Hello all,
I have been coming across mentions of something called a “stop key” in various places. What is it, what is it for, and is it useful?
Thanks,
S. K. Cull
S.K.
The Chanter Stop Key is used to ‘stop’ the air entering the Chanter in order that the Drones and/or Regulators can be tuned.
It’s another Key that attaches to the top of the Chanter that blocks the air coming into the ‘headpiece’.
Only really needed if you have Drones and/or Regulators.
Jimbo
The stop key is a key on the windway/windcap/chanter cap that stops the flow of air to the chanter.
It allows for the piper to stop the chanter while playing the regs alone, or for tuning the regs.
I’ve always wondered what that key was for. Thanks for the info. Just for future reference, can I send my windcap off to be fitted with a stop key or do I need to buy a special windcap?
S. K. Cull
SK
Better to check with your Pipemaker.
Some, like the one in Joseph’s photo stop the air in the headpiece/windcap, while others actually connect via rod that extends out through the air inlet pipe.
Depends on what sort of windcap you’ve got now.
I think that Tony had some other photos of stop keys in this site just a week or two ago, if you want to look at them.
Regards
Jimbo
The top cap of the chanter top can be replaced to include most any kind of stopkey you’d like. Not all pipemakers regularly provide a stopkey. Its something you’d have to talk to various pipemakers about to determine prices, and then you can decide if its really worth it for you.
djm
Thanks for all the info. I have on more question, again for future reference. From your experience, is it worthwhile having a stop key?
Thanks
Yes. If you have drones and regs to mess about with, its nice to have, but no, its not necessary. You could grab the neck of the back and choke it while you tune. Having the stop key means you can keep the bag inflated and keep the chanter quiet while you tune, and then put your hands back on the chanter without having it let out a squawk when you’re ready to play. Its a convenience, but not an absolute necessity. Others will disagree. 
djm
I like to take the chanter out, hold the neck of the bag and plug the hole with a finger. Also a good way to check for bag, stock, reg or drone leaks.
No need to grab the neck, choke, take chanter out and insert finger…simply pull the chanter in towards you and the resulting kink in the neck will stop the air flow dead. When you’re ready to play again, just push it out again and off you go, no squawks or anything - straight into it.
Cheers,
DavidG
Thanks, that explains something I’ve been wondering about. When I saw Eric Reigler this summer, he kept kinking his bag neck, and I couldn’t figure out why.