Have a hand made, wood (?bamboo?) flute with a split in the grain, how would you suggest I repair it and maintain harmonic value...or is she a lost cause...dagnabbit!?
If it matters she's an A scale, crack originates at top opposite "blow hole" (no punn intended, humorous comments optional) extending 1/3 down her back side (enough with the dorsal humor?).
Blessed be.
Reyn
OURScott
Favorite Answer
Hmmm - bamboo, makes me think of old fly fishing rods that used wound glued thread to hold them together.
Soak some string or thread in waterproof Elmers or polyurethane and carefully wind it around the entire length or you can also dry wind the string and then massage the glue in. You can skip over the holes or cover them and re-drill them when the glue sets.
I use a similar technique to repair broken handles on garden tools with wire and epoxy.
You could even get artsy fartsy and use various colored string.
RScott
pre
I don't know anything about flutes, I'm assuming there is a closed end near the mouthpiece or one end is the mouthpiece, and an open end. I would find or make a wooden dowel to fit down the open end of the flute and all the way down the flute until it passes the point at which the flute is cracked. Then I would mix a 2 part wood filler/ epox. Fill the crack, the dowel will just keep the filler from pushing through to the inside of the flute barrel or whatever it's called. You'll need to pull the dowel out before the wood filler hardens. The filler I speak of is not a clear liquid, it's more like play doe.
Anonymous
Our friend Mr Scott has stolen my thunder! But I was going to suggest some sort of a hose clamp. Coloured thread wrapped around sounds way better. I always loved the look of the little thread sections on fishing rods etc.
Another thing that would be nowhere near as aesthetically pleasing would be some Heat Shrink tubing.
thomas
how to maintain a flute