Make an Uilleann Chanter Reed Staple

The basic operations for making a tapered staple-tube for the uilleann pipe chanter reed from a tapered sheet-metal blank. Dimensions are critical to within great accuracy for both tuning and performance of the chanter. Use dimensions your chanter's maker specifies, and use accurate measuring tools such as a micrometer. In the formula shown for calculating the size of the rolling-mandrel, "thickness" refers to one thickness of the sheet metal you're using, typically either .021" thick roofing copper or else .016" thick brass sheet.

[@GaryLaneUilleann]

Thank you for posting staple and cane working techniques videos. Written instructions leave a lot to trial and error or just error.

[@BAK87]

You sure know what you're doing. Good vid

[@bagpipesMusap]

اللهم صل وسلم وزد وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم تسليمٱ كثيراً

[@Dayepipes]

Some do; none of the Highland pipe staples I saw in 45 years was soldered but they only play 1 octave. Air leaks in reeds have much greater importance in 2 octaves than 1. Some makers do solder their staples. A bit of bees' wax rubbed over the seam after finishing the taper, if you've closed the seam enough that only a little air will leak, will render it airtight, easier than soldering. I do this with all my reeds.

[@Dayepipes]

@scudding They do, and I apologize, because when I first began this the cane I had from a number of suppliers was so good that sketchy instructions were enough.15 years after first publishing reedmaking information I'm right now still learning new ways to work with the increasingly inferior cane available to most pipers. I expect to make some important updates before March.

[@texasbagpiper]

I've always wondered why the rolled staples were not soldered along their seam such as a rolled ferrule. I use tube staples but I just got an old Kenna and Egan chanter and a couple Taylor chanters from an estate auction that will require rolled staples.

[@greenjack1959l]

What did they use before they had Micrometers?

[@Dayepipes]

Sorry for not seeing this sooner. If you still have the question, email it to me, search for daye1.com, and tell me which reference mentions it and I'll do my best to explain.

[@christopherdietsche5701]

looking at the rolling mandrel specs that you have, I see that D is the diameter of the mandrel, C is the width of the unrolled staple but what is the P1? Thought maybe it was Pi but wasn't sure.