Pipehacker Project: Rebuild and Resurrect a Practice Chanter Reed by Vince Janoski

Never chuck a good reed. Wait. Did I say that already once before? Well, it’s true, and if you’ve been at this bagpipes thing for any length of time, you’ve probably amassed quite the collection of old reeds off all kinds. Practice chanter reeds are typically going to give up the ghost more frequently only [...]

The Salvaged Wood Smallpipe by Vince Janoski

Fellow bagpipe addict and pipehacker-in-training Johnny L. stopped by for a visit recently and he is the first recipient of the “Pipehacker DIYB award.” OK, I made that last part up, but he should win something since he has performed ultimate pipehacking and created sets of sleek and minimalist moutblown smallpipes using nothing but a [...]

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4 Steps to Revive Dead Chanter Reeds by Vince Janoski

Never chuck a good reed. A good chanter reed that has served you well may still do so even after it has dried out or turned “wimpy.” As long as it has no damage and is not in a state of decomposition, the reed can be revived and brought back to its former glory for [...]

Pipehacker Project: The Personal Reed Case by Vince Janoski

An enterprising bagpiper can accumulate a large number of chanter reeds over time. But once you find those choice bits of cane, what do you do with them? Active players will normally have a few good reeds going and need others close at hand. Do you keep them in a cardboard box? Store them in [...]

Pipehacker Tip: Bagpipe Bag Hole Punch by Vince Janoski

For those new to the hide bag tie-in, it has always been necessary to measure out and place the spots where your stocks will insert. A quarter-sized hole is then cut into the leather and the stock pushed through. The trick is always to get as round a hole as possible. The more perfectly circular the hole, the less likely it will be to tear when you push your stock through. The only way to do this well is to have an ideally sized “punch” to stamp out that hole.

Pipehacker Project: The DIY Blowstick Valve by Vince Janoski

Are there any pipers left who remember the days of leather blowstick flapper valves? The little circles of old bag leather that dried up and had to be gnawed back to life in order to function? No? Well, once upon a time pipers had to make their own flapper valves to tie on to their blowpipes.

DIY Guitar Picks by Vince Janoski

This is the probably the coolest gizmo I’ve seen in a long while. Pipehacker does not play guitar but if he did, he would be making hundreds out of old credit cards and hotel keys. I want one for practice chanter reeds.

Pipehacker Project: The Chanter Cap Reed Dryer by Vince Janoski

The chanter cap has become as ubiquitous a part of the pipe box as a roll of black tape. But moisture left on the reed after playing can have adverse effects while the reed is resting within that cap. Black spots of mold and general decay will shorten the life of any reed. Luckily, the [...]