Just wondered if anyone had input on what kind of leather to use for a popping strap?
Are there certain kinds of leather to avoid, because of the chemicals in the leather that might interact with the chanter in an undesirable way?
I just picked up a piece of leather about a foot square in size; it’s a standard type of medium weight suede, in a medium brown color. Seems like it would work fine, but thought I’d check if there are any guidelines in choosing a piece of leather for a popping strap.
Human skin works fine - and if you don’t like the idea of carrying a piece of your loved one in your pipes case, just cut a hole in your pants. Makes a fine conversation piece too…
So do puppies. All joking aside, if you know someone who has an old pipebag that’s gone leaky beyond repair, that will do nicely with a bit of trimming. Chemicals for tanning should have little or no effect on the chanter or your leg.
Marc
Anywhere they repair shoes and leather good (handbags, jackets, etc) they’ll have rolls and rolls of leather of varying colours and consistencies. All you need is a piece about 6" by 6". If you play with the shiny side up (i.e. the suede-side down) I’ve heard tell that you get a better sound from your bottom D (or perhaps you - the piper - hear the bottom D better).
At the Atlanta tionol in March, David Power recommended getting a piece of leather and using it with the shiny/smooth side up. I’ve experimented with the tonal characteristics of with/without, shiny/smooth, denim/skin, and there is a difference in tone color. Also, considering my extreme myopia, this would be considered a true double-blind test If you are wearing wool or corduroy pants, a strap is a must due to the amount air that will escape through the material.
Another good source is leather fabric samples. These are just the right size and are free. My wife is an interior designer so had a whole stack sitting around. I think many fabric supply places might have these. Just say you need a new couch. You can also coordinate your strap with your outfit, which is a plus.
If you live near any Amish folk like I do, tack shops are a great sourse for leather at a cheap price. I like a soft and thick deer skin. They’re soft like a chamois but a bit thicker and it gives a good seal.
What I really like though is mineral gel! I’m a prosthetist (maker of artificial limbs) and I get my gel from Alpha liners. These are locking liners used to hold a prosthesis on. Typically, I end up cutting off the top 4 or 5 inches because they don’t need to be full length for the average below knee amputee. What I end up with is a 3mm-6mm thick strap of gel. If you live near a place that makes artificial limbs, they probably have some of these scraps lying around and wouldn’t mind parting with them.
I didn’t read this whole reply but I say go for the bit of chamois and DO NOT swap out your leg for a prosthetic for its nice seal for your chanter. There are limits.
