Hello,
What are your experiences with Stop Keys? Are they good to have? Or they are just a waste of money?
I found that many fully keyed chanters doesn’t have them and many great makers don’t make them at all.
Thanks a lot 
Yes I think the stopkey is very usefull
first for tuning the drones en regulators
but more important when I play only the drones and regulators
see also
http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=53934&hilit=stopkey&start=0
One thing to remember about stop keys is that they are rarely maintenance-free.
I’ve seen many on classic sets, few of which were actually working.
There are many, many types. Some are more foolproof than others, but every type has advantages and disadvantages.
The Froment type is fairly robust but because there’s a piece protruding past the end of the cap inlet, it isn’t compatible with every type of bag stock. It also doesn’t lend itself to mounting the key at the back, in the (old) traditional way. The Wooff type (similar to one Coyne design) is simple and effective, but it may require occasional end-user maintenance is order to keep it working; fortunately it’s designed to make this straightforward. Personally I’ve found this type less fussy than the “Egan” type, which needs to be adjusted and aligned “just so”. However, this Coyne type can stick shut if great care is not taken during assembly; I’ve taken to adding a thin flat spring to ensure that the valve pops back open when pressure on the key is released.
When they fail or work poorly, three things can happen: 1) key causes air to leak from cap when playing - bad; 2) fails to block the air flow as desired - annoying but no worse than no stop key; 3) fails to open properly - terrible, since this stops the chanter from playing. Sometimes they only “sorta” work, i.e. partly impede airflow when ‘open’, or incompletely stop air flow when ‘closed’. A few types, with multiple metal parts that can rattle against one another, can make funny tapping noises as you play.
All that said, when they work they are very nice to have.
I had them and never even bothered to use them. Not saying they aren’t useful, but they are definitely not necessary.
I agree that they’re not necessary but I do find them useful.
There are other types of stop valves besides keys. This is what I currently use. I find it better than a stop key because you don’t inadvertently play a note when you lift your finger off a tone hole to activate the key or when you release the key and put your finger back on the tone hole. Also, it’s very hardy, having very few parts and not having a springed key, it means nothing is under tension or pressure. The only maintenance it requires is a drop of lubricant every year or two.
I have one on my Rogge D concert set and it has worked great
for at least 10 years with no problems.
Is it worth the cost? That’s gets personal. I’d say 70 % of me says No.
30% , what the heck go ahead and get it. I do like the one PJ mentions
above.
I don’t find it a problem to tune drones by plugging the chanter stock
on the bag. Same with tuning the regs. Of course you could figure in how
much your drones and regs go out of tune.
… Ed
In the past I’ve done a stop on the chanter stock. Can’t leak when not in use, admittedly can possibly go wrong but very robust, works with any chanter. Very cheap compared to traditional key. Nobody ever wants one though!
What are your experiences with Stop Keys?+ They do what they are supposed to do.
Or they are just a waste of money?+If they do whit they are meant to then they cannot be a waste of money.
Are they good to have?+Ye can do perfectly well without one.
many fully keyed chanters doesn’t have them+Then it wouldnae be a fully keyed chanter.
many great makers don’t make them at all. +most of the great makers have or do make them.
And one maker has been kind enough to publish drawings of showing several different designs. Would guess there are many more variatiopns on the themes shown
http://www.bagpipeworld.co.uk/Plans/StopSwitch.htm
I do not have a stop key onmy set but may consider having one in the future when I graduate to regulators
John
Here’s another plan, archived at D’Arcy’s site: http://www.uilleannobsession.com/docs/patrick_hutchinson_valve.pdf
Still working perfectly after 15 years or so.