http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16226&item=3763041326&rd=1
Cheers,
CJ
Hello C J
I was just wondering what goals you have regarding your making of bellows ,is it that you just want to make a bellows that works and maybe sell a few to people that are stuck for a bellows or are you trying to establish yourself as a serious maker ? If it is the former you will probably do alright but if the latter is the case I think you will have to do better .(this is onlymy opinion ) in producing a more eye catching bellows .
I think they look like a very functional bellows but they also look ordinary .Bellows in relation to the rest of the instrument are quite easy to make and anybody who is at least a bit handy with tools could make a bellows ,But if you want to gain a reputation you have to make something extra-ordinary .We need to see more evidence of your skill as a craftsman.!
I also think you should do some research into the designs of bellows that have been produced (I like taylor bellows )and are being produced by other makers The standard of workmanship is very high
Again this is just my opinion and only counts as that.
Rory
Hi Rory,
Thank you for your constructive opinion. My ultimate goal is to fabricate Uilleann Pipes, whether it be as a set or components, to the best of my ability and at the end of the day 1) hopefully provide a product that exceeds the customers expectations and 2) have a great time doing it. I appreciate your honesty and I apologize if you feel my bellows looks ordinary. My only saving grace is knowing that I have had many very happy customers, and, that we all have to start somewhere. I am not naive in thinking that my bellows are the best out there as I know I have only begun my journey and I have a lot to learn. I can promise you this, however, that I will never stop in trying to better both my skills and my instruments that I make.
Sincerely,
CJ
Don’t let Rory get you down CJ, they look just fine.
Jeff
They do look fine. Just. I’m going to agree with Rory in that if you want to sell a good deal of them, you’ll have to show off your craftsmanship in addition to the good will of personal reccomendations. If they work better than many other bellows than you’ll do well at selling them. If they work pretty much the same in terms of operation and air-flow/volume delivery then you need to make them particularly special.
As a few reccomendations, I’d stick purely to leather where possible. While the quick-release nylon strap is nice (in terms of being quick-release), there are many other quick release systems (the one Tim Britton uses is quite brilliant and very nice looking) that look better and incorporate leather. Sewn, rather than tacked, bellows also add a touch of class and beauty for some. The hinges look like some kind of door hinge adapted for use rather than a specific-use design. Nothing wrong with that, but it just looks that way to me. The elbow pad looks great. Nice and comfy.
Try some beautiful woods. You’d be surprised, or perhaps you wouldn’t, at how much aesthetics will play into someone purchasing a set. Canadian red Oak is nice, but these days you tend to see low-cost furniture and pressboard furniture with that finish. Go for burls or unique woods and you’ll likely score more buyers at not much additional cost.
Best wishes,
Dionys
Personally, I do not see what is so ‘ordinary’. These bellows have clean lines and what looks to amount to well constructed and assembled components…what’s more, they’re functional and I understand that CJ’s current customers are very pleased with them.
I suppose the addition of a battery pack and a string of flashing Christmas lights may ‘shine’ 'em up a bit…but why?
I do have to agree that staying away from the quick release vinyl straps might be a good idea.
Because if you’re shelling out extra money for a set of Bellows on their own you want them to stand out in some way. No one said anything about batteries and lights.
A more beautiful wood adds nearly nothing in costs of materials. A beautiful leather strap instead of a spider-man backpack strap won’t add much in costs, but will look much more beautiful and be just as functional with a quick-release loop and hook system.
They’re some very easy modifications to the current design that would make a great improvement.
Most “ordinary” bellows have clean lines and are well constructed/assembled. Poor construction, assembly or poorly put together parts would likely have drawn a ‘below average’ or ‘sub-par’ comment. No one’s saying these are sub-par, below average or not worth buying. People are only offering opinions as to what may make them extraordinary to the eyes, or extraordinary in a land populated by ordinary, functional bellows.
Dionys
Good suggestions, no disputing them. This person’s opinion says they look fine. It is also this person’s opinion that as the maker of these bellows continues to hone their craft, they’ll utilize different materials.
What’s so wrong with batteries and flashing lights?
What, a piper doesn’t have enough to feck around with already?
…absolutely not.
Ah lads come on…Discussion on reeds, chanters, regulators, drones, et. al. thats fine.
It’s a BELLOOOOOWS… get over it!!!
CJ, They are perfect. If it doesn’t leak you have done a great job. They look great, they look practical and the price is super. Most other makers would charge twice that amount for a similar item without the padding or the brass hinge.
If CJ wants to start a bellows enterprise to get himself into pipe-making thats only brilliant! Encourgement should be the order of the day!!
Tommy
edited for shight spelling
How much o the bellows do ye actually see when in use?As long as they are efficient and do what they are meant to :roll: Same with the bag,it normally goes inside a bag cover…
CJ they look fine…start on the pipes
Slán Go Foill
Uilliam
I agree that the functionality should be the main focus. I’m just assuming with all these people who like his bellows already this isn’t an issue. Granted one should always be striving for improvement, but I don’t think the quality and functionality of these bellows are at issue. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying or adding beauty to functionality. If all people were interested in was functionality, everyone would be driving Yugos or something.
So yes. Keep making Bellows! Move on to making pipes as well, but never forget to always consider improvements whether functional or simply aesthetic. My opinion, of course 
Dionys
Well if rory does get you down with his very mild but hopefully constructive criticism you are in trouble! Once you enter the minefield that is pipemaking my criticism is going to sound like a rave review
It would seem that a part of a pipemaking business is dealing with unhappy customers (just ask chris bayley he seems to get more than his fair share )and you will probabley have to grow an extra layer of skin if you are to survive
The thing about the pipes as in everything else is that people have different standards .Some people will accept less and be happy, where others want only the best available. I think it comes down to the fact that some people are more capable of recognising what is good and what is not ! The thing to do is to aim for the very highest standard and even if you’re a bit off your still going to be up there
RORY
…excellent advice.