Bagpipers lung

**Tarheel** · 23rd August 16, 03:51 AM

The researchers at Vanderbilt Univ. know their maladies when it comes to toxic death. Unrelated is the fact they have the Federal Bureau of Investigation's "cadaver farm" where decomposing bodies are studied to determine time of death.

I now wonder how prolific was the piper's agenda that he didn't clean his bag often enough to prevent the mold? Could it be the environment in which his pipes were stored instead of usage?

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 23rd August 16, 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by Tarheel

The researchers at Vanderbilt Univ. know their maladies when it comes to toxic death. Unrelated is the fact they have the Federal Bureau of Investigation's "cadaver farm" where decomposing bodies are studied to determine time of death.

I now wonder how prolific was the piper's agenda that he didn't clean his bag often enough to prevent the mold? Could it be the environment in which his pipes were stored instead of usage?

I had the same questions. I thought that the bag was supposed to be cleaned regularly, but I am not a piper. Hopefully one of our resident pipers will chime in!

**Luke MacGillie** · 23rd August 16, 05:22 AM

I have heard of this for many, many years. I remember when the piper for my reenactment group switched to IIRC a Gore-Tex bag, back when that material was brand new on the market, in the hopes that it would be a less hospitable place for the fungi and mold to live in. Its memorable to me as I had only a year or two after got my first GT parka issued to my by the Army. Was 1994 or 95.

**Jack Daw** · 23rd August 16, 06:52 AM

I have a Gore-Tex with a moisture tube.

**OC Richard** · 23rd August 16, 06:25 PM

That story is rubbish IMHO.

Every few years some journalist makes a splash with a non-story like that. Seems that the General Public likes hearing strange bagpipe stories.

I've been playing over 40 years. I've been around pipers that whole time, dozens, hundreds of them, many have been playing longer than me.

Pipers can have shoulder issues, rotator cuff issues. They can have repetitive motion issues.

Lung problems from playing the pipes? Never heard of it.

The story cites ONE case. Evidently the guy didn't know how to operate bagpipes, how to maintain them.

Pipers who know what they're doing season the bag. The seasoning keeps anything from growing. (I'm talking the traditional sheepskin bag. I have both of my pipes on sheepskin bags.)

Many pipers use Gore-Tex bags. I played one for a couple years. It stayed dry and clean inside, the same as a Gore-Tex jacket.

Perhaps this poor fellow used improper seasoning. Perhaps he made the seasoning himself, and didn't use the right ingredients. Maybe he never seasoned the bag and it was rotting. The story doesn't say.

Their "damp-loving mould" couldn't exist in a bag seasoned with proper seasoning, nor in a Gore-Tex bag. There's no "damp" in any set of pipes I've ever played; everything is bone-dry, or covered in a layer of seasoning. Evidently non-pipers imagine pipes being different than they are.

(BTW this thread doesn't concern kilts, but rather musical instruments, and would be better placed in one of the Music forums.)

**EagleJCS** · 23rd August 16, 07:40 PM

I use a simple condensation tube (aka a 'tube trap') in my pipes. I periodically take it out and clean it, and it has gotten a little funky from time to time. To clean it, I use plain old soap and water and a long brush, followed by a paper towel swab.

I used to play a GT bag, but now play a hybrid (GT inside, hide outside). No problems with the bags themselves.

**416 Rigby** · 23rd August 16, 09:56 PM

I play a Ross bag with canister system, and open the zipper after playing and air dry for a couple hours. The occasional wipe of the interior with a baby wipe is good insurance, too. The only nastiness I've seen is my blowpipe valve, it's an Airstream, which I took apart to clean after a couple of months (I play every day) and the valve was gross! I unscrewed the mouthpiece and the threads were gross as well. I've since decided on a monthly blowpipe cleaning. I'd advise all pipers to check their blowpipe. I was quite surprised.

**Pegasys** · 24th August 16, 05:53 AM

what exactly is 'seasoning' ?

**Celtadonian** · 24th November 16, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Their "damp-loving mould" couldn't exist in a bag seasoned with proper seasoning, nor in a Gore-Tex bag. There's no "damp" in any set of pipes I've ever played; everything is bone-dry, or covered in a layer of seasoning. Evidently non-pipers imagine pipes being different than they are.

I'd think so, doesn't getting damp actually get your pipes out of tune? (that's what I heard I'm in no means an expert)