I did it!!! I made this flute from your video! Thank you for sharing your knowledge. It amazes me what we can learn from one another when we share our gifts. You’re awesome man and thanks again!
Phenomenal video Sir, thank you so much for this. I think i can build a test one with movable hole to conserve materials n tune down note placements. Should be a fun project
Thanks. I make Native American style flute at Otter Lake Flutes but I want to become consistent in voicing these other style of fipple that do not seem to experience "wet out".
this question may have been asked already but where did you get the boring tool you used and would you have a link? great video, can't wait to try this out, God willing...
Hello, can you please tell me how I can find the drills for making the bore? I struggling to find it online. Thanks for the contents your flute are amazing!
I googled “long wood auger hand tool” and it came up. I think it might technically be an auger but I’m barely familiar with wood working, so- grain of salt.
I googled “long wood auger hand tool” and it came up. I think it might technically be an auger but I’m barely familiar with wood working, so- grain of salt.
Wonderful video! Thanks a lot for share you knowledge! What's the tool to make the transversal center hole on the wood (at 1:40)? And how to make it straight? Sorry my poor English...
Barn beam drill or possibly a long wood auger. Could mount the wood in a vice as he has, and then possibly another vice with a large nut or washer as a guide. Good luck!
Great work that is very inspirational. 🙏🏼 From what I can tell, you are making the window 35 mm from the edge, then 8 mm long and 10 mm wide. Is that about correct? How long is the ”downhill” path of the lip then?
Can i use a wooden dowel to make this, i have two round ones for the whistles and two square ones for the fipple blocks and they’re all solid, can i use a drill to hollow the round ones out or can i just use a wooden pipe, the whistle has a lovely sound
Silly question perhaps but did you do anything to soften the wood first before using the gimlet and stripping the bark? Like was it treated or soaked in anything? Amazing work btw
Hello, the wood wasn´t soaked in any way, but I drill the flutes when the wood is still green (not seasoned) which lowers the risks of flutes developing cracks and outright splitting.
Whats the name of the tool you used to hollow out the entire branch at the beginning of the video??....I've been looking for that tool for years and have never found out the name of it, Nor any website where I can buy one... any help would be much appreciated
Hi, great video. You are very good! Can I ask where I can find the auger you use to drill the piece of wood internally. I thank you. I follow you, I subscribed to your beautiful channel. Alessio from Italy
Hi there Alessio, I can´t give you specific site or contact to find one, but can give couple of tips. The drill is called "nebozez" in slavic languages. In english you may find it under the name "gimlet" or "gimlet drill". I don´t really know the reason for this, but they are much more common in Eastern Europe when compared to the Western Europe (including Italy as far as know) and US. These drills were usually used for carpentry, and were only 30-50cm long. I haven´t make this one, I bought it used, but becouse it was much shorter I had to make an extension for it, (by welding a steel rod), so I can use it for drilling flutes. If you want to get get your own, your best bet is to search ebay for i something like "vintage gimlet drill". Cheers, JJCh
How do you decide the length of the fipple's square hole? (seen emerging at 5:41) My few attempts at making a low whistle worked best with about a 1cm long hole ("long" meaning from head-to-tail measurement direction). Yours looks to be also about 1cm, but am curious if I'm right about that. Great video, thank you for sharing!
Also at 8:21, what's the name of the tool you use there? Looks useful! I've been using an electric drill but would love to know a non-electric alternative
Hi there Luke! On the fipple square hole - it highly depends on the size (=tunning of the flute). The flute in the video is in the low D tunning. With my low D flutes I usually make the fipple windows 8-12mm wide and 6-9mm long. Flutes with bigger window will be louder, have more "breathy" sound and will require slightly more air to play. Smaller windows will have sharper sound and use slightly less air. It really depends on everyones personal taste, even small changes in size (1 mm) will make quite a significant difference in final sound of the flute. The tool I use is very simple round woodcarving chisel. I prefer using hand tools for this, as the electric drill tends to slightly tear the wood fibers around the playing hole. good luck with your flutes!
