[Home Page] [Making Reeds Index]
For Sale From Stock
1 x set of drones in D, Lignum Vitae with hand rolled brass ferrules and Holly mounts, 3 drones set.
1 x Set of drones in Ebony with hand rolled German Silver ferrules throughout and self coloured mounts, 4 drones set
also as a 3/4 or a full set if wanted or as separates in the same guise.
-------------------------------------------------------------
1 x C chanter, mounted for 5 keys, matching reed cap in Honduran rosewood, hand rolled Sterling silver ferrules
and Real Ivory mounts, swan neck outlet, bottom mount in the style of Egan.
1 x C# chanter, mounted for 5 keys, matching wooden reed cap in Partridge wood, hand rolled
Sterling silver ferrules, swan neck outlet and Real Ivory mounts, bottom mount in the style of Egan.
The chanters above were made for myself many years ago as a set and are in as new condition, I will sell
them as a set or split them up, they are made in the style of Coyne and Egan down to the last detail, these will never
be available again, as I plan to cease making all instruments for retail sale in the very near future and concentrate
on the bagpipe making/training side of things more seriously from 2010 onwards.
Serious Enquiries only please.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 x Concert D chanter, mounted for 4 keys, matching reed cap in English boxwood, hand rolled Sterling silver ferrules
Ebony mounts, swan neck outlet, Coyne trumpet style bottom mount.
1 x Student Deluxe chanter, no key mounts, matching wooden reed cap, in Partridge wood, hand rolled brass ferrules
and English holly mounts, a most beautiful chanter.
Various hand stitched bellows in Laburnum and English walnut, bare bellows only.
For prices and pictures contact uilleann@hotmail.co.uk
One to One Pipe Making Courses
Pipe making courses can be from one day up to six months, for a single item such as a set of bellows to
multiples of chanters in all pitches, from a practice set to a full set of pipes.
Hand rolling ferrules, Hand forged keys, reed making, we cater for all stages, each course can be split into weeks or months
and carry on again later if any breaks are needed, we also show those with their own timber, how to
select, season and prepare it for your own use.
We would like to point out that our courses are not an apprentiship
but could be just the start that someone needs to get them going, books and
pamphlets is one way to start, but hands on experience is where one learns the best.
If you are of a practical nature, already have a skill such as cabinet making, joinery and turning
any other hands on skill are and you interested in a pipe making course, you are most welcome
to join Davy in his workshop with a unique one to one course, where you can learn all
parts of pipe manufacture as done by the makers of old.
One day courses are designed for the beginner in getting his or her first student or starter chanter
in any pitch,
Weekly courses are for making a practice set, hand stitched bellows and hand rolled ferrules
are included on all courses,
Monthly and above are for making half and full sets in any pitch,
We also offer chanter making as a speciality in all pitches.
For further information and prices, please contact us below
If your interested in a course, then send us your up to date CV in writing to,
Echo Friendly Pipes
For many years now we have been concentrating, collecting and using sustainable native wind blown timbers in most
of our products, we can actually trace our Holly, Laburnum, Apple and many other native fruitwood instruments
right back