How Do You Store Bagpipes? (We Explain All Details)

Putting a bagpipe away in the case is a complex task.

It would be best if you had a hygrometer to check the humidity level of the storage area and the box.

Most experts recommend keeping a moisture level of 50% to 55% to enhance the durability of the bagpipes.

We will help you learn how do you store bagpipes to improve their durability.

Table of Contents

How Do You Store Bagpipes?

Playing bagpipes for a long time affects its physical condition.

Most experts recommend following a thorough storage procedure if you played the bagpipes for more than forty-five minutes.

Human saliva and moisture can enter the airbag of the bagpipes to make it wet.

Storing bagpipes without adjusting their moisture level can increase the chances of water damage or fungal growth.

You can follow an eight-step process to store the bagpipes.

1. Cap the Bagpipe’s Chanter

The chanter is the most sensitive part of the bagpipes.

Any changes in the shape of the chanter can change its tone.

The bagpipes will not sound the same when there are structural damages to the chanter.

It is better to take care of the chanter before following other steps of the bagpipe storage process.

You can remove the chanter from its location on the airbag.

Once you remove the airbag, you can put a cap on the airbag to prevent the entry of any foreign object.

You can check the moisture inside the chanter also.

If the chanter reed is wet, you can dry it with the help of a soft fabric. It is better to replace slippery tape at this point.

2. Remove the Bagpipe’s Blowpipe

Blowpipe comes next in the line.

It does not have any sensitive parts, but we remove them to ease the removal process of the other parts.

You can keep the blowpipe aside for some time. It is better to give it enough time to dry in the air.

You can feel the blowpipe’s hemp to check the drying level.

The hemp should have a waxy texture. If it does not return to the waxy texture after a long time, you can replace the hemp, also.

3. Take the Drones Apart

You need some technical skills to take the drones apart.

More than removing the drones from the airbag is required.

It is essential to take apart all the parts of the drones.

You can arrange a flat surface to keep all the parts separate.

Remove the reeds from the joints and place them on a flat surface.

You can make three sections of the flat surface to ensure you keep all parts.

It will also help you avoid mixing various parts of bass and tenor drones.

Keeping them on a flat surface will give them time to dry as they are sensitive to moisture.

4. Take Care of the Drone Reeds

Previously, people only used wooden reeds in bagpipes.

You cannot use the same drying process for all types of drone reeds because drying time is different for various reed materials.

You can also check the hemp seal on the reeds. It should be dry and waxy.

If the reed hemp is slippery, you may have to change them.

You can also aid the drying process by removing the water droplets from the reeds.

Screws can accumulate rust if you do not dry them fast.

Taking care of the reeds will ensure you can spend less money repairing your bagpipes.

5. Dry the Bagpipe’s Bag and Stocks

There are two types of bags in the bagpipes.

You do not need to dry the airbag made of animal hide because it requires a lot of moisture to keep the seasoning moist.

A high level of moisture will keep the animal hide airbag elastic.

Dryness can make this airbag brittle.

It is better to dry the airbag consisting of synthetic material.

Most synthetic airbags have zippers to dry them.

You can open the zip and allow air to pass from the inner surface.

It should dry the airbag and make it more durable.

6. Take Care of the Water Traps

You can look at the different parts of the water traps in the bagpipes because they can contain a lot of water.

Some parts may benefit when you keep them wet, as drying them will make them brittle.

Water can increase the chances of fungus and bacteria growth.

You can look for black dots on the inner surface of the water traps.

A color change also indicates something wrong in the water traps.

You can use dry fabric to remove excess moisture from them also.

You may need to use hydrogen peroxide or other solutions if there is fungal growth in the water traps.

7. Take Care of the Outside Wood

Caring for the outside wood is as important as keeping the inner parts dry.

You can check for the dryness of the outside wood.

Some people suggest oiling the outside wood if it feels extremely dry.

You can do it every three months for the drones and other wooden parts.

It is unsuitable for the chanter because the chanter has thin wood.

There is enough oil on your skin to keep the oil surface of the chanter intact.

Running cloth to remove the dust often is better to ensure the high durability of the wood outside.

8. Final Steps and Storage

Before starting the final storage step, you must ensure all the parts are dry and well-rested.

You can reassemble all the parts before you keep them in storage.

It is better to blow into all pipe parts to ensure nothing is blocking the way of the air.

You can also put the cork on the pipes’ open ends to avoid removing entire moisture components from the pipes.

It is better to keep the pipes in the towel to protect the outer surface from the drying forces of nature.

How Do You Store Bagpipe Reeds?

You need to dry the tongue of the bagpipe reeds before storing them because they can accumulate a lot of moisture.

You may see water droplets on the lower part of the tongue.

You can take a currency paper of dry fabric and touch it at the lower part of the reed’s tongue.

It should suck out all the moisture from the reed.

You can also get a box to store the reeds separately because physical pressure in their regular storage bag can affect the reed’s efficiency.

How Do You Store Chanter?

Removing the chanter from the bagpipes and placing it separately in a storage box is better.

You can also cover the chanter’s ends with a chanter cap’s help.

It will protect the reed inside the chanter.

You can check the chanter for water droplets if you live in an area with high humidity.

If water droplets are in the chanter, you can dry them with the swab.

You can remove the reed and exposure it to air for a few minutes before placing it back.

Can Bagpipes Get Wet?

Bagpipes can get wet because they consist of water-resistant material.

People have played bagpipes for hundreds of years in the most humid environments.

African Blackwood bagpipes are more resistant to water damage.

You should not worry if you accidentally spill some water on the bagpipes.

How Do You Look after Bagpipes?

You can look after bagpipes by learning how do you store bagpipes properly.

These points will help you look after the bagpipes.

You can use the case with breathable material to improve storage conditions.
It is better to avoid playing outside in the rain to prevent excess water exposure.
Keeping pipes and reeds healthy will allow you to use the bagpipes for a long time.
You can store the chanter and reeds in a separate box to enhance their durability.
Use disinfection wipes to remove water droplets and black dots from the inner surface of the pipes.

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