@@JJChWorkshop thanks so much for the reply! Making whistles and flutes has become such a fun pastime for me, and I treat this information like golden nuggets. Happy making!
Amazing tutorial; It may seem a stupid question, but can you please tell me what is the name of the tool you use to empty the body of the flute? Did you make it yourself - the tool - or you just purchased it? Thank you for sharing your art and your knowledge. Oc.
Hello there, that tool is called "nebozez" in slavic languages. In english you may find it under the name "gimlet" or "gimlet drill". I don´t really know the reason for this, but they are much more common in Eastern Europe when compared to the Western Europe and US. These drills were usually used for carpentry, and were only 30-50cm long. I haven´t make this one, I bought it used, but becouse it was much shorter I had to make an extension for it, (by welding a steel rod), so I can use it for drilling flutes. If you want to get get your own, your best bet is to search ebay for i something like "vintage gimlet drill". Cheers, JJCh
@@JJChWorkshop Thank you very much for the information; you are right... complicated to find in Australia, where I am writing you from. Nevertheless, I have found some drills that may be useful; which is the diameter of the nebozez you have been using? where did you get it?Thank you again for your support. (www.ebay.com.au/itm/122736996848?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D232852%26meid%3D4dc9faabc7b24f51b2a9f2c3b54cb838%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D174490268791%26itm%3D122736996848%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv9PairwiseWithPLXWeb%26brand%3DArrow&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum%3A1227369968484dc9faabc7b24f51b2a9f2c3b54cb838%7Cenc%3AAQAFAAACAAFHbE4pMyk1xqjKqm6iY6ZQ6XpX%252B657iVyfHe3ImMPytsrbYOPsHZE7BBWZDcrXc6zyGT9klhJWzlEcDs3DHWoJX7%252FDNmClssKYaIpkzaFh%252BbTzBqyALy%252BAxcaAfZrVONYZxhCUV6J6%252F7V2gCHlw%252B6jpfTJck%252F3QMJHJ1Vao%252BpL2FhIFg0rLxTnluTcNUW0wtn5vGM%252Bq4PL3XDCvr2tGblwsfoTLr65KAMyrmtZgSPNMqtIuZWxjoH5%252F8L5qTEIpcT8PnzdhtwbHX1mmiR%252FBTglGNKJdmP72OdnTKSnKBF2DoHegBfg07%252BEn7DWSIcfyRH8IfY5Jn6yhQdAldM2YCQ%252BGQS3cJah0mhMOvs0H5p9SdsFwofJS0BEhVeesliPAP%252F3LolGug0UZFZhBcyjN%252Bqp0FqcsXyXC4Vt9uQgVyzNnMKQvm6KeBMb7ZflU8LK3TbALAc%252B9AIVfltY%252BtOgLD1lMWkeAlVkhAXJv6yvQ9MmjtlNC0hkVkNck510onaQaqYH4hqLFlhIDOaA73y%252F2E3jYO47sVp5Ky7MWMG%252B0g6M9TSE%252FQfz%252F56WRM8%252FBXfPIv3Jh4h6EI0fJMbCM5Fr4P8ZyFOH9W6wJB3HZkpVIKE%252Bo%252FSGTT2esBllXj1TsZYMatGPycEpvcXq5P26wANycyWtQUiWGwMf37OqfGqBr5cd%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047675)
@@MrOcalderonm As I say mate, the nebozez drills I am using are really common here, I bought like ten of them at flea market for few dollars. We have some online second hand markets here, where people sell them often, but I don´t think anyone will send it to Australia (the shipping would be multiple times more expansive than the price of the drill). Like this one www.sbazar.cz/hledej/nebozez The nebozez I use has diameter of 20mm. The drills you send me will work for smaller flutes, as they have length of 460mm. For something like G-flutes they will be fine. If you would like to make bigger-longer flutes, like the one I make in the video, you will have to find some local welder and ask him to make an extension to your drill. But that shouldn´t be an issue.
