Maintaining the Bagpipe

The pipes are stripped down and corked until only the blowstick is left to inflate the bag and check it for tightness

Re-hemping a section of the pipes

Pipe chanter with blank to protect reed

Generally speaking, the best way to maintain the bagpipe is to play it regularly. This will keep the bag airtight and stop the stocks from coming loose. However, from time to time there are certain checks that should be made:

1. Check the bag and stocks. This involves taking the pipes apart until you have only the bag with the five stocks tied in. Cork off all stocks apart from the blowstick and inflate the bag. The bag should be 'as tight as a drum' and stay like this for a few minutes. It will gradually deflate, but if this happens almost instantly then you are losing air somewhere.

2. There are three possible reasons for this:

a. The bag needs to be seasoned (see Taking delivery of new bagpipes)

b. A stock is loose (see Tuning the drones)

c. The valve not working properly (see Chanter reed)

3. Checking the hemp. The yellow (or black waxed) hemp will gradually work its way loose or disintegrate and this needs to be checked and replaced from time to time.

4. Cleaning the drones. This is simply a question of running the relevant sized brush through each section of the drone to ensure no dust or dirt has gathered.

5. Oiling the bores. This only needs to be done once or twice a year and is more relevant to pipers who live in a dry, hot climate. Break down each drone into sections. Tie a piece of cotton cloth to the middle of a length of normal string and dip the cloth in almond oil. This can then be pulled through each section and the oil will coat the inside bores, helping to repel moisture.

6. Reeds. The drone reeds are best left seated in the drones at all times unless for any reason they are not operating correctly. If they are playing well, do not touch them.

After playing the pipes, the pipe chanter should be removed (complete with reed in it) and placed in a protective chanter blank.This will stop moisture from the bag saturating the reed and help to lengthen the playing life of the reed.