I've got my flutes on a rack (stored horizontal). When I want to dry them, I remove the block, shake out the excess water, then let them set mouthpiece down on a cloth to drain. I notice that a lot of people, though, have a flute stand for vertical storage, mouthpiece up. Is this for storage only, or is it okay to drain excess water in this position? Is there any advantage to vertical storage?

Drying your flutes mouthpiece down is a great idea (I've seen Noisy Bear do it, and that's a man who has some flutes to manage!). Depending upon the maker (what glue they use, how they seal the flute, etc.) it is always nice to avoid laying the flute glue seam down (on its side) when it is full of moisture. In theory, a really, really wet flute can have moisture pool on the seam if it is laid on its side, and this is not a great idea. I think that is only a danger if you have a wet player who neither shakes out their flutes nor removes the blocks.

Apart from drying considerations, the biggest advantage to vertical storage is the amount of space it saves (same theory as building high-rises in an urban setting--up instead of out. Horizontal flute racks are a nice asthetic, but vertical is very practical (and not unattractive).

As I craft a flute, sealing the areas of the flute that are most effected by moisture is something I always pay attention to. That said, this got me thinking about the steps I go through while crafting a flute. By construction techniques, the slow air chamber would naturally drain if placed mouth piece down, not so well mouth piece up. I have always recommend placing the flute mouth piece down with the block removed after playing. As far as vertical stands, I often make display stands that show the flute in this manner. I have also made some horizontal. For me it kind of depends on the features of the flute I want to display. Stone inlays, and pyrography designs seam to display better in the vertical position. Carved blocks, and wraps seem to display better in the horizontal fashion. (I like the way ties "hang" from a flute) IMHO

I have both styles of display in my home, and each flute is placed in the style of display I think "fits" it best. But they are dry when I place them there.

I take my blocks off after playing my flutes. I store my flutes all vertical with the foot end down on a daily basis. I could not figure out a way to make a stand that would hold a lot of flutes mouth piece down. I store my bird head or closed end flutes horizontally but I lean them up against the wall with the mouth end down and block off to drain after I play them.

Mark

But how long do I let them dry before I know they are really dry?

And what about that moldy gunk someone was talking about? How do I know if it's there? It's too dark to see inside that little hole! (Precisely why the gunk is there!)

I may be wrong, but with the block off and the flute stored vertically, I figure 24 hours is plenty of time for a flute to drain and the remaining moisture evaporate. That time period gives me an excuse to pick up another flute and begin getting reacquainted with it

Oh boy!!!!!

Another reason to buy a new flute!!!

Dear Friends
I have a combination of racks. The horizontal wall mounted racks are especially good for the big bass flutes. I have three vertical racks. The flute stand is like a tee pee. The mouth end goes down and then it leans in . The base is round and has a lazy susan on the bottom. The racks can be turned and the flute of choice removed. Gary Kuhl of Oregon makes these racks and I had a local guy do two more. He did a smaller rack inside the larger on one so it will hold 24 flutes. So I have twelves flutes around the out side parimeter and twelve small flutes inside them. If I play a flute and it gets really wet, only likey in the winter, then I put it on the vertial lazy susan rack so thr moisture can drain out. I need to have one more made for the room. The lazy susan rack will hold up to a low D. Bigger flutes have to go on the gun rack style racks. If I gen one too wet I stand in a corner and let it drain or you might put it in your flute case to drain and it would also be protected. One should really not play a flute that is spit until water runs out of it. Dry it our before it gets to that point. I agree with Geoffrey that is you store a wet flute horizontally then don't let the moisture puddle on the seam. One of these days I will try to get up a pic of my rack??!!

A picture would be great, since I can't find Gary Kuhl on the internet.

I would love to know where to purchase a flute rack like this, they sound ideal!! Any info on makers of this type of rack? I've googled like crazy and can't find anything close to it.

Thanks!!

Hi, ffyrebird,

Welcome to the best place on earth! Glad you joined the forum!

Paul
I will try to share a pic of my flute room one of these days soon. Need to just find the time. Just be patient with me.

I waited 49 years for the flutes to find me.

Wow......cool avatar Firebird. Welcome to the forum.

Paul, email Gary at.... gskuhl@televar.com .......maybe he has a pic he can send you.

Thank you both for the warm welcome!! This looks like a great forum, glad I stumbled upon it.

Horizontal flute racks are a nice aesthetic, but vertical is very practical (and not unattractive).



Greetings!

I just happen to know a "craftswoman" gal that makes some pretty cool flute stands that are totally vertical. You can ask Jeff how he liked using the "Stage Tote Ten" flute stand that he borrowed to use on the stage this year at Musical Echoes!

Perhaps you can take a quick trip to EBAY and enter Native American Flute Stand and check out the stand listed as; Turq Inlay Flute Stand for NINE Native American Flutes

There are actually several fine folks creating a nice variety of flute stands are racks, and it is truly terrific that we all have many options available to us.


