Hello Everyone!
Recently I have been out of work, and with my internship on
the horizon I decided to pick up a useful art that could someday become a
cottage industry, instead of trying to find a job for the next 2 months. Plus,
I get to spend more time with my family before I leave! But anyway, since last
year I have had a strong interest in flutes. We bought Dad a bamboo Native
American Flute for Christmas, and right away I knew I wanted to try and make
some of my own (but with wood instead of bamboo). Well, I have made a couple so
far and they turned out pretty good, so I am making more and am posting
pictures of the whole process. Ok, so maybe “101” isn’t quite the right word
for me to use in the title of this post, since I am not trying to teach
everybody how to make their own. My purpose in this post is to just let you see
what it looks like when I make a flute from start to finish. I hope you enjoy
it!
Step 1: I get the right wood (soft woods are better). Here is
a picture of what the wood looks like before I begin. The wood that I use is an
Asian version of Mahogany called “Luan.”
Step 2: Next I cut the wood into the right sized blocks. At
this point, once the boards are straight and the right size, I use a router to
bore 2 chambers in the flute. Here is a picture of the finished blanks.
Step 3: Now I choose 2 blanks that fit well and I pick 1 to
be the top piece. I drill holes then use files and a chisel to cut the right
ramps and holes in each chamber.
Step 4: After making sure the inside bores are smooth and
finished, I can then glue the 2 pieces together. At this point I let the flute cure
overnight.
Step 5: This is when things start getting really fun! After
evening everything up on all sides and finishing the wind way (the area between
the two holes), I then use a hand planer and begin to shape the flute.
Step 6: I also need to make what is called a “bird.” A piece
of wood on top of the flute that directs the air from the small chamber into
the big one, the air splits on the edge of the big chamber and that is what
makes the sound. Here is a picture of a couple birds and a cross section of a
flute so you can see what I just explained.
Step 7: Now I sand the flute smooth and to the shape I want
it, and then I use a tuner and cut off the end of the flute until I get to the
note I want. Then I mark the playing holes.
Step 8: At this point I drill the holes very small, and then
I use a tuner and tune the holes 1-by-1 and make sure the flute sounds good!
Step 9: Now here depends on what I want the flute to look
like. I can burn designs into the flute and then finish it, or I can stain it
then carve it, but the point is that this step is when I design the “look” of
the flute.
Step 10: This is the last step! I wax the flute then bind it
in 2 or 3 places with hemp in order to hold the bird in place and to protect
the flute from cracking. Then I use oil inside the flute to further protect it
(you have to oil a wooden flute every 3-6 months to maintain it).
Here is a video of me quickly demonstrating what they sound like.
Well, I hope you found that interesting! Till next time,
Dakota
