Pan Box Musical Instrument

Here is a twist on the traditional pan flute instrument. It is a Pan Box that you can make in under an

hour and keep on display very easily for entertaining your guests or at least making some great party noise! So, let’s get building!

Step 1: The Pan Box Musical Instrument

Here is a twist on the traditional pan flute instrument. It is a Pan Box that you can make in under an

hour and keep on display very easily for entertaining your guests or at least making some great party noise!

So, let’s get building!

For this project you will need:

o PVC Pipe

o Tape (Duct tape was used for this project)

o Dremel

o Decoration materials

o Acrylic sheets

o Nuts and bolts

o Wine bottle corks

Step 2: Cutting the PVC Pipe

Cut the PVC pipe, experiment with the diameter, length, and

quantity. Each combination of the length/diameter will make a different tone, there is no hard and fast rule so be creative with the length/diameter for your own Pan Box!

Step 3: Finish the PVC

Sand one end of the PVC pipe as your lips will be blowing

across this end and you want a smooth edge to prevent any injuries.

You will end up with a variety of PVC pipes, the quantity is up to you and your musical taste.

Step 4: Finished PVC Pipes

Line up your PVC pipes after sanding from smallest to largest

Step 5: Prep the PVC Pipe

Wrap each individual PVC pipes with tape, this is strictly

for aesthetics, so go crazy and use a variety of colors.

After finishing the taping off of the PVC pipes, you will
need to connect them all together. Run a thread over and under each individual pipe and tie off. Do this at the top and bottom insuring to connect each PVC pipe

Step 6: Plug the End of Each PVC Pipe

Insert a plug (We used wine bottle corks) into the end that

you didn’t sand down.

Step 7: Cutting the Box

Using the Dremel and the acrylic sheets, cut the sheets to

about 2 inchs wider than the length and width that all of your pipes measure.

Again, using your Dremel, drill a hole in each corner, at
about the ¾ inch measured from the side and top.

Step 8: Personalizing Your Pan Box

It is your Pan Box so the choices for decorating are up to

you. One hint to remember - if you choose to engrave it that you will need to create a mirror image temple and engrave the backside of the acrylic sheet. Microsoft Word can create a mirror image for fonts.

Step 9: Final Assembly of the Pan Box

Almost done. Now it is

to put the box together. Insert the bolt (Bolt heads should be on the forward facing acrylic sheet) into one sheet and twist down a nut against this outer sheet. Twist on another nut but only go down a little way. Repeat this step for each corner of your box. Place the back side acrylic sheet on and twist the last nut on the bolt.

Tighten down each of the nuts to insure the PVC pipes are
held tightly in place.

Cut off any excess length of the bolt with you Dremel.

Step 10: Play Your New Pan Box Musical Instrument.

The concept is to blow air across the top of the PVC

pipes. Experiment with different techniques of moving air across the PVC pipes and enjoy the success of creating your own Pan Box!