How to make an Awesometastical PVC Flute

For a school project, we were assigned to create and perform a musical instrument. We decided, seeing as one of our group members plays the flute, to make a flute out of PVC piping. After a little bit of research, we came up with a process that was fairly easy to follow and created a flute that didn't sound half bad! This Instructable will take you step by step on your way to creating a PVC flute.

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Step 1: Materials Needed

The materials need for making the flute are as follows:

1) A length of PVC pipe ¾ inches inner diameter (15 inches works well, so you have room to mess up, or you can just go by about the length of your forearm, including your hand.)
2) ¾ inch PVC cap (to fit the pipe)
4) Pencil
5) Rubber band
6) Files
7) A saw to cut the PVC
8) Clamps
9) Drill Press
10) Electrical Tape in the color of your choice.

Blobtroll says: Feb 6, 2013. 3:36 PM

What key (octave) does the flute play? i am working on this for a school project as well.

modelmanjohn says: Mar 26, 2010. 5:23 AM

Neat idea, but I heard that PVC over time can leach some kind of toxic fume, but I'm not sure. I wonder if your instructions would work on bamboo?

sinmantyx in reply to modelmanjohnJul 13, 2012. 11:02 AM

When making PVC instruments, you should not use PVC but C-PVC. C-PVC is a little more expensive, but is classified as safe for water going INTO your home. PVC is only classified as safe for water going OUT of your home that you are not going to drink.

I doubt the danger is high, but just a very small increase in cost will eliminate the worry.

claudg1950 in reply to modelmanjohnAug 11, 2011. 9:59 AM

Logic indicates that anything, over time, will leach less fumes, not more (if that wopuld be the case).
I suspect that PVC scare is grossly exagerated and, as someone pointed out, you are not going to warm or boil the flute while playing.
At any rate, though in most instruments material is essential for the sound, for some reason the flute seems quite imprevious to it. Flutes have been made of many different metals, wood, plastic and even glass, and no matter what, they tend to sound very much alike.
So I would say you may safely try with many different materiales, if you are concerned about PVC. Also remember that there are plastic home pipes designed to carry hot water and guaranteed for 50 years or so, so those should not emit any noxious element.

EastsidePrep (author) in reply to modelmanjohnMar 26, 2010. 9:48 AM

It should work on bamboo as well as long as it is hollowed out all the way through (you can leave the last membrane in there as the cap). PVC fumes tend to be a problem if you are heating it up, your contact is pretty minimal using it as a flute.

If you have some bamboo, give it a try. Make sure you remove the membranes in the bamboo and either leave the last one (and measure from there) or cap the bamboo with something like a cork.

Jonas.B says: May 14, 2011. 2:23 PM

Did you tune the flute or did you just drill holes at random?

claudg1950 in reply to Jonas.BAug 11, 2011. 9:51 AM

Dunno what he did, but if you go to the instructable called "Make 4 easy bamboo flutes for free" you will see that the author mentions a software called Flutomat, which allows you to calculate hole distances.
The direct link for flutomat is
http://www.cwo.com/~ph_kosel/flutomat.html

robphippen in reply to claudg1950Jan 21, 2012. 11:51 AM

I just found this nice alternative
http://twjcalc.sourceforge.net/2.10/TWJCalc2.10.html

Jonas.B in reply to robphippenJun 24, 2012. 8:18 AM

Nice! :)

richeypaul1 says: May 3, 2011. 1:07 PM

That is a fantastic idea! So creative. It's amazing what one can do with a little PVC pipe. I'm sure a plumber can appreciate your creativity.

zascecs says: Mar 27, 2010. 9:48 AM

Next project, PVC saxaphone.

tripman in reply to zascecsFeb 8, 2011. 1:48 PM

did you make a pvc sax? im working in it but is not easy... do you have some idea? i made the structure but is dificult to make good sound, sorry about my tarzan english

Saturn V in reply to zascecsJun 27, 2010. 1:04 PM

I'd LOVE that! I will subscribe to whoever is the first to do that.

1spartan95 in reply to Saturn VJan 9, 2011. 6:56 PM

I would too!

zascecs in reply to Saturn VJun 27, 2010. 2:01 PM

I'd better start making it then... =P

...somehow...

eulaliaaaa! says: Aug 24, 2010. 5:37 PM

She looks like my cousin!!!

rainman002 says: Mar 30, 2010. 8:13 PM

www.cwo.com/~ph_kosel/flutomat.html

mtm101097 says: Mar 27, 2010. 4:51 AM

Nice instructable (very informative)

where do you go to school because my school in New Jersey( I'm not going to say where) is blue and gold warriors. thanks.

EastsidePrep (author) in reply to mtm101097Mar 27, 2010. 3:23 PM

EastsidePrep is actually the school (Eastside Preparatory School, Kirkland, WA) account. When students and faculty have projects that they want to share, we post them under this account.

Our mascot is the Eagle.