up to take some better photos.
(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/197548_208453495831897_100000017437287_840937_5384955_n.jpg)
Got some of the Malachite that Rand suggested while I was over in Navajo and Hopi country (it's probably from India though) :)
(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/197169_208453505831896_100000017437287_840938_1656156_n.jpg)
Some daytime photos
(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/188616_208531355824111_100000017437287_841346_8299299_n.jpg)
(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/189542_208531232490790_100000017437287_841344_6023934_n.jpg)
(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/198514_208531192490794_100000017437287_841343_7054978_n.jpg)
(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200602_208531179157462_100000017437287_841342_3809387_n.jpg)
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Dang, a Salmon...sweet work! Love everything about it!
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Dang, a Salmon...sweet work! Love everything about it!
;D ;D ;D I had to stop laughing after I read that before I could type. I guess it's a good thing that I never claimed to be a carver at the beginning or it may have discounted everything else I wrote, it's supposed to be a hawk or eagle head. That made me laugh so hard though because I looked at it after I read that and it does look like a salmon :)
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:-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[
(quietly shuffling off to climb under the rock I came from...)
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Haha, no I can see what you're talking about I just didn't see it until you said it. The stylized feathers do look like scales and the beak does look like a salmon beak, I thought it was funny when I read it not insulting :)
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Wow dude, you've got some serious skills!
I've been following this kind of half-interested, wondering "what would a guy want with a flute?". All I could think of is the magic whistle used to warp to different levels in the Super Mario Brothers video game :) But seeing how you turn them into a masterpiece, and actually HEARING that sound byte, I can see now why a guy would want one ;) I'm ashamed of my ignorance :P
Well done!
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Sorry Michael, I honestly meant no insult...
It was probably just the angle of the pic and me not paying enough attention. Here is what I "saw" when I looked at it...
(http://www.justgetout.net/ClientFiles/8ecf9e69-8f8f-419d-91d8-10c7ca9cbcbb/SockeyeSalmon.jpg)
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outstanding build this has been fun to watch, now if i knew anyone that was a wood worker
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Michael C, thank you for posting sound bytes. I pulled it up on the smartboad and the kids were mesmorized by the flute and the beautiful music. They were in awe ;)
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Wow that is a sweet sounding flute thanx for the build along I'm not sure if I could ever do it but one day i mite try
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Hi Michael,
Looks good to me whether a hawk, eagle or salmon...(I saw a snapper that I found in the road heading toward our pond...). To show how good it is I will attempt to figure out how to load a picture of "Critter"...one of branch flutes so all these flute makers can see "True Art" ? Ha!
Rand
BTW...looking forward to seeing what you do with the branch
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:P yeah I think that is pretty much the same photo that I found when I went to look for what you were talking about Lee. I couldn't agree more and I'm not offended.
On a side note I have been trying to reply to your emails Wayne but it says your inbox is full and I can't get one to you. I should be finished with your flute this week and have it sent out to you. Jeff you should be getting yours in just a day or two, when I sent it out and they said it should be there by Tues or Weds.
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Thats really an interesting build Michael C !
thanks for posting
Jon
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Very cool build allong! Love the sound bytes awsome work!
Josh
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Hey michael are you still going to do the branch flute or did I miss that?
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Looking forward to the branch flute, hope you do that one.. Thanks
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Looking forward to the branch flute, hope you do that one.. Thanks
I will hopefully be able to get around to it in the next few weeks, I've got to many other irons in the fire right now that I need to concentrate on. I promise I will come back to it though :)
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Very interesting buildalong..Like to see the branch flute I have a peice of yew that's calling.
Thanks Leroy
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I'm starting on mine this afternoon... gonna have to hollow out with hand tools though... Mine isn't gonna be nearly as detailed and pretty as yours is but I want my first one to just be a no-frills functioning flute (hopefully!) wish me luck. :)
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Okay, I have mine almost finished...in the process of tuning it now. the fundamental note is F. removing one finger at a time starting at the bottom hole I am tuning it G#, A#, C, D, E, and all open holes is F#. this is the primary tuning I found on a different site. I have a question about my holes. I have noticed as I am tuning each hole starting with the bottom one that my holes are increasing in size as I work my way towards the sounding edge, is this normal? I am on the second to the last hole now and it is very noticeable the size increase from hole to hole as you go up the flute. Is this gonna present a problem when playing? The holes are 1 1/8" apart and in the exact center of the sounding edge and end of my flute. It just looks weird to me.
