Reed Making for Uilleann Pipes

Uilleann Pipes
1

I’ve done a search on here and looked in the FAQ’s but amazed that there isn’t much at all about the process of Uilleann pipe reed making. From what I was taught by Mickey Dunne this weekend and others, this is crucial to successful mastery of Uilleann pipes. Have I, as usual, missed some point here, or is reed making when you get it down so profitable that it becomes some sort of “trade secret”?

I have ordered all the bits and pieces as Mickey showed us this past workshop session and can hardly wait to start ruining slips of Spanish cane… :laughing: Please let me know more if you have something to share along these lines. The nice part of all of this as it appears now, the initial investment is a bit dear, but things should pretty well begin to level off soon and from what one bloke told me the cane evidently grows all over the place here in Southeast Texas. Trouble is he never got around to showing me just what it looked like.

Know this forum, some nice person will help begin to this new issue out.

Thanks once again,

Harold :open_mouth:

2

If you can harvest your own cane, the cost of making uilleann pipe reeds is basically zero.

3

Have a look here:

http://uilleannforum.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=4

4

from what one bloke told me the cane evidently grows all over the place here in Southeast Texas. Trouble is he never got around to showing me just what it looked like.

The bloke actually had a sample in the back of his truck on Sunday morning, but you didn’t make it before Mickey had to go. He’ll e-mail you a photo by the weekend, if he does not forget. It is known locally as Georgia Cane, if you care to search for online photos. Once you see it, you will probably recognize it.

5

Okinell - check your PM for the photo link.

6

A lot of Texas cane is very hard, so use care in harvesting Try to get some hands-on experience in testing cane hardness in the field to find soft enough cane for reeds. Perhaps a near-by experienced reed maker can help you with that.

7

http://www.azuilleann.org/resources.htm
video showing the process. pretty nice.