Hey, thank you for your amazing video! I just finished the window and put in the plug, but the flute is making no sound... Only when I close the bottom of the flute with my hand. Do you have any idea why this might be?
Thickness of the wood doesn´t matter that much, try to keep it 4-7mm thick. This particular flute was drilled with 20mm auger, it was drilled fresh though, so the seasoned piece will have diameter slightly smaller, like 18-19mm
Since the notes and the correct pitch depend on the distance of the holes and the diameter of the holes, how do you determine these measurements? Is there a mathematical method to determine them or are they determined experimentally by doing hundreds of tests?
There is a method how to calculate these distances, the size of the holes is than adjusted (holes are expanded, until they are in tune). I have and long video explaining the whole process in detail, it is demonstrated on a transverse flute, but the technique woul be same for low whistle as well. Here is the video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RVvG3QhOk5E.html
What tool did you use to cut the window and carve the windway? I tried to find them on Google but didn't have any luck. Was it a chisel or a flat file of some sort that you used? Oh, and do you know if I follow similar steps if I could make this out of thick-wall PVC pipe?
Hello there, yes I used couple of small chisels to shape the windway. If you gonna use pvc pipe, you basically do the same, but you will have to rely on files for shaping the windway.
Wow! Your works are awesome, I've just discovered your channel and it's great! But I have a few questions: 1) Do you think I can use willow wood for both the whistle and the fipple? Willow wood is the easiest to get where I live... 2) This is maybe a stupid one: How do you make the exact size of the fipple so that it fits so well? I've seen people using some kind of machine for that but is there a "handmade method"? 3) Does the distance of the holes affect the tunning? I know that it does on flute (as you've shown in your tunning video) but I've seen other videos in which they say that on recorders the only important thing is the size of the holes, not the distance (recorders and the low whistle seem the same to me regarding the construction of them, sorry for my lack of musical education :/) Thank you for your videos and keep up the good work!
Hello there, glad you like the channel mate, to your questions: 1) Willow wood is not a good choice for a flute, it is too soft. You will be better off using some hardwood (ash, oak woods of fruit trees etc.). It is a great material for the fipple though. 2) Easiest way is to look some wooden rods in hardware stores and than drill the flute so it matches the diametere of the rod. Or you can make the fipple from sratch manually, this will take more time ofc. 3) Both the distance and the size affect tunning. Distance is less precise, but has greater effect. So first you position the holes, and than adjust the size to match the tones perfectly. Hope it helps, good luck with your flute!
Great video. Love your work. Ive noticed in the comments, both this vidro and the other o e thag you do nof reply to wuestions about ghe drill you bore out the flute with. There are a lot of people, including myself who eould like yo get one.
Hi mate, thanks, regarding the drill - I have got this question so many times it gets kinda repetitive answering them. I copy my answer from a different video, hope it helps. 1) These drills are called "nebozez" in slavic laguages. They are very common in Eastern Europe (altough usually they are shorter and used in traditional carpentry, with length around 50cm - though it is easy to weld some extension to them). In english they are called "gimlets" or "gimlet drills". Finding really big ones is not easy - your best is to search ebay for something like "antique big gimlet drill". If you are from Europe you may be able to order some from the Eastern Europe as well.
@@JJChWorkshop thznks very much for the info. 40 cm lond flat bits from 8mm 22mm but i mess up more wood than I have success with. And the noise! Let the search begin.
as a wood wind maker -mostly recorders -----bockflute ------you should always use a quarter cut of a natural log -so you need a10 cm diameter log cut to quarters of 5x5 and the curve of the circle on the other side -------i hope i made my self clear -----wood sellers for wind instrument sellers it cut like that it is to avoid cracks ----the way you show the flute according to my Knowlege will definitely crack so did it crack all redye ? tell me please
amazing craft bro.. how did you learn this? :D i imagine you got the luck to encounter some old grandfather flutemaker in your life lol really amazing stuff man
Thank you, mostly by trial and error and studying old instruments. I am afraid most of the old-grandfather-flute-maker gentlemen have passed away before i started learning the craft, there is only a handful of people continuing this type of flute making and they are mostly younger, self-learnt guys. Cheers, JJch
Hi there the labium is straight without any curve, the space in the windway is really quite small, about 3 mm on this flute. Bigger windway will make the sound more "breathy", smaller windway will make it more sharp.