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The diameter in the entire length of the flute is important to how large your finger holes will be, how close to the flue you started your holes and how far apart your holes are. If you have a higher key flute like an A or an F (sometimes G's) the finger holes will be closer to 1" apart, depending on where you start your holes, and your chamber diameter is also going to be about 3/4" instead of 1" in diameter. I tend to use 1" diameter bores on most of my A to Em flutes, but I don't measure very much any more because I have messed up enough flutes to kind of eyeball where I want to start. If you're holes aren't staying close to consistent then you may be using the wrong frequency to tune to or maybe your holes were started to close to the foot of the flute. Can you post some photos? It's kind of like making your first bow, it's not going to be your best one :)
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here it is... after like the 2nd or 3rd hole they started staying around the same diameter. the bottom hole was the one that ended up being really noticeably smaller. Thanks again for the build along! :)
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,25240.0.html
Also it came out a little breathy but i think i have it narrowed down to making my sounding board a little too deep. I tested it with a piece of masking tape over the sounding board and the breathiness went away. what can i do to permanently fix it besides sanding down the nest? I can't wait to start on my next one, just like the first arrow from a bow you built that first note from my first flute got me addicted! :)
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Whooooo Whooo!!!!!!!!
Mike, I recieved the flute in the mail today, and Man, it is beautiful! :o :o You really out did yourself! 8 It is really beautiful! Now all I have to do is find my book on flute building, and directions on how to play it ::) ;D. I have been messing around with it, and it really has a beautiful sound. love the inlay job!! 8) Man it sure exceeds my expectations! You really did a beautiful job on this. Thank you so much. Maybe when I get settled in in Montana this year, I will try to make one also. 'Thanks again on a really beautiful flute. I could not have been able to afford one this nice otherwise. I got my rectal exam back from the IRS, and it is another big one, not as bad as last year, but about half, but it has really put a hurt on me and my plans for my home in Montana. I will be able to get out there, and moved in, but some of my shop tools are going to have to wait, as well as a lot of other things I had planned on having this year. Not a good feeling to have to send in that much money, only to have the Government piss it away. Anyway, it is done, and there is nothing I can do about it, so I just have to go on with my life, and look forward to being in Montana. You make a fine flute Mike, thanks, for the build along, and the oportunity for a really beautiful flute.
Wayne
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Wayne there should have been a letter in there somewhere. It may have gotten wrapped up in the newspaper I wrapped around the flute to keep it safe. I need to get scale out to one other person by email, so if you can pm me an email that you can get a pdf in I will make sure to send both of those tomorrow. Mostly learning how to play one is just toying around with it though and trying different stuff. I'm glad you like it and I'm sure you will learn how to play it in time, I just went at it right away when I got my first one and probably drove my parents crazy. I got my first one the summer I turned 15 and I didn't put it down till school started back up in August. My mom really liked it at first but started kicking me out into the back yard after she got tired of hearing it.
