Making a Branch Flute part 1 of 2 - Blue Bear Flutes

Watch and learn as we discover the trials and successes of making a branch flute. Be sure to check out Part 2 to this video and be sure to subscribe for more great videos to come! Visit us on the web at www.bluebearflu...
Credits:
Mountain Sun by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license creativecommon...)
Artist: audionautix.com/

[@klrdude1362]

Ordered a flute from the website and picked up a copy of the book from Amazon. I look forward to both. I have a few flutes already and greatly enjoy the NAF. Hope to make a few for my Grandkids and share my love of the flute with them. Thank you Charlie! Love your videos and I'm so happy you have chosen to share your culture and passion with us.

[@davidmurphy6884]

Progress? Any flute making underway yet, REDRIDER?

[@joelb2297]

Your instructional videos are amazing! Good documentation of every step, and commentary of do/don't and what-ifs make the demonstration all the more informative.

[@chrisosh9574]

Dude, when you are sanding wood , you should wear a dust mask, all dust is bad for the lungs but you would be amazed at how many types of wood dust can be carcinogenic. Oak and Beech for starters. Take care. I love these videos by the way.

[@theodorebowers9737]

The dude's putting out and really nice video and there's always gotta be somebody that's got something stupid to say take your sand mask and everything and shove it up your Sanibel but I bet you're so perfect that when you sneeze nothing comes out but stupidity

[@jaybrown991]

@@theodorebowers9737 you didn’t need to be so mean, they were being nice and caring about him and trying to help because he could hurt his l7ngs

[@heldbytheheal]

Came across your website from Zach. Thank you both and look forward to creating

[@bernardmillerjr.1487]

Your incredible and very patient with your materials.

[@Sp1S]

These branch flute videos are my favourite so far. Got inspired to start making my own, I'm currently in the process. No power tools, don't have any. Wish I did, carving the inside is tough. I'm using the branches of an old debarked willow tree. Aiming for a G :)

[@carlosarmandoruiz9176]

Gracias Charlie, me encanta tu generosidad a la hora de compartir tus conocimientos.

[@redroad53]

Hello Charlie. Glad I could listen and watch. I just retired from that "other" work. So I been searching for hobbies and stuff. Learning flute playing is one of my interests. I have visited your web-page and sure enjoy eye-balling the flutes that you make. So I'm saving and will be purchasing in the future.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Excellent my friend! Thank you for considering us for your flute! Keep in mind we do have hundreds of other videos on making them! Don't forget to subscribe 🙂

[@Afro408]

Great job Charlie. That slipping out of line, when clamping, is why your friends use rubber band wrapping. Can’t slip out of line. K.I.S.S. principle. 😉

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Anything can fail or slip out of line, Murphy's Law.😉😉

[@Martin5zn]

Awesome work Charlie, great video! - Can't wait for the sequel :-D

[@robertcornelius3514]

Tip: modify a section of 1/4" bandsaw blade to fit your scroll saw. Works sooo much better and the blade last longer too.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

That's very true. There are also some old-school scroll saw blades which are much better than the garbage they sell today. I have had several for 20 years!

[@tomcartmill401]

G'dayt Charlie. Fantastic, that is another one done. Only two left now; an Anastazi flute and a Quena. lol Thank you for all your instructions. Tom

[@RustyGunn7]

Didn't Charlie do a Quena vid already? I thought I'd seen one.

[@dwightotto8344]

Nice music to work with. Been following for awhile now. Great ideas!!

[@redroad53]

Hello Charlie. Just placed an order. Looking forward.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Excellent! Thanks! I know that you will love it!

[@normanfreund]

like your vids. Here is a new material to add to your list Kelp. I made one from Kelp, sun dried on a rack to keep it straight, poke out on the internal membrane, and careful put the tone holes in.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I've actually made flutes out of pasta before!

