I apologize to all for the picture download time -- I tried scaling it down but the text got fuzzy. (or that could be just the hard cider working...)

Spidey,

I wasn't able to find the Indian crafts book that I built these flutes from, but I'm pretty sure my dad or sister has the book, so I'll get you more details. For now, here's a diagram to 'wet your whistle', so to speak :-)

I used a 2x2 (1-3/8x1-3/8) cedar deck spindle ripped down the center. Lacking power tools, I used a 1/2" round gouge on the inside and whittled the outside with my Old Timer pocketknife. Given how soft cedar is, this is really a fairly quick operation, something I did in an evening in front of the TV. A router would be nice, but the carving method still works faster than the method the Indians used -- they spent evenings around the campfire hollowing a stick out. They would take a small stick, get an ember at the end of it glowing in the fire, then stick it up the flute and burn a little of the wood. They scraped the little bit of burnt-out wood out of it, then inserted the burning stick again -- burn, scrape, burn, scrape, until they hollowed out the whole thing. Gotta love tools -- even plain ol' blades...

I think it's pretty ingenious the way the Native Americans came up with the air pre-chamber before the spitter. It evens out the airflow, giving it a very smooth sound.

There are quite a few recordings of Native American flute music. Some of the better-known guys are Coyote Oldman, R. Carlos Nekai, and John Huling, if anyone's interested. It's very relaxing stuff...

Dean