Hello there, yes you can. But I would recommend you to rather go for a transverse flute, bamboo is more suitable for this type of flutes. You can check my tutorial on these here - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RVvG3QhOk5E.html
@@JJChWorkshop didn't wait man ...already made.I'm a uilleann piper and the idea was to make a practice that you could take everywhere,but the placement of the fingers is completely different on that flute and on my pipes. Thanks for your answer .I'm going to check your others videos. Cheers from France
When you were drawing the center line at 2:59 I didn't realize you were moving the stock so I thought that little black dot was a tiny fly photobombing you for a moment. 😂
Hello mate, glad to hear that! I am currently working on a new instrument-video, so stay tuned. I am mostly self taught really, I started playing tin whistle for fun, years ago. I wanted to play irish flute, but it was too expansive for me when I was a kid to buy one, so tried making my own.
Beech can be used, but if you can, I would go for something softer. If you decide to use beech make sure the fipple block fits the flute perfectly (don´t make it too big).
Amazing work! I've looked through the comments but can't seem to find the answer, so I hope I'm not repeating something you've been asked alot... What key is this whistle in? Thanks :)
It is rounded on this one. The labium should have the same shape as the plug in the fipple of the flute (if you look into the blowing hole, the shape should match, for example rounded labium = rounded top of the plug). Both can be used, both will deliver slightly different sound.
Hi there mate, These drills were originally used for carpentry. You might find them under term "gimlet" or "gimlet drill". In slavic laguages we call them "nebozez". Search ebay, I am sure you will find some usable ones. You will most likely find ones of lengths from 35 to 50 cm. Therefore you will have to weld and extension to them to make them suitable for drilling flutes (thats what I did with the drill in the video). Good luck
Gimlet used for this low whistle is 21mm, but you have to remember though, that I drill fresh wood, after seasoning the diameter shrinks to about 19-20mm.
@@JJChWorkshop Thank you so much for your response, and on the other video as well. I think I'm going to have some made, as I have some skilled blacksmith friends.
Can you tell me where I can buy that kind of hand auger..... I am making whistles too with acrylic pipes just for hobby. I hope to try to make your great wood whistle.
Hello there, these drills are called "nebozez" in slavic laguages. They are very common in Eastern Europe (altough usually they are shorter and used in traditional carpentry, with length around 50cm - I had to weld an extension rod to it). In english they are called "gimlets" or "gimlet drills". Finding really big ones is not easy - your best is to search ebay for something like "antique big gimlet drill". If you are from Europe you may be able to order some from the Eastern Europe as well.
For the name of the tool used to drill the inside hole, all I could find after looking around for a while was- barn beam hand drill, long wood auger. Good luck everyone!
I use lineseed oil+beeswax mix to seal the wood. I usually use some kind of softer wood like linden or alder wood for the fipple. When using the softer woods, you avoid the risk of splitting the flute when inserting the fipple or when the flutes go through humidity/temperature changes (the softer woods have ability to compress little bit).
Hello ! Did anyone already ask for the diameter of the drill bit ? Can you please share which one is it ? Do you use the same size drill bits for all your flutes? Does your drill make a hole perfectly straight or does it curve a little?
Hello there, I use several drills for my flutes. The one in the video is 21mm, for smaller flutes I would use smaller diameter drills (for example 16mm for a G whistle and 13mm for a D whistle). The drills follow the natural curve of the wood (they follow the soft middle of the branch, which guides the tip of the drill). THerefore it is possible to drill even uneven pieces of wood.
the block should be made from Seader wood and the layers -should be vertical not horizontal like you show here-----due to the cracking pattern off wood from the outside to the inside -----outer rings shrink more then inside rings -----this is how wood for violine is being cut -like a cack slice from the wood log so the rings will be vertical
