Wow. That is really interesting. I can`t believe you wouldn`t have to take off keys to repair the body of a flute.

Would you mind explaining the simplistics of how that work is completed? (You don`t have to give away any trade secrets )

I wouldn`t doubt it. After knowing Edger for a couple of years on chat forums I can say that he is VERY good in his field of work and very knowledgable. I have learned a lot from him.

Put the flute mandrel in the vice. A flute mandrel is a solid steel bar that just fits through an unbent flute without jamming.

Slide the body on until just before it jams. Slide another mandrel in the other end, until just before it jams.

Use the second mandrel as a lever to bend the flute straight.

Or: Do the bending, with bare hands, without even using the second mandrel. I usually use the second mandrel if the bend is highly localised.

Do this from one end, then the other end, alternately, until the job is done.

It usually takes less than a minute or two.

"(You don`t have to give away any trade secrets)"

No problem. I have been freely handing out help for people, no secrets kept. Hundreds if not thousands of posts of them in other forums. Not so much in flute forums because of a variety of reasons. Hmm

Thanks, Kara, for your kind words.

That is neat. I had no idea it was something as simple as that. Now I want to go find a bent flute, and see if my local repair guys are honest ><

Like most operations for servicing instruments, considerable care is needed. Bend too too much and you will suddenly put a crease in the body metal, which is particularly weak at the G# tone hole, where there are two tone holes cut into the tube in the same location.

Go on Kara. You have the mandrel. Give it a go! Bend the flute first. No, not your good one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lol! I think I will pass on that one.