Making a flute

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

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

A blank is turned into a roughly round workpiece.

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

The bore is made with a reamer.

A lathe is used for the preliminary turning.

The shape is turned roughly on the turning lathe.

The final shape is turned and then sanded down.

First staining process using acid and alkaline.

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

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

The position and size of the finger holes are crucial.

The windway is cut out.

Labium is cut

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

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

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

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

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