Best Practices for Bagpipe Care
Are you a Wedding Bagpiper who brought new bagpipes? Then maintaining your bagpipes is essential to deliver memorable performances on such special occasions. So here are some tips for keeping your bagpipes in good condition. Following these tips will help you keep your bagpipes in good condition.
Oil
the wood
To
avoid breaking, you need to lubricate both the inside and outside of new
bagpipes using a bore oil. Apply a very light layer of bore oil to the insides
of the stocks and drones using a pull-thru swab or cleaning rod.Then apply a
thin layer of bore oil to the outside of your bagpipes with a tiny cloth and
allow it to sit for a short period of time before cleaning away any excess.
Break-in
Period
Naturally,
you are eager to begin long practice sessions on your new bagpipes but keep in
mind that the wood in your pipes has dried up to this point, and you are going
to add moisture. Allow for a play-in time throughout the first several months.
Begin with brief 10-15-minute practice sessions and progress to larger times as
the weeks pass. This will allow the wood to absorb moisture at a manageable
rate.
Dry
your bagpipes
After
each playing session, take a few minutes to dry your bagpipes properly.
Brushing the stocks with a soft drone brush and unzipping your pipe bag, if
using a synthetic bag, takes only a few seconds. Leave the blowpipe out, to air
out the stock. As a Professional Piper, following these basic
procedures may be the most important for keeping your bagpipes healthy.
Wrapping
it up.
Whether
you are preparing for performances at Burns Suppers or
any other special events, taking the time to properly care for your bagpipes
will increase their life space. Hence
ensure to follow these simple tips.
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