Flute Protection

I saw somewhere on the web, a great idea that I’ll paraphrase rather than plagiarize, that fine instruments are a great investment in one’s self. I like that idea in that you are giving yourself permission to have an instrument capable of your self expression. That tool needs not be expensive but it needs to be able to express you. For that simple ability alone – to both express and merge with the player, they often become very valued.

I find that the more people I meet that both make and play NAF and NA Styled F – the more people I meet who also feel that that flutes of this kind are rarely mere instruments but do become a part of the player. And even without the player they have something of a life of their own. I find myself nodding in agreement with this idea and I enjoy spending time with each of my flutes at a different time and for different reasons. No two are the same and everyone seems to like it that way.

That said it is very important to provide some form of safe haven for that instrument and tool of self expression. The flute needs a home within your home and needs to be protected when you travel to where you play. A flute displayed is played, a flute stored is ignored. Remember this when you are making a home for your flute. I will share with you a small set of ideas that I am trying and using personally. This by no means covers all the possibilities for protection or storage but is merely what and who I know and have tried myself.

Flutes do get wet with your breath after being played for any length of time. I was told awhile back that my flutes would last longer and sound better if I did not lay them down to dry but rather placed them bore up (mouth end down) and removed the bird. This would give the slow air chamber (SAC) time to dry and moisture would not affect the glued seams of the flute that way. I was also told to avoid laying them on their side, where any moisture from your breath might seep into the glue seam. Following this advice has seemed to help a great deal and my flutes are often ready to play sooner after wetting out as a result. When I travel and pack up flutes to go somewhere now days I just leave the birds off to make travel and drying simpler too.

Some friends at the Northern Virginia Flute Circle are in the business of making racks and bags that are great. I have included here my rack, made of cedar, that hangs in the living room, so that I am always called to play or noodle around a bit. The rungs are cut large for bigger bore flutes (or drones) and the open shelves on top and bottom make a good space for small flutes or birds that are drying. The two side bays are reserved for drying flutes that have been most recently played. I can store drone, large bore or small bore flutes with the mouth end down and bird off to dry fast. Works great – I just need more rack space now (grin) to handle all the flutes. If you are a woodworker this design would not be difficult to make. But a good source for a rack is listed here. Contact Jacy at
buffalocreations@adelphia.net Warrenton, VA 540-428-1816

Jacy also has fleece bags available at her website and they are a great way to protect your flute. It seems that some flute makers do provide a bag and some do not. Investing in a well padded bag of any kind is a great way to avoid dings and if you use a hard case it keeps flutes from knocking into the sides and into each other while in transit. Attached here is a picture of my bag – I use two of these for may flutes that travel a lot and often one size bag will fit several of your flutes, depending upon which one you are taking to the woods that day.

Dave Kreitzer also makes great fleece bags for flutes and he makes a sleeve or thinner case as well. I use his bags and he often travels with his machine which means that at a show you can get a bag cut to the exact size right there without any wait! I really like the blanket patterns and he offers these too. Contact Dave at www.originalflutebag.com/flutebags.html

David R. Kreitzer 937.848.2155

I fly with flutes and put them in cars and even in canoes so hard cases are the great deal for me. Right now I am using a Laughing Mallard case from Oregon Flute Store and love it. Cordura outside and nylon inside does not attract moisture. Plenty durable and crushproof outside and a pocket for a tuner or sheet music is nice bonus. I did have the case cut a little longer (several inches) than I needed so that I would have room for lower key flutes as I was more able to play them. I recommend that in order to get more miles out of the cost of your case – size it with the larger flute you want to play in mind. To take up the extra space when that longer flute is not in the case I made a spacer out of foam. Go to any store that sells whitewater kayaks and tell them you want “closed cell foam for hip pads” you can buy this in nearly any size but I had a block 4”X3” sitting around. It is important to use closed cell foam as it will not hold moisture, smell or deform over time or duress. Cut and shape it to size then sand it so that it is smooth and you do not get any foam “fuzzies” in your flutes! The best foam shaping tool I have found is “Dragon Skin” from Red Ball and many hardware stores (as well as many kayak shops) will have this stuff. It is like a micro plane or micro rasp in that it shapes an object well, fast and leaves little rough material behind. I also cut a hole through the center and put a cord on it so that you can pull it out easily – no fumbling to open the case. Oregon flute store is at www.oregonflutestore.com

PVC can be used for more than flute making – several folks make great sounding NASF’s with PVC and I have been relying upon it for flute protection for some time. I use the regular schedule 40 stuff from any hardware store and the PVC glue that is recommended for it to attach end caps and threaded ends. Padding is the same closed cell foam mentioned earlier and this stuff can be painted, drilled or dremmel etched or covered with bumper stickers, you name it. The threaded end is not submersible without a liner or other sealant but it is dry and very sturdy. In a country changed by terrorism these things should be decorated so that they do not look suspicious! They do a great job and with a few evenings time can be made for $15 in materials.

That is all for now other than a reminder that WV Native American Flute Circle meets next on Saturday October 14^th from 1-3pm in the great hall at RCCAC www.randolpharts.org