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Thanks Mike, it's a good thing I didn't throw the paper away yet! I found the note with the scales on it thanks. I can imagine how your Mother felt. When I lived in the Virgin Islands for awhile, when I first got there, I enjoyed the steel drums, then I got sick of them. :P ;D The main problem that I am having is reaching the holes, and being able to cover them, and still being able to put the mouth piece up to my mouth. Like I said earlier, I really love this flute, and the inlays. As for the inlays, did you say, you used crushed turquoise for that, mixed in an epoxy? I was thinking as I was going over it, that it would look cool with an even line going the length of the flute, on each side along the seam, up to the just before the mouthpiece, or the flue, and maybe another ring around the flute ending the line. I am thinking that you could make narrow line like the inlay ring. Heck you could even put an effigy, in front of the flue, in an inlay. Man when I saw the inlay, My mind started taking off. Yeah, Eddie, it does that a lot. ::) Most of the times it comes back. ::) ;D But anyway, I started seeing all kinds of possibilities with that,not just on the flute. ;) So what kind of epoxy are you using? But again the wait was well worth it! Thanks again. It is like a new toy, I keep picking it up and admiring it, and trying to play it. ; As the big hairy side kick to Marvin the Martian, (Buggs Bunny Cartoons) would say, I will love it, and hug it, and I will call it George. ;D ;D Have you gotten your Son into this also? Might be a good Scout project. ;) ;)
Wayne
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Yeah I used to play for him when he was just a baby to try and get him to sleep, but he usually would just lay there staring at me and laugh. His school just started them on recorders and he asked me if I would make him a flute and that's all it took for me to get started on a curly maple one for him. I'm lucky to get to go on a scout trip this weekend, because I just found out I caught Lyme disease before it started kicking my butt. I got a tick bite from a camp out a few weeks ago and noticed that it didn't look normal, so I went in to get it checked and sure enough :( Anyway some of the guys knew I made flutes and they asked me to bring some with me this weekend to see if some of the boys would be interested in making their own.
Wayne the inlay on your flute is malachite, I really like the color contrast in that aromatic cedar. Turquoise looks good too, and might be a good secondary inlay stone, something about the greener color in the malachite really pops off of that dark red brown though. The flower near the flue is supposed to be a lotus flower, I thought that would go good with the frog you said you planned on putting on the block. The block is finished on the bottom with beeswax and butcher block oi,l but I left the top clean, so it wouldn't interfere with gluing that on by the way. Yeah the finger holes have to be farther apart by necessity on the lower key flutes, lots of people stay away from them for that reason, because it is a bit of a stretch if you have smaller hands or your hands aren't used to spreading out that way. I play all the time and it took a few tries for me to feel comfortable playing yours, but I have to tell you it was hard sending it out after I got used to it ;D I was always partial to the lower key flutes myself, the high keys are pretty, but the lower ones have that sort of deep soulful sound to them. Just keep practicing and you will get comfortable with it in time.
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Thanks Mike. I was wondering about the color, as Turquoise is a bit more blue. There is also an Israeli version of Turquoise call Eliat also, not as good as Turquoise, but very similar. I couldn't remember if it wasTurquoise or not. Yes it does go very well with the Aromatic Cedar. I like the Flower in front of the Flue. I can imagine it would be difficult to give up this flute. ;) I kinda thought the hole spacing had to do with key. Any particular type of epoxy you use? I want to get the frog made, and put on the flute. Thanks for the info on the block, I was going to ask you if there was any type of finish on it. I think I will use a piece of antler for the frog. I don't have a lot of time at the moment, as I am cleaning house, and tossing, and packing what I want to take to Montana. It's like the old saying you never know how much stuff you have, till you move. Or like George Carlin said, " A house is just a place to keep your stuff. The more stuff you have the bigger house you need." ;) " Man that's a big house!, Yeah, he must have a lot of stuff." ;D Man I am glad that you caught that tick bite quickly, that can cause some nasty problems, some of them are misdiagnosed. Luckily most of the Medical establishment is pretty much up on that now. Well enjoy your Scout outing, and show them your magnesium bar. You can put some tea tree oil on your shoes, and socks, and lower pants leg, or use the stuff that Eddie uses for the classic. I can't remember the name of it, but I think you can get it at Wally World in the camping dept. It has some methyl ethyl bad shit in the ingredients, and the ticks don't like it. Just read the caution on the can. Eddie and a lot of people use it . But then you have to look at Eddie........Anyway, have fun, and make sure you tell the others to check themselves, in all the tick places, pubic areas, and scalp, mustashes, beards, etc. That is something I am going to have to be aware of in Montana. I tried playing the flute this morning, and actually hit some neat notes. I will get back at it, but at the moment, I have other things that need to get done. Take care, and have fun on the trip. I think the Scouts will be inspired to make the flutes. ;)
Wayne
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Wayne I just use the liquid ca glue, I like the stuff in the standup blue bottle. I can't remember if it's loctite or crazy glue.
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OOOOH ....King Salmon...very tasty!!
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OOOOH ....King Salmon...very tasty!!
::) :-[ ::)