in order to really understand what’s happening in a chanter while it’s playing I thought about trying to make one myself. But I don’t have any clue what tools I really need to be able to make one. I have some experience with a lathe (took part in a flutemaking workshop with Andreas Rogge 3 months ago or so), so that should not be a problem, and I’ll achieve the rest of the knowledge I need by internet and simply by doing (Konfuzius’ most important teaching: “Ler Ning bei do Ing.” )
So, what do I need? Surely, a lathe, but what should it have (or have not)? Which other tools? No need for saying that the tools should not cost more than a new chanter (if possible at all?).
I really don’t need industry quality tools, but they also shouldn’t fall apart after five minutes of usage.
And do any of you have some hints for a beginning pipemaker?
If your reedmaking skills are pretty good, and you are a meticulous person, you might stand a chance of making a playable set, provided you get ahold of good measurements. For concert pitch, I recommend the Leo Rowsome chanter dimensions published in The Pipers’ Review in summer 1999 (article by Craig Fischer, measurements by John Hughes). AFAIK they are (nearly?) the only suitably detailed concert pitch chanter dimensions which have been published. I think BC Childress published some once-upon-a-time, and DMQ sells an excellent CD discussing pipemaking which I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the subject. DMQ’s disc includes good data for Taylor chanters IIRC, but then again DMQ has suggested that Taylor may not be an ideal starting point for concert pitch chanter making…
You’ll need a metal lathe, because IMO you need to make your own reamers/tools. But mostly you need time and patience
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