It's sort of funny, but what started out as a simple need for a flute stand, has turned into quite a busy little cottage industry. Yes, that's me; Standing Flutes! I'm amongst the ranks of many crafty folks who seem to always have saw dust stuck to all our socks!

I readily discovered that my hand crafted vertical flute stands are quite handy, practical, and greatly appreciated for a number of reasons.

Yes, your flutes seem to dry out just fine being stored vertical, but like many others, if I have played one particular flute for a lengthy period of time, I take off the bird and allow the flute to dry after I have done the serious "death grip hold and swing" method to expel any excess moisture out of my flutes. I often warn people to hang on to that pup for dear life since none of us ever wish to let lose of a flute in mid swing!

Otherwise, right off the bat I started placing felt pads at the bottom of the dowels to catch and excess moisture, and to further protect the ends of the flutes.

Yes, you can store many flutes in a minimal amount of vertical space as long as the flutes are spaced properly so that they have ample room to spread their wings, so to speak!

I will readily admit that I also have one wall rack that was gifted to me, but I am limited on wall space and the vertical stands seem to work best for the rest of my flute babes!
Since I do not have all of the tools necessary to make wall racks, I leave that up to other wood working folks like Jim Adams, of Cedar Song Flutes who makes a very handsome flute wall rack.

I know many folks who use both types of stands/racks, and their choice is often dictated by the amount of space they have available in their home or office.

I have received numerous emails from some folks who tell me that they fear for their flutes when they are perched on a single horizontal table top flute stand, but perhaps those type of stands/racks are located in a precarious spot to begin with, or maybe they are placed someplace where children or pets can bump into their flute and cause a potential disaster. Whatever is the safest resting and drying spot for a flute, is what should work best to protect your flutes.

For those folks who truly have a hefty and quite valuable "Flute Fever" collection, flute safety is a generally their number one priority for sure!

When you see photos of how Dr Richard Payne stored/displayed his flutes, it is totally amazing!!! But then again, there will not be many flute collectors in this world with such a vast collection.


By the way! The flute gunk someone else mentioned could actually be somewhat of a health hazard. It may greatly benefit you and your flutes to periodically remove the birds/blocks and make sure that your flutes are indeed free of any mold growth. Here is North Florida, like many other places, the humidity can do a nasty number on your flutes if they are stored wet! If your shower curtains or shower walls have a tendency to mold, then you can pretty much expect a wet flute to do the same thing. I recently attended a Pulmonary Symposium, and one of the health topics was "sick building syndrome". Your flute is indeed a house of sorts, and it should be cleaned periodically, or on a routine basis to prevent any possible harm.
Dust bunnies can cause problems too!


I am, by no means an "expert" on any particular subject, I just happen to know a few things that are quite beneficial when it comes to enjoying the overall fluting experience! If I am wrong, then please steer me in the proper direction!

Experience is indeed a dandy teacher and I thank all of you for sharing your flute experiences!

Cheers to all the flute makers and flute fanatics, Marsha

Darn......I completely forgot to bid on that pair of stands you had recently! I am trying to make space on a closet shelf for 2 more stands, that can be your usual wood.

My solution to moisture is simple.....don't play any one flute that long!

I'm limited on space as well,so I like Rick's idea and don't play any one flute that long.

Darn......I completely forgot to bid on that pair of stands you had recently! I am trying to make space on a closet shelf for 2 more stands, that can be your usual wood.



Howdy Rick!

Are you telling us that you have some "closet" flutes? (Insert a Huge Smile & a Chuckle Here)

That actually seems like a wonderful idea, to be able to utilize a large closet where you can simply open up the doors to some lesser dusty flutes! Dust Bunnies Beware!

A gigantic china cabinet of sorts, except for flutes!

I suppose, we could also toss a very soft blanket of sorts over the flutes that are not used very often (sort of like the cover for a bird cage) to keep them cleaner! And, if anyone has a room that actually gets a great deal of sun light, then the blanket/cover would protect the wood from the excessive light.

Nope, don't look at me to start sewing "Bird" covers any time soon!

I am taking a break from sewing and from saw dust today because tonight is the very first Tallavana Flute Circle meeting! Wooo Hooo!!! It may turn out to only be an actual flute Triangle tonight, with only three of us there, but I feel confident that there will be a dozen folks in this flute circle by the end of the year. Yes, the journey of a thousand miles, begins with one single step.

You are a great source of wisdom Rick . . . TY!

Welcome to the forum Marsha and ffyrebird both. Glad that you have joined us.

....And Marsha, my compliments, you do nice work. I like the fact that you keep changing up your designs.
Ed

Great success with your new circle, Marsha. Trios can grow to many more!

And Marsha, my compliments, you do nice work. I like the fact that you keep changing up your designs.
Ed


Hi Ed! Thank you so much for your kind words.
I absolutely LOVE your Kokopelli Logo!!!
It is simple, yet has a very cool and jazzy appeal! It qualifies for a WOW!
I would probably enjoy the challenge of doing a turquoise inlay of that design!

