I would need to replace my cork on my flute and have a few questions asap.
Where should I go to the original flute maker (martin doyle) or any flute/piper maker/repairer? How much should it cost?
Are you talking headjoint cork or tenon cork? You can replace either one yourself. Headjoint corks require one bottle of good wine, drink the wine, and sand down the cork to fit (this can take some work and may require another bottle of wine to get you through the sanding).
The tenon cork isn't hard either. Pull off the old cork, go to an instrument repair shop and get a new piece of cork, cut it to fit the channel on the tenon, use rubber glue to hold it down, and you're done.
Clarinets and bassoons also employ tenon corks in order to give an air-tight seal to their joints. So any competent woodwind instrument repairman should be able to do the job. I doubt it would cost very much, though I'd ask first.
I've done the very thing Jayhawk is suggesting with the head-joint cork on the 'Nach Meyer' flute that I inherited from my grandfather, and it worked great. I also use wine corks in my clear PVC flutes. Every so often, I raid the bar at a local restraunt to collect thier corks for this purpose. I usually cut the cork in half, and bevel the edges slightly with sandpaper. I use a rubber mallet and a wooden spoon handle to position the cork properly (yeah, really high-tech).
a friend of mine just had the same problem with his flute and he's going to an uilleann pipe maker to get some cork... might be worth a shot if you have any of those nearby!! good luck
I don't know John Dodd's work, but I do know his playing, he's a good musician too. Was sorry he moved to Eire, he used to dep in my band occassionally.
Jayhawk,
cottin *is* traditional
Most polymere threads do have similar humidity behaviour AFAIK.
If you can name me a material which stays unchanged with temperature and humidity, this would be great for UP and flute!
Swisspiper - I know cotton was used on u-pipes, but on flute I've always read to never use cotton: Rod Cameron uses silk, Ralph Sweet synthetic yarn, Casey Burns uses linen thread or synthetic thread, Terry McGee specifically says to never use cotton thread, and Clive Catterall also uses synthetic thread.
Now I've not owned an antique flute except one - German made with cork joints - so maybe they did use cotton thread traditionally...but maybe they used linen instead?
Personally, I prefer cork. I've rethreaded several tenons on flutes and removed the thread and replaced with cork on another flute. It's not hard at all.
I'd worry about using cotton when so much moisture can slip into the joint.
I use thread that contains cotton, but only in a condition where it is thoroughly saturated with a mixture of vaseline and beeswax, so it is almost waterproof. It is better than some of the synthetic threads in one way, because it is more springy. I used a 100% synthetic thread once, and the result was very "hard", and it was difficult to get just the right amount on.
On each joint I also have a small amount of dental floss on top, which is great as it will relatively quickly find a squiggley position where it beds in, making it easier to get a more constant diameter over the whole tenon. But I have read a warning that made sense - precisely because one of its advantages is the low friction it creates, it is possible not to realize when you just have too much and are in danger of splitting the outer tube.
I think quite a few fluters in Ireland use dental floss, at least for part of the wrapping.
Yep Paddy, I've used floss, too. Handy stuff, doesn't swell, and smells minty fresh to boot. Plus, if you're eating at session and get something stuck in your teeth...well, no problems, eh?
Need to replace cork on flute
Need to replace cork on flute
I would need to replace my cork on my flute and have a few questions asap.
Where should I go to the original flute maker (martin doyle) or any flute/piper maker/repairer? How much should it cost?
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by domhnach broc
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
Are you talking headjoint cork or tenon cork? You can replace either one yourself. Headjoint corks require one bottle of good wine, drink the wine, and sand down the cork to fit (this can take some work and may require another bottle of wine to get you through the sanding).
The tenon cork isn't hard either. Pull off the old cork, go to an instrument repair shop and get a new piece of cork, cut it to fit the channel on the tenon, use rubber glue to hold it down, and you're done.
