Bagpipers lung

**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' ?

**The Q** · 24th August 16, 06:18 AM

To state the story is rubbish, when it is a fact that it happened, is somewhat over the top. Yes the papers like to sensationalise a story but this is reported from a medical journal. There is no avoiding that for once the story was factually correct. In the second line quoted by cessna152towser , it says this is a Very rare condition.

**tripleblessed** · 24th August 16, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by The Q

To state the story is rubbish, when it is a fact that it happened, is somewhat over the top. Yes the papers like to sensationalise a story but this is reported from a medical journal. There is no avoiding that for once the story was factually correct. In the second line quoted by cessna152towser , it says this is a Very rare condition.

I often say "Wider reading is often helpful.". True on several levels, but directly relating to the part of the quote about being from a medical journal. Members of the editorial staff of the Lancet and of the New England Journal were quoted within the last year that at least half the articles they print are not reliable because of bought science and fudged results. Highly respected researchers at highly respected institutions have been forced to recant "breakthroughs" and published papers due to getting caught at this; some "research" has been found to be totally fabricated. Much like the regular efforts of my high school chem lab partner and myself. We took turns: one fabricated, the other played, resulting in random small explosions and occasional brightly colored clouds of smoke. Very entertaining for the rest of the lab.

The working partner did the math, and we reported results near theoretical, but with an appropriate margin of error.

As this is about a specific case, higher likelihood of veracity, but I'd be curious how they proved the source of the problem
and ruled out variables and alternate sources.

**EagleJCS** · 25th August 16, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Pegasys

what exactly is 'seasoning' ?

Simply put, seasoning is a treatment for hide (sheepskin, moose, cow, etc.) bagpipe bags to help them maintain their air-tightness. I've never played a hide bag, so I don't really know how many brands there are, but 'Airtight' is the most well known (for various reasons).

It's my understanding that most hide-playing pipers will treat the bag at least once a year. More often if they play frequently.

From what I've read, the general process is to remove the sticks and put stoppers in the stocks, heat up the recommended amount of the seasoning then pour it into the bag. The seasoning then gets massaged into the hide and all the seams, then any excess is drained out and the bag is hung up & left to dry out at least overnight.

Those more familiar with the process - having done it themselves - may correct me &/or elaborate as necessary.

**Pegasys** · 25th August 16, 05:53 PM

thanks EagleJCS ... I was thinking it was something that was IF done right might ameliorate the WAY overblown bagpipe lung thing ... much appreciated info ... there is one piper in my clan that is very near and dear to me , namely my U.S. Clan Chieftain Billy J Ferguson and I know this issue is nothing new to him , but I also know that as computer literate as he is he's just not part of the information age generation and may appreciate some of the tips I glean here .

Originally Posted by EagleJCS

Simply put, seasoning is a treatment for hide (sheepskin, moose, cow, etc.) bagpipe bags to help them maintain their air-tightness. I've never played a hide bag, so I don't really know how many brands there are, but 'Airtight' is the most well known (for various reasons).

**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)