I've returned to my English Northumbrian Small Pipes project, after putting it aside more than a year ago. First, a view of the "workshop" while working on the project:
Here's the state of the project as of a few days ago:
And here's the pipe-chanter after boring and partly roughed down between centers (It did not occur to me, not being used to the new Nova chuck, that I could have turned the top-end tenon and then done all the hard roughing by driving with the chuck! :eusa_doh:
Fortunately, I put it aside last night after getting that far, and when I came home today from grocery shopping I realized I could put it in to the chuck for finish-turning :icon_cheers:
Now I need either a new small piece of mammoth ivory, or a synthetic substitute, to make the sole-plate for the chanter end; I have only one small piece left which is reserved for the middle (baritone) drone. If anyone knows of either a source of mammoth ivory, or can suggest a good-looking substitute, please do mention it! The dimensions of the sole for the chanter would be just under 3/8-inch thick by just about a sixteenth over 1-inch diameter.
I will have to locate my old "eggbeater" drill for the finger-holes, as I can't put out the dollars for another drill press for a long time yet after purchasing the chuck. Of course the old bagpipe makers did not have drill presses, they too had to use hand drills, so I should be able to manage the same way :icon_thum
Regards, John
Here's the state of the project as of a few days ago:
And here's the pipe-chanter after boring and partly roughed down between centers (It did not occur to me, not being used to the new Nova chuck, that I could have turned the top-end tenon and then done all the hard roughing by driving with the chuck! :eusa_doh:
Fortunately, I put it aside last night after getting that far, and when I came home today from grocery shopping I realized I could put it in to the chuck for finish-turning :icon_cheers:
Now I need either a new small piece of mammoth ivory, or a synthetic substitute, to make the sole-plate for the chanter end; I have only one small piece left which is reserved for the middle (baritone) drone. If anyone knows of either a source of mammoth ivory, or can suggest a good-looking substitute, please do mention it! The dimensions of the sole for the chanter would be just under 3/8-inch thick by just about a sixteenth over 1-inch diameter.
I will have to locate my old "eggbeater" drill for the finger-holes, as I can't put out the dollars for another drill press for a long time yet after purchasing the chuck. Of course the old bagpipe makers did not have drill presses, they too had to use hand drills, so I should be able to manage the same way :icon_thum
Regards, John