My 1st set of pipes is almost here…just days from my bag/bellows to be married to the chanter I have. 
My question as a beginner…I hear all of these crazy things sprinkled in this forum…beeswax, thread/string, etc…what must-haves should be kicking around in a piper’s case with his pipes?
The ability to be patient. Above all, be patient with yourself and your instrument.
If it helps, here’s what I keep in my case.
Thread
Teflon tape (bad things happen with this stuff)
Assorted whistles in assorted keys
Rubber lizards
A random bit of metal tubing
Drone reeds that don’t work
Chanter reeds that may or may not work
Bits of paper
Cards my Colorado session folk gave me when I left
I usually have a few things in my case or some related storage article (i.e., messenger bag), such as:
electrical tape (or gaff tape when I can find it)
hemp
beeswax
pocket knife
blu-tack
I have hemp, beeswax, a spare reed, a couple of spare drone reeds, spare leather lace for the bellows hinge, PTFE tape, a D whistle and Heather Clarke’s book.
Waxed dental floss, a little case of cheese-wax (black for the toneholes and red for weighting guill tongues, don’t know why) with a toothpick for application/removal, a beeswax candle, blu-tac, a little case of razor blades and bell rushes made of wound guitar string, needlenose pliers, wire nipper, teflon tape, hemp, bamboo skewer, ultrafine emery paper, superglue, nail clippers, pencil, electrical outlet insulating foam, and a little board for a portable cutting surface.
A multifunctional bottle opener 
PD.
Most of the above plus
a chromatic tuner
the main functions of which are
-to resolve arguments with flute players
-to tune drones quickly to 95% right
-[use the ear that you also packed in the case for the all-important final 5%]
-to help me decide whether I have brought a D chanter or a B chanter
[when I’ve had too many pints]
Pipes, spare reeds, hemp, wax, teflon tape, pocket watch, hygrometer, 5g’s of cocaine, spare staples in various sizes, razor blades, dial thickness gauge, McDonald’s drinking straw, ibufrofin, cotton swabs, hand held mirror, 5 episticks, Glock 9 mm., tubes of cane (flat and concert sizes), leatherman, pocket poker, crossword puzzles, tooth picks (why, I wonder), latest edition of The Piper’s Review… there’s much, much more, but why bore y’all to tears.
actually, I only carry the first 7 items listed above.
I knew there was something I forgot to have on hand. What’s the matter with me???
Uh, Joe? Do we need to talk?
Yeah, I keep telling you to forget 9mm, .45 ACP is the way to go (or at least .40 S&W).
No E
Piper’s emergency kit:
thread (to firm up loose joints)
electrical tape (for tuning individual notes in a hurry)
bag balm or lotion (for dry hands)
spare reed if you’ve got one (you lucky b*****d)
There’s other assorted flotsam and jetsam in my pipe case, but I’ve found those to be the don’t-leave-home-without-it items. It’s been my experience that a problem that can’t be addressed with these items probably needs more time, space, tools, or expertise than one can expect to find at a session or gig (unless you’re going to be hanging out with lots of other pipers). Too bad the bag balm can’t come on the plane, but at least they’ll still let you pack it in your suitcase…
KAD
..I hear all of these crazy things sprinkled in this forum…beeswax, thread/string, etc…what must-haves should be kicking around in a piper’s case with his pipes?
Had a quick mental shuftie in mine -
Some thread, black electrical tape, a duster in a bag with talcum powder for when my fingers get all gnasty and sticky (Thanks Cameron for that one) a couple of duff reeds in a box that my pipe maker insists work fine, in case I ever see him again, a model makers knife to slit my wrists when things go realy badly and a tuning meter…ok I’ll admit it, I can’t tune the drones with all the usual pub noise going on.
weird… I was just wondering yesterday if anyone asked this before.
I like to travel light. thread, tape, blade. and aspirin. that’s it. In a bass trombone gig-bag, nonetheless.
Used to keep a cello dampit but it just got in the way.
if its wet or dry enough to mess with the reed I’d probably be noticeably wet/ dry first, so Ive never spent for a hygrometer.
guess spare reeds might be a good idea, tho.
Lots of good advice…but my Glock is a .40, not a 9mm. 
Florida. 
Oh, I could just see that at a session…
“Hey! Ya know, I love this tune. I remember the first time I heard this tune. Ithinkitwasonanoldtapeofrobbiehannanthatiheardmorethantenyearsagoandhejusttotallygrindedonthistuneohmygoditwasintensethecranswerejustabsolutelyorgasmicand…Hey…Waitaminutethatfiddleplayeristotallyeyeingmystashiknowithewantsmycokeandmydrinkingstrawsandandandprobablyallofmypreciouspreciouscanewherediputmyglock?!”
i’m gonna agree with forgetting the 9mm… you could rock the .45, but you should rock the 10mm. it’s way more manly and fun.