Things are going haywire…my blowpipe stock on the bag is leaking and I don’t dare try retying it myself as I’m not very well inclined towards such things…also, my stop switch for my drones is run through a cork stopper into the mainstock and the cork seems to be missing a little chunk. There’s no screw to remove the switch and replace it, what’s an appropriate method of filling the fissure in the cork without gumming up the action of the switch? I only have the bag that the drones are tied into so I don’t want to send it to the maker just yet…I may have to wait and suffer with leaks until I get get an extra bag to plug in a chanter and practice while the set gets a maintenance trip but would like to at least get to that point without playing with too many annoying little leaks…
Anyone feeling genorous and care to donate to the newer and better half set fund?
Time to cowboy-up and re-tie that blow pipe stock–it’s not rocket science.
Give the maker a call and ask him how to replace the cork on the drone switch, or better yet take a look at it and figure it out yourself. Most likely, you’ll have to pull the mainstock, and unscrew the “stop valve” (usually a coin that’s been drilled and tapped to screw on the drone switch rod), which should allow you to remove the drone switch and replace the piece of cork. I understand your hesitation, but you’ll be a happier piper if you learn how to handle routine maintenance.
Well, I haven’t tackled the stock yet, but it’s fine with some duct tape and zip ties…re: the blowpipe post, I made what turned out to be a very nifty blowpipe…5/8" inner diameter reinforced dishwasher hose into a tan PVC female to male connector which has a short length of 3/4" ID hose that fits the bellow outlet. The other end slides perfectly on to the cocobolo connector for the bag stock and stays put and airtight without any help. The whole thing even looks professional! It’s a better length than the leather blowpipe was, and works better to boot!
