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Command Your Bagpipe # 4: Clean Your Pipes!
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- čas přidán 15. 08. 2024
- When's the last time you cleaned your pipes? What about your pipe bag? In this episode, Matt Willis will show you his techniques for keeping your pipes clean and keep you and others from getting sick from your instrument. Maybe not the most exciting topic, but a critical one that is too often overlooked!
Supplies I use:
Isopropyl Alcohol (70% or higher)
Hydrogen Peroxide (3% solution)
MacClens Bagpipe Cleaning Solution (available from most bagpipe retailers)
Disinfectant Cleaning Wipes (brand doesn't matter)
Cotton Swabs
Paper Towels
Microfiber Cloth
Travel Spritz Bottle
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My first PM was old school from Scotland. He seasoned his hide bag with treacle, egg white, and honey. He also filled the bag with leftover wiskey after playing weddings, etc. One day after many years with the same bag he struck up, and blew the bag open. The green cloud cleared the venue. He changed his seasoning to a commercial one, but occasionally still collected leftover wiskey.
Yuck!!
what's "leftover whisky"?!
I am one of those that struggle to play often, definitely a hobby player but I making a point of watching one or two of these every day at the moment. So much information that I was never taught when I originally learnt
I've seen a show where the guy died from bagpipe lungs and I thought it was just a thing on the show but sure enough it was true. You doing a thorough job of cleaning bagpipes to prevent this.
I loved the Spiral Architect riff on the bagpipes! Very good video. Canmore recommend Miltons tablets to clean out their bags. Thanks for all the very sound advice.
Thanks! It’s actually “A National Acrobat” but from the same record. Need to find a U.S. equivalent of Milton tablets.
Great tips, Matt! My PM suggested we use a very mild solution of Dettol antiseptic and water to sterilize our hybrid bags. I like your idea of using a spray bottle for the application. That’s a lot easier than trying to swish the liquid around.
What a great collection of knowledge for the pipers. Thanks Matt
Glad you found the channel! Please share with any other pipes you think could get something from it. Cheers!
for my tube/bottle moisture control system, I usually take it apart, rinse it with some water and some listerine o any kind of strong mouth wash, then rinse it again and give it a good spin in the shower to take all the water out before letting it air dry, work pretty well for me
Thank you for your continued great videos. They're extremely helpful to us newbie pipers.
Glad you like them!
First time I see any instruction about cleaning inside of a synthetic bag. Thank you!!! I use a basic internal tube moisture trap with holes at the end. I note this catches a lot of nasty stuff but that it sticks to inside & hard to remove. Your suggestion of using bleach interesting.
Hi Matt. Great video. Love the tips.
I've played pipes for 61 years and always a sheepskin or hide bag. My P/M from back in the 50's told me to always clean my sheepskin or hide bag with liquid soap and water, and then re-season the bag once dried out. I've been doing that since I started playing about every 6 months, and never had problems. I used to use syrup or molasses and they always worked great till the new seasoning liquids came out. Anyway, just thought I would let you know. Keep up the great videos. Where can I get a complete list of the videos you've done.
Cheers.
Like Dawn dish soap?
True Believer
I think if you subscribe, they’ll be there in your subscriptions.
Thank you Matt! Very helpful and greatly appreciated.
Glad it was helpful!
Great tips, I will pass this on to my band.
Please do!
Again great tips thanks 😎😎😎😎
I’m new to piping. I’m finding that hemped joints are getting smelly(mouldy) even though I take the bag apart. I’ve removed stinky hemp, cleaned with soap and water, rehemped, cleaned inside the stocks but find it re occurs. How often do pipers replace hemp? What do you do with the blowpipe and chanter ends Matt?
I play most days. Is waxed hemp bad for mould growth? Does rubbing alcohol break down hemp? (Perhaps there is a bacteria problem in the bag...)
I can't imagine the alcohol is good for the hemp. I've always found taking the pipes apart to let it dry was enough. You could always try polyester thread, like I suggest in this video (that what I use on my blowpipes in particular): czcams.com/video/BEm34zCLtg4/video.html
The alcohol will dissolve wax so can make waxed hemp gummy. As Matt says, let it dry out and I use a bit of beeswax lip balm.