[@sjangvill]

ps. just an idea - instead of clamps, use a couple of old bicycle tubes, and wrap them around, while you strech them. It is quite easy and it will give equal pressure overall. (I use this teknik in bowmaking)

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Great idea for others to use. After hundreds of thousands of flutes, 36 years of flute making, clamps not only work well, they suit my needs better since we make so many at a time.

[@robb5706]

I'm wondering if you've ever made a flute using invasive bush honeysuckle. Hopefully you don't have this stuff growing where you live but here in Missouri it's everywhere. I might try it. It would be nice to find a use for it and keep it in check too. Love your channel!

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I know what you're talkin about! I am sure glad it doesn't grow around here. Probably would make some nice-looking flutes however. Thanks again for watching!

[@robb5706]

@@BlueBearFlutes I cut 3 pieces today 4 to 5 feet long. Nice and straight, 2 are about 1-1/4" and 1 is 1 inch in diameter. It has a pithy center like sumac. I'll probably let it dry awhile because it's green. I may try a piece green but I'm wondering if it'll crack from drying too fast. Anyway, I'll let you know how it turns out but I think it'll work.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@@robb5706 cool! I'd love to see the finished product!

[@AdventuresInWetShaving]

Great video! Really enjoy learning from you, thanks for everything! 🙂

[@MYSTERECORDS]

BONJOUR CHARLIE ... JE NE SAIS PAS QUI SOUFFRE LE PLUS ... TOI OU LA MACHINE ..... MAIS CA M INTERESSE DE TESTER UNE FABRICATION DE BRANCHE FLUTE ... BONNE JOURNEE A TOI ...

[@bruceallan8548]

i just got a scroll saw and want to experiment with making some branch flutes. There is a knob for tightening/loosening the blade... can you tell me what tension is ideal for this?? Also.... Is that a sandpaper attachment on the Dremel that you use to hollow out the branch? Or some kind of metal file attachment;?? Thanks 🙏

[@BlueBearFlutes]

It is a sanding drum attachment for the Dremel. They are available just about everywhere and in different grades. I suggest starting with a course grade first. The tension of your scroll saw depends on the wood type. That having been said, I rarely adjust that thing! 😀 thanks for watching! Be sure to check out my other videos!

[@E3C6H9]

Here in South America they have enough variety of trees, could you tell me some tropical forest tree that would be good for making a flute in this style ?

[@c.e.f4916]

Rosewood might be interesting to use. It is one of the most loved tone woods for guitars and many other acoustic instruments (it is used on electric guitars as well but it barely affects their tone), so I don't see why you couldn't make a flute with it. But it might be hard to find so, mahogany should work, so should bubinga, koa, and probably pretty much any hardwood you can find. And lucky for you, the wood down there is beautiful and most are good tone woods so you have a lot to have a lot to choose from.

[@bernardmillerjr.1487]

Drexel’s are great for that stuff.

[@bernardmillerjr.1487]

Dremels

[@kameronmuller137]

I can't find the exacto assortments anywhere anymore, would you happen you have a link or smt?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

We actually have a new video coming out where I make a hardwood flute with those same knives. I will be posting the description of the knives in it as well. The specific round (router) knife is also used in working with lenolium.

[@kameronmuller137]

@@BlueBearFlutes ok cool thank you for that, you're helping many people out 💯👍🏿

[@TrueSighted]

A ball burr might save you a bit of time over the sanding drum for roughing the hole track.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

They do gumb up a little bit though and aren't quite as abrasive as some good ole 80 grit! I guess it depends on what you are used to. Thanks for watching!

[@TrueSighted]

@@BlueBearFlutes thanks for the reply. Guess it really depends on the ball bit. Your right, the wrong bit could gum up a bit. Guess it would depend on how open the bits cut is. More than one type of ball bit too. I have a fordom here with some interesting ones. But, it was just a thought. As with anything it depends a lot on what your most comfortable using. I enjoy your videos. Even tempted to create a flute myself one of these days. I love music, and have the skills. Just never got around to making instruments before. But guess there's time to change that. Thanks again.

