Sorry if this topic has been covered. If you took a tackle box to use for tools and items needed for maintenance of your pipes, what are the must have items? Hemp, wax, etc… Thanks
Cheers
Here’s a start:
Unwaxed hemp
tie-in cord
beeswax
thermowax
cork grease (if your drone switch requires)
utility knife
shot glass
electrical tape
needle nose pliers
irish whiskey
sandpaper
single edged razor blades
stout
corks
pipe cleaners or small brush
sealing wax
I’ve a few dozen more items in my box that I never use.
A mental inventory of my pipe-case “triage” pocket turns up …
waxed hemp
a block of beeswax
electrical tape (get the color that most closely matches your chanter)
fine poly sewing thread for when hemp’s just too thick
Bits of old cane reed for rushes
A plastic-coated paper clip + odd bits of paper to rush my low D in a pinch (paper clip is also handy for fishing out errant bits of cane or removing bits of Pleistocene-era waxed hemp from joints)
A rubber band (hair elastic) to hold down any errant keys – a leftover from fluteplaying; hasn’t really been necessary but old habits die hard
I have a giant mother-ship toolbox at home where heavier-duty and reedmaking-oriented stuff lives, but I think that’s about it for the “away” bag.
Oh, and if you’re John Maze, you’ll also need a thermos, an umbrella and an espresso maker. 
For rushing I’d add various size weed-whacker cords cut to 12 in. length.
Additional rushing supplies would be various size beads.
A very bright small light.
I like my 4X flipdown headband magnifier, but for away I’ll take the 3.5 magnifiers shopglasses from Rockler.
A packet of needles for emergency key pins. Paper clips are too big.
Jeweler’s pliers and nippers.
The list for the home ‘shop’ is endless.
Bob
Might I add; extra leather or valves, a rat-tail file and extra reeds.
Several mentions of electrical tape. That stuff has proven to be a nightmare for me both on whistles and pipes. It may be due to my warmer climate (though it’s not like I leave my instruments out in the heat) but what almost always ends up happening is the tape will slide around when warmed (especially if used for back D) and leave a sticky residue in its path. Over time the stretchy tape has also been known to separate from the adhesive completely and it is super gooey and a pain to eradicate. The last thing I’d want on a nice wooden chanter.
I’ve found art tape to be a perfect solution. It’s extremely similar to painters tape, but not in the obnoxious bright blue color. The adhesive is strong enough to stay put but light enough to remove and reposition several times before it becomes useless (perfect for fine tuning back D repeatedly during seasonal transitions). It leaves no sticky residue behind whatsoever. If you don’t care about aesthetics, grab a roll of blue painters tape at the hardware store. If you are a little more aesthetic conscious like me, search at local art or craft stores for the black stuff.
wow, there is a lot of info here, brilliant…is there anything that you can add to the hemp on the end of drones and regs to help them slide in nice and easy and yet stay airtight and snug? good info from all thank you kindly. 
Hemp with some bees wax should keep those joints sliding yet air tight.
Flame and a blade ( in case the gig goes badly).
Automotive masking tape works well to partly cover a tone hole, no sticky mess like electrical tape and it is more pliable.
Tim
I think these haven’t been mentioned yet:
C and D tuning forks or Farley’s electronic tuning fork
Poster putty
Broken reed to form poster putty in holes that need tuning
Linen thread and/or dental floss for tenons/reed seat
backup reeds
Neck extention for C chanter
I’m not shy of the stout or the whiskey, John Powers is my prefrence these days, Locke on the darker days.
nail clippers and an emery board.
because painful, bleeding hangnails ALWAYS happen moments before performances.
Although recently Ive been obsessed with travelling light,
theres simply no limit of material objects that have some sort of bagpipe application.
& once ya find a thing that does the fix,
ya wont leave home without it anymore.
Heck, I still throw a kitchen stool in the trunk,
just in case the venue has nothing but folding chairs.
forget the shot glass . . . just have the bottle handy 
It helps warm the reed up and lights up the piper
Here’s what I carry:
-Warm mittens and a hat
-Candy/granola bars
-kitty litter
-candles
-signal flares
oh, wait: that’s what I carry in the trunk of my car for the winter
Here’s the list:
-Bullet-proof dinner jacket
-Watch that is also a phone/decoder
-hidden spike in shoe tip
-special molar implant containing cyanide
-devastating good looks
oh, wait: that’s what makes me an international man of intrigue…
Back on topic. Here’s what I have in my pipe case
-window caulk (WILL NOT stick to your bore! “Step away from the blutac!”)
-Bees wax,
-Cotton thread
-dental tape
-extra reeds
-identification include “reward if found!” notice
-(sometimes) flat set/chanter
my tool kit (a tackle box) contains the above plus tube cutters, bridles, staples, a variety of sharp/cutty things, super glue, corks, cork sheet, brass sheet, hobby tubing, calipers, gouges, and mandrils…I mean mandrels: no distractingly-bright arses in my kit, thank you!.
tommykleen