I do not consider myself as very artistic, but sometimes things just seem to click and the results can be surprisingly great.

Thanks again, Marsha

Hi everyone - my first post here.

I just wanted to chime in to say that I recently received one of Marsha's 10-flute vertical racks (the one she mentioned several posts back). I really like it - a LOT! Well-constructed, and it does the job perfectly. I'll no doubt be getting another one as I add flutes to the collection. Thanks, Marsha!

Doug
Marquette, MI

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"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them."
-- Henry David Thoreau

Welcome to the foum Doug, I think that you enjoy the forum.

I would encourage you to post on the "Introduce Yourself" thread. New voices are always most welcome here.
Ed

Just a reminder that one of Marshas custom flute stands is being raffled right now!

Check it out HERE.

Hi Doug!

Welcome to the forum!

Hello Doug and welcome to the forum. Now, I do have to ask you before college bball season gets started, are you in fact a Marquette fan?
dd

as for me i lay them down------------, if you stand them up the moister will lay in the SAC and right on the seam -or if a plug was used same results-if your concerned with "drying out " i would remove the block and blow in reverse in the SAC so it comes out of the mouthhole

Depends on the wood and glue but you are correct, moisture will puddle on the glue seam but many flute makers are now making an "S" shaped exit ramp (or a ramp) from the SAC and this allows the excess moisture to drain into the flue and out of the SAC on an upright stand. After playing a flute should always be "slung out". If the IS moisture in the SAC, laying the flute horizontally will keep the moisture in the SAC and I think that's verboten as well.
A flute on a stand allows more air "flow" because the mouth hole is higher (in the atmosphere) than the flue opening. For the same reasons a bubble goes "up" in the water or a helium balloon goes "up" in the atmosphere. ( a balloon in Australia and a balloon in Scandinavia are really going in almost opposite directions but we call it "up" relative to our perspective), the air around the flute on a stand will flow up or down because of changes in barometric pressure even when the air in the room is "still". That said, the air moves quite a bit in any room and that creates flow of air through the SAC one way or the other, laying down or standing up.

Flutes that are going to split usually do so within the first few times it is played. Oily tropical hardwoods tend to split the most because the natural oils and dense wood prevent the glue from sticking to the wood fibers. Some woods like cedar can be taken into a sweat lodge or dropped into the surf (by accident) with no ill effects. I actually fill my flute blanks with shellac and alcohol, prior to putting in any holes in the flute body, to check for leaks in knots and wormholes (ambrosia maple). If they are going to split, they would split at that time.

Some woods, when milled, tend to have internal pressures in the wood fibers that cause the wood to instantly warp as soon as it is milled. The two flute halves can then actually bend in opposite directions. A flute maker may not want to "waste" this flute and decides to glue and CLAMP CLAMP CLAMP it back into submission. I know. I've done this. Those flutes are time bombs waiting to split. Teaching consumers about the creation of the product helps them make a better decision when buying and gives them knowledge when things go wrong so they can challenge the flute maker about the product. For example ... when was the last time you bought retread tires?

When I did have a flute split, I learned how to re-glue the split and then seal the entire compression chamber AND mouth hole with marine grade epoxy. Larry Evans of Mockingbird Flutes does this on all of his flutes as a precaution and continues to experiment with things like ceramic flues and ceramic inserts in the SAC that will actually help "bleed" moisture out and increase playing time. While splitting is a common problem, I feel the cause rests on the maker as much as it does on the player who plays flutes in a moisture inducing environment. Don't blame the stand.

I made a bamboo flute for a fellow who played a concert in his living room (with his hot breath) and then laid the flute on a cold table. BANG!!!! Bamboo goes off like that. I blamed the table. Had he had a stand, he may still have that flute.

d the flute maker

'I made a bamboo flute for a fellow who played a concert in his living room (with his hot breath) and then laid the flute on a cold table. BANG!!!! Bamboo goes off like that. I blamed the table. Had he had a stand, he may still have that flute.'

Dusty, hopefully you cut the table to pieces (and made flutes out of it)



'After playing a flute should always be "slung out"'

Good idea - but say also that one should be careful what's behind onself when doing that.
I blamed myself badly when I once smashed a flute at the table behind me....
Now I know, I should not have been so hard on me - I should have blamed the table

I slung my first flute that I had,and it went strait to floor.I couldn't believe how carless i was.I make sure to have a good hold from now on.

Hey Dusty,
You make great points...I think moisture is the biggest issue with the flute...there are many ways to manage the issue and you have pointed out many of them!
I haven't dipped any of my flutes in the surf(landlocked Colorado boy!) but have many times dipped them in the creek...they just keep on a playin...one of the benefits of clay!
There are becoming more and more makers that are using ceramic to help manage moisture in the flute. I think this innovation will be good for the flute in the long run.
Be Spirited,
John