bellows recommendations

Uilleann Pipes
1

Hi all,

I have a question about bellows. I currently own a Rogge set with Rogge bellows.

However, the bellows are driving me beyond crazy. The PVC connector has popped out a gazillion times and it has almost driven
me to insanity. In the end I have decided to just glue it tightly to the bellows.

The plastic tube/connector is also coming off the connector all the time. I have to put the connector back on about every 5-10 minutes because it either
comes off the pvc connector or the wooden stock on the bag.

If anyone has ‘solid’ advice on how to deal with this, I would love to hear it. It wasn’t my intention to glue the entire package together. :slight_smile:

I also heard/noticed there are bellows that work with a screwing device/part.. is that a better option perhaps?

I’ll gladly await some advice!

Have a nice day/evening all :slight_smile:

2

Perhaps put a bit of extra thread on?

or check the length of the set up, if it comes apart all the time there may be too much pull between bag and bellows.

3

Hi Mr Gumby,

Thanks for your fast reply! :slight_smile: I was counting on it, haha!

There is actually almost no thread involved. The wooden connector on the bag has some thread. The tube however doesn’t work with thread.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to make a few photos to show you how the bellows and the connector work.

You would suggest to make the connector tube shorter? I can give it a try…

I’ll post some photos later on! :slight_smile:

4

You would suggest to make the connector tube shorter

Not necessarily, too much pull could be an indication of it being too short. I’d suggest thread, or if need be teflon tape, to tighten the connections first.

It’s hard to be definite though without seeing what’s going on.

5

Andreas Rogge current bellows tube adapter is made from PVC plastic and has no combing grooves to grip any hemp thread on the both ends of adapter.

The Rogge bellows rubber tube when new would fit nice and tight to the PVC adapter and other end of adapter would connect to the inlet hole on bellows and no hemp would be needed as would be a tight fit.

When the rubber tube gets used and getting older the rubber tube would lose it’s tension/expands and then the adapter would be lose in the rubber tube. The adapter would need a rapping of hemp but as this type of adapter have no combing grooves the hemp would slip and no good

To fix his you will need to get the PVC plastic adapter marked with combing grooves so the hemp rapping would grip. Your local pipemaker would be able to sort it out
or Rich Daly USA http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=-reed_masters+uilleann&_ftrt=901&_sop=2&_sadis=15&_dmd=1&_osacat=0&_ipg=200&_stpos=BT9+6TZ&_ftrv=1&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.X-reed_masters+uilleann+adapter.TRS0&_nkw=-reed_masters+uilleann+adapter&_sacat=0

I have a Rogge bellows from 1998 that came with bellows adapter made from metal plus artificial Ivory with no combing grooves smaller diameter and same thing happens with adapter loosen from rubber tube and bellows inlet hole.

Had Rogge bellows upgrade in 2002 with this new bellows tube/adapter bigger diameter hole on bellows to match adapter and later had combing grooves on one end to rap hemp to connect to bellows inlet hole later years put my own combing grooves on other end of adapter raped hemp.

I use car heating rubber tube now as far stronger and after putting hemp on adapter to connect on rubber tube I tie strong hemp around rubber tube as when tying stocks on bag to give an extra tighten on adapter.
My main bellows is made by Lawrence Thomson of Kinross-Shire Scotland use with full set and Rogge bellows used as a Practice Set.

All the best

Fergus

6

Yes, I did make those adapters in several colors, for Fergus a few years ago. Be happy to make one or both connector tube adapters. The stock end comes with a leather flapper held in place by a brass tang. I do ship internationally at cost.

For any inquiries, email; reedmasters@live.com


Richard

7

Rich the one you made for me was for my Lawrence Thomson bellows and the wooden adapter had no leather flapper as did not need flapper and was similar design to my Andreas Rogge bellows PVC adapter.

The Rogge bellows adapter that Gerard (DjUntzUntz) has no combing grooves to grip any hemp thread as would just need the combing grooves marked on PVC adapter.

All the best


Fergus

8

I can vouch that Rich does quality work. I have a set of stocks and a bellows connector done by him and they are great.

9

Hey guys! Fergus thanks a lot for your comments too! I’ll take some time to heed your advice and see what I can do to improve the bellows.

Glad you are around here too Fergus, since you will know how the Rogge bellows are. Indeed no hemp or anything to keep the pvc connector in place.
I have glued it into the hole of the bellows with only a very little bit of friendly but very solid glue. Perhaps not the best choice…but it’s working…for now!

I have had no time today to make some pictures, but I’ll make them tomorrow and post them for people to see :slight_smile:

Anyway, I also spoke to someone on facebook who owns 2 Rogge sets. He also gave me some advice on how to possibly improve the bellows.

I took mr Gumby’s advice and cut some new tubes with a length of 30-25-20 cm. I put them in warm water, took some time to make them flexible, then put them in shape
and put them in cold water to make them hard again. That worked pretty well. Going to check it out if it worked tomorrow.

I will let you know..

Thank you guys so much for the advice and replies so far! have a good evening and TTYL!

Kind regards, Gerard