Silver tubing source

[sinebar]

Does anyone know where flute manufactures get silver tubing to make their flutes?

[Robin]

I wrote to a head joint manufacturer in the UK about sourcing and apparently he gets his silver tubing from Cooksons in London, and his gold from a supplier in the states (though he did not specify). Look for 19mm internal diameter and 0.4mm thickness (however, most suppliers will not list specialist tubing for flutes - you'll have to query directly).

[JButky]

Does anyone know where flute manufactures get silver tubing to make their flutes?

There are lots of places.

http://www.thomasnet.com/products/tubin ... 229-1.html

You will have to contact them directly. They usually sell quantity. My old repair shop used to be around the corner from Drawn Metal Tube in Thomaston, CT. They made Nickel Silver tube for a flute Manufacturer. Cold rolled, seamed plasma weld. That ends up as a seamless tube.

Our market is pretty small. Expect them to ask you about large quantity. DMT would make flute tubes over 2 days twice a year. 2000 lbs worth each run.

If you come up dry I can ask one of my US flutemakers friends where they get their supply of tube. I knew about 10 years ago who they were but times change. There used to be 2 maybe 3 suppliers that they all bought from back then.