How To Make Wind Instruments
Making your own wind instrument makes for a great family or group project. The flute is an obvious choice for your first try at one of these projects because of its simple and straight design. With just a few materials, some basic tools, and a little bit of time, you can have a handsome flute that is ready to play.
Things You'll Need
- Short piece of bamboo
- Hacksaw
- Small propane or butane torch
- Steel rod, about 1/2-inch diameter
- Heavy duty oven mitt or welder's glove
- Measuring tape
- Permanent marker
- Electric drill
- Drill bits, 1/16 inch, 1/8 inch, and 1/4 inch
- Sandpaper, fine grit
- Linseed oil
Instructions
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1
Cut a piece of 3/4-inch thick bamboo to a length of 18 inches. Cut the bamboo so that one end has the interior fibers of the bamboo still in it.
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2
Make seven marks for the holes of the flute. Mark the first one-inch from the end with the fibers. Make another mark six inches from this first mark, and then five more, spaced one inch apart.
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3
Put the oven mitt or welder's glove on and heat one end of the steel rod up until it is red hot. Start at the end of the bamboo opposite the fibers, and use the hot end of the rod to ream out the inside of the piece of bamboo. Stop short of poking through the fibers at the opposite end, you need to leave these intact.
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4
Use the electric drill with the 1/16 inch bit and carefully drill pilot holes in the locations that you have marked. After completing this, drill out holes in the same location with the 1/8 inch bit, and then the 1/4 inch bit. The holes are drilled this way because the bamboo splits very easily.
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5
Cut the sandpaper into a small rectangular piece, and then roll it up so that it just fits into the holes you have drilled. Spin it and work it around so that you smooth out the rough edges of the holes.
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6
Rub some linseed oil all over the flute to finish it. Play your new flute by blowing across the first hole while using the first three fingers of each hand on the other six holes.
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