Making a flute

Raw wood

Our precious wood is stored for many years until it can be used to make flutes.

Selection

Only the best wood is used – spiral-grained branches (right) are discarded.

Workpiece

A blank is turned into a roughly round workpiece.

Impregnation

The rounded and drilled workpieces are soaked and impregnated with hot linseed oil.

Bore

The bore is made with a reamer.

Preliminary turning

A lathe is used for the preliminary turning.

Turning

The shape is turned roughly on the turning lathe.

Final turning

The final shape is turned and then sanded down.

Staining

First staining process using acid and alkaline.

Staining and surface

Second staining process using plant dyes and covering with violin varnish.

Violin varnish

Several different processes of applying violin varnish and hardening it under UV light.

Finger holes

The position and size of the finger holes are crucial.

Cutting out the windway

The windway is cut out.

Labium

Labium is cut

Block

The block is fitted and then the recorder is played in and adjusted several times.

Keys

Our keys are generally made from silver and are intricately fitted by hand with utmost precision.

Embouchure

The embouchure is made using a knife and file with extreme precision- a very tricky process.

Stamp

Only perfect instruments are stamped with the sign of a unicorn.

Measurement control and trying-out

Measurement control is always necessary, even on finished instruments. Finished instruments are played and then reworked.