Sherry - you could also wrap teflon tape over the hemped joints. That would help keep moisture from directly reaching the hemp.
Take the pipes apart after a gig or long practice session when returning home (undo all the joints, chanter/blowstick etc.), run a pipe cleaner through and let 'em all air dry overnight or longer. Disinfecting the inside of bag every so often a good tip for zipper bags. I never eat or drink alcohol way before a gig, none whatsoever. Reward y'self after, not before.
Best tip IMO. Simplify. Get rid of all unnecessary additions such as Moose valve, water traps, drone valves/enhancers, complex moisture systems all crap which impede the flow of air and harbour nasty stuff. You don't need em, the pipes are easier to blow for longer and you get a cleaner, richer tone without.
Keep your pipes uncluttered except for a simple bottle trap (for zippers) and a blowstick valve. Even then you can use your tongue as a valve and if the drone reeds weird up, just keep a spare set ready in your box.
I’ll take my easily rinsed moose valve over a tube trap. But that’s me.
@@MattWillisBagpiper Hi Matt. I found the Moose;
Sometimes jammed in the stock,
Decreases the bore diameter unfavourably,
Reduced length of some b/pipe stocks hence couldn't get the blowstick, Moose, AND bottle trap in line together (pipes with shorter stocks). Hence ditched the Moose.
Love your videos Matt, you are helping lots of players overcome many hurdles. Congrats and thank you.
Mat, how about using mouthwash. Supposedly it kills 99% of germs that cause bad breath, so it should kill lots of gross critters in there. A plus would be a nice, minty odor of loveliness.I just got a set of small pipes so need to clean them. What do you think?
It’s probably work great, I just don’t care for scent of mouthwash, so it didn’t occur to me. 👍
Hydrogen peroxide is hard to find just now, but a dilute solution of oxiclean works. Oxiclean breaks down into hydrogen peroxide in water. Homebrewers use it to sterilize their equipment.
Good to know! Thanks!
I appreciate all the videos, bud. There's a dearth of video tutorials about bagpipes. Hope you're doing well 🙂
Glad you found the channel! I've got over 300 videos here. :)
@@MattWillisBagpiper I've gotten a lot out of the ones that I've seen so far. Especially the comparisons of different bagpipes that are available.
That changed my mind real quick about starting with one of the cheap options off of Amazon haha. I've since found John Walsh's Scottish Smallpipes to be a perfect introductory set at a very good price.
Do you ever clean the brush you use to clean/dry the pipes?
Yes! But probably only like 1-2 times a year. Maybe it should be more often, but I let the feel/look of the brush guide me on this.
Sounds like you are stuffing a turkey: "I got it right up in there".
QUESTION...When you were using the clear bore oil to clean your chanter, you said you wouldn't use it on wood. Isn't that what the bore oil is for? Thankyou
The clear stuff in question here labeled "bore oil" has petroleum distillates in it, so I wouldn't want to use it on wood.
I have two blowpipes with valves on them but sometimes they stay open and the air comes backwards. Would i still be able to get the valve separate like you or do i need a whole new blow pipe?
Thanks for putting out all these helpful videos, Matt. Is there any concern with the hydrogen peroxide reacting with the metal bit in the Reed Wrangler mouthpiece?
Not that I'm aware, though you may want to reach out to Reed Wrangler's folks directly for more info. That said, I have been soaking mine with no known issues.
If you’re cleaning say an acetyl blowpipe. I wouldn’t use hydrogen peroxide because it can dissolve the plastic. I would use isopropyl alcohol instead. Better be safe than sorry🙂
Interesting… in looking this up, even concentrations of 10% had an effect on acetal (acetyl does not appear to be a form of plastic). I may need to remake this video with updated info… no easy editing to fix this one. Thanks for letting us all know!
Great video and advice, Matt! What do you recommend for blowpipes with an internal valve that can't be accessed (e.g., Airstream blowpipe)? Thanks!