Eric
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by Jayhawk
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
Clarinets and bassoons also employ tenon corks in order to give an air-tight seal to their joints. So any competent woodwind instrument repairman should be able to do the job. I doubt it would cost very much, though I'd ask first.
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by pbassnote
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
If you accidentally sand down your new cork too far and ruin it, you can throw the flute in a dumpster and learn to play the two wine bottles instead.
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by mcdevincabe
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
i just had a tenon cork replaced and it cost me $20 cdn. if that is any help as to the price
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by thorsdog
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
I've done the very thing Jayhawk is suggesting with the head-joint cork on the 'Nach Meyer' flute that I inherited from my grandfather, and it worked great. I also use wine corks in my clear PVC flutes. Every so often, I raid the bar at a local restraunt to collect thier corks for this purpose. I usually cut the cork in half, and bevel the edges slightly with sandpaper. I use a rubber mallet and a wooden spoon handle to position the cork properly (yeah, really high-tech).
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by jasonlburnfield
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
If you need a flute repair try:
Jon Dodd
Miltown Malbay
Co.Clare
0657079795
Highly recommended - He operates a repair service via the post if you can not visit him personally -
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by fiddlers-elbow
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
I know some folks who have replaced the cork with cotton thread . They say its better .
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by bazouki dave
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
a friend of mine just had the same problem with his flute and he's going to an uilleann pipe maker to get some cork... might be worth a shot if you have any of those nearby!!
good luck
# Posted on March 28th 2007 by Lizzy
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
If you use cotton thread, wax it first and add some vaseline afterwards. Otherwise it will shrimp and grow too much with humiditiy
# Posted on March 28th 2007 by swisspiper
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
Why not simply NOT use cotton thread? There are plenty of other threads available that won't ever swell.
Eric
# Posted on March 28th 2007 by Jayhawk
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
I don't know John Dodd's work, but I do know his playing, he's a good musician too. Was sorry he moved to Eire, he used to dep in my band occassionally.
# Posted on March 28th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
Jayhawk,
cottin *is* traditional
Most polymere threads do have similar humidity behaviour AFAIK.
If you can name me a material which stays unchanged with temperature and humidity, this would be great for UP and flute!
# Posted on March 29th 2007 by swisspiper
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
Swisspiper - I know cotton was used on u-pipes, but on flute I've always read to never use cotton: Rod Cameron uses silk, Ralph Sweet synthetic yarn, Casey Burns uses linen thread or synthetic thread, Terry McGee specifically says to never use cotton thread, and Clive Catterall also uses synthetic thread.
Now I've not owned an antique flute except one - German made with cork joints - so maybe they did use cotton thread traditionally...but maybe they used linen instead?
Personally, I prefer cork. I've rethreaded several tenons on flutes and removed the thread and replaced with cork on another flute. It's not hard at all.
I'd worry about using cotton when so much moisture can slip into the joint.
Eric
# Posted on March 30th 2007 by Jayhawk
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
I use thread that contains cotton, but only in a condition where it is thoroughly saturated with a mixture of vaseline and beeswax, so it is almost waterproof. It is better than some of the synthetic threads in one way, because it is more springy. I used a 100% synthetic thread once, and the result was very "hard", and it was difficult to get just the right amount on.
On each joint I also have a small amount of dental floss on top, which is great as it will relatively quickly find a squiggley position where it beds in, making it easier to get a more constant diameter over the whole tenon. But I have read a warning that made sense - precisely because one of its advantages is the low friction it creates, it is possible not to realize when you just have too much and are in danger of splitting the outer tube.
I think quite a few fluters in Ireland use dental floss, at least for part of the wrapping.
# Posted on March 30th 2007 by Lingpupa
Re: Need to replace cork on flute
Yep Paddy, I've used floss, too. Handy stuff, doesn't swell, and smells minty fresh to boot. Plus, if you're eating at session and get something stuck in your teeth...well, no problems, eh?
Eric
# Posted on March 30th 2007 by Jayhawk