[@jeffreyarnold2626]

ukrainians use pear to make pipes, and other nice things, great wood craftsmen those guys. it holds up to the heat so it makes a good non briar pipe. pretty wood too.

[@unstablekracker1]

wish my book would come in the mail someday , maybe i could start building a flute

[@BlueBearFlutes]

It was shipped shortly after you ordered it almost three years ago. I've checked, however I do not see any emails saying that you did not receive it.

[@JaySav916]

Have you ever split the branch with a froe, or knife and baton? I know it would be a little risky and may destroy the piece, but would make a nearly invisible seam if it worked out ok.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I have, however it's not as easy when there are knots and bends... My first flute was made split with a pocket knife!

[@JaySav916]

Thats super cool. I saw the video where you showcased that one.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@@JaySav916 Excellent! Thanks for watching. So many more videos are coming! Even this weekend!

[@usernamemykel]

Does your book show a schematic for a 6 hole "A" and a 6 hole "F#" flute? Thank you.

[@williamdavidson8030]

Is there no air flow between the main chamber and the air restriction chamber at the top? What is that part for?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4qvgoyefZKrers kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWPKhX-ZrdCoaKc

[@kennethsmith1744]

I used a chisel that was scooped it worked fine no power tools are needed

[@kristoffercoffin3087]

Could I drill through the length instead of cutting splitting and glueing?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Only if you use one of those special bendy drills!

[@corwinroncace8044]

does some of the grass material you use include "phragmites communis (australis)?

[@YorkshirePiper]

Can the same be applied using the hollowed pith of elder ?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

You bet!

[@YorkshirePiper]

@@BlueBearFlutes thankyou for your'e time and patience, i would Just like to ask if I may? Is the spacing/ measurements between key holes a universal thing or do the measurements differ between flute length? My flute blank is around 13 inches long , luke

[@Sheepdog1314]

you need a band saw. Scrollsaws can only do thin stuff

[@BlueBearFlutes]

HAHAHAHA! After 33 years of flute making and 40+ years of wood working people never cease to amaze me!

[@jannepotter509]

How do you gage how deep to carve out the channel so as to avoid going too deep

[@BlueBearFlutes]

You can actually use the caliper I mentioned in a previous comment to do that however I typically do it by sight. One of my friends used to use a coin.

[@joshuagibson2184]

@@BlueBearFlutes roughly what size is the perfect chamber?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@@joshuagibson2184 it varies from one flute tone and size to the next. Also because there are other variables involved, it is unlikely that most flute makers would agree on a single size for each tone as well. That is a whole nother variable in itself! :)

[@redroad53]

What does the torching do? I may have miss it.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Hardens the wood and "cleans" the interior surface. I believe we have other videos on that, too. 🙂

[@beepot2764]

Hmm I have a huge amount of unruly bamboo to practice on lol.

[@bernardmillerjr.1487]

Dremels

[@gornae9435]

Please write the name of the tree. Can't translate by ear.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Bradford Pear

[@abhishehroy339]

Supab......flute

[@xDarkAngelx160]

Farewell little branch w/leaves

[@colbmista]

I'm non-native I've been told it would be offensive if I made/played this instrument is that true or ??

[@rileyrileyrileyriley761]

I'm probably like 8 percent native. That never even crossed my mind. Anyone who thinks you don't deserve to play a beautiful instrument is ignorant.

[@RustyGunn7]

According to the law one must be Native American to advertise Authentic NA Flutes, othetwise one must declare NA Style Flutes. Anyone one can play them.

[@DeMeNToR444]

Мужик не занимайся ерундой, расколоть на две половины и все дела

[@smashtoad]

That scroll saw is being abused. I'm amazed the blade lasted as long as it did. That's not what they're designed for...not even close, actually. I'm out.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Hahaha! I've never considered narrating my exits to a conversation before, thanks! Also, I never thought I'd be under scrutiny of the activist group "Scrollsaws Unite"! Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I just left the building!