You can take apart an Airstream blowpipe! That entire tenon (part below the projecting mount) unscrews allowing access to the valve. That tenon can be a bit of a pain to remove, but it does unscrew. Once disassembled, you can readily clean everything. If you can't take it apart, I'd likely remove the hemp and soak the entire bottom 2 inches of the Airstream in hydrogen peroxide.
Question, Im a retired FDNY and Now i finally have time to learn how to play the bagpipes since I was surrounded by them lots.. Im having a bit of difficulty as to what hand goes where. See I am righty and Is the R hand on the upper part of the chanter or is it the L hand? Any help is appreciated mate.
Left hand on top, right hand bottom and bag under left arm is the standard way to play.
@@MattWillisBagpiper Tnks man! See I didn’t know that and I was kinda doing it the other way! When I realized and now you assuring me that, I realized the 10 min I’ve practiced was for nothing. :-/ lol Tnks so much
Great helpful video, just got a set of McCallum bagpipes with the bananatyne pipe bag. Would spraying rubbing alcohol into the pipe bag dry out the seasoning?
I hope you didn’t season a synthetic Bannatyne bag! No seasoning for those
Nope I did not season it since I am new to the bagpipes. The video was fantastic and you gave awesome advice on how to clean my bag pipes and not get sick.
Question - I have a blackwood set with wax heavily covering the stocks where an old Canmore green bag deteriorated. Is Goo Gone safe to use on the finished portion? Or do you recommend something else? The finish is not checked so I assume it's not varnish but rather a modern coating.
I cannot imagine Goo Gone would be safe on any part of instrument. I would have to see some photos to give my opinion… Sounds like a mess, so sorry… Perhaps some Murphy’s oil soap?
Hello matt I got a quick question I have a practice chanter that’s plastic with polypenco what should I clean it with and not clean it with my new plastic practice chanter is new so what are your suggestions to it
Just dish soap and water work for the chanter and top. I just rinse the reed, no soap.
Matt Willis Bagpiper do you want me to use cold or hot water?
@@Reedc16 Doesn't matter. Cant' get the water hot enough to really kill anything and still have your hands under it. So whatever is comfortable for you.
Matt Willis Bagpiper ok copy that I rather prefer hot because hot water kills germs quick than cold water does
Matt Willis Bagpiper do you want me to use a sponge to clean my practice chanter
Hey,the mouthpiece on my bagpipes,is to long! How can I get it a bit shorter? I have recently just started. Thanks!
Depending on the current length of the mouthpiece, you might be able to saw off a bit... But it the mouthpiece is already short, there isn't really a way to shorten the blowpipe itself. They do sell adjustable blowpipes which could be useful as you figure out a proper length...
What is that wide, narrow mouthpiece? I found one that looks like that, is made of vinyl, and slips on over an existing mouthpiece. Is that what you have?
It’s a reed wrangler mouthpiece and yes, it slips over an existing mouthpiece.
Nice Black Sabbath intro!
Perhaps the first person to recognize the intro piece here! Fits perfectly on the pipes.
Is it possible to use one of those silica gel packets you get in new clothes in the bag to reduce the moisture build-up?
I think those packets would get overwhelmed pretty quickly. There are a lot of different moisture control systems on the market, some of them using silica.
@@MattWillisBagpiper Interesting... I'll be honest I commented that before you mentioned the moisture control systems in the video. I'm new to pipes in general and am an uilleann piper so I never really thought about the issues related to moisture. I love your videos and the fact you dedicate so much to making informative videos about something so seemingly niche.
Do you wash those pipe cleaners when your done. I have those
I just throw them out. Their cheap. Good question 👍
@@MattWillisBagpiper do you have a video on a comfortable bagpipe tips or how to blow steady
@@hunters.5627 Not yet, but they'll be coming!
that rubbing alcohol is hard to find these days! ha
Go to a drugstore and tell them you need to clean your BAGpipes(pipes??? Opps)...( I say my tattoo gear) and they have 99% under the counter... too many idiots causing house fires or burning themselves making hash oil showed it to be dangerous
Matt, can’t you just use some McCleans for inside the bag?
I’m sure you could, but it’s more expensive than rubbing alcohol.
How many bagpipers have never cleaned their moose valve??? Survey said……(!!?)
I have seen some terrible ones...