First time lucky?

Uilleann Pipes
1

Well - I’m a UP virgin no more, for tonight I made my first chanter reed. :smiley: What a blast! :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:


I used one of Brian Howard’s tapered staples and a “ready tie” slip, bit o’ teflon tape, bit o’ thread - the thing went together like a dream just like on his dvd. Sand it here, scrape it there, bend the bridle and whammo! Just like it said on the tin! And in under half an hour as well! :party:


I’ve fiddled about and sanded some more now ‘coz I want to see if I can make it a really quiet reed and sho’ nuff it’s playin’ real purdy now! And these staples are just the right size so they fit in my Roberts chanter like it’s got a tuning slide - how mad’s that? :party:


Ok, there’s a bit of a double note on the back D: it plays low if I squeeze too hard, spot on if I don’t. But if I can fix that it’ll probably win ‘Best of Show’ in the reed section at the next Birmingham Tionol. :laughing: Or a Gold Medal. :laughing: Or something…

Gotta stop playing it and annoying everybody now - it’s a bit late so I’ll just have to wait and see what it’s like tomorrow.

Oh, and I’d just like to state categorically that no reed fairies were involved in the making of this quality component. :wink:

2

Congratulations and welcome to the reedmaking realm!!! Now that you have it playing nicely… DO NOT MUCK WITH IT!!! Instead, play it in for a couple of weeks and allow it time to adjust to your chanter and you to it. Each reed plays a little differently. I think it is far more prudent to get used to how your reed plays rather than alter it… permanently.

3

Oh, Joseph, not a chance… this is the “Testing to Destruction Zone!” All in the name of R&D, you understand.

I’ll keep the NEXT one in pristine condition…

promise!

Or the one after that. I’ve got more slips, so the sky’s the limit. This is heady stuff, better than Jamesons. Better than (gasp!) a large Sambuca!

“To infinity and beyooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooond!” :laughing:

4

Sambuca! I’ll have four coffee beans in mine please… thanks. :smiley:

5

Thats great stuff!!!
This black art is not so impossible after all. Once you kind of remember what you did as you go along you’ll be just fine.
I think the secret is to remember shapes of cuts and scrapes also remember thickness’ of the reed at the tips of the blades. And keep in mind too thats it’s only wood, if you feel its not going to work throw it away and start again. Mind you a chanter reed that doesn’t work perfect may suit as a bass or baritone regulator reed with a bit of tweaking.
Great stuff again!!!
Tommy

6

Jay-eye:

Congratulations on the successful reed, a Killians Red has been killed in your honor! (Now quick, make another one!) :laughing:

To reed makers! (hic!)

7

Number 2 reed’s most bodacious, too, playing really great, right from the start! I’ve left this one a little thicker, not so easily blown but I’m hoping it’ll control the back D droop (I’m consulting Dale’s team of legal experts over patenting that term, btw).

Plus, this one has the secret ingredient: I gave the inside of the slip 3 coats of ‘Clarks Waxed Leather Conditioner’ before assembly. It’s silicone, basically, and it’s meant to keep your wax finish shoes looking good. It soaked in leaving (hopefully) an invisible layer. After assembly and a pretty darn perfect test play I’ve now whipped the bridle off again and I’m giving the outside 3 coats.

I’m believing for a humidity proof, go anywhere, play anywhere reed!

Stand by for blast off!

8

hm, never thought UK’ers used those types of expressions…
you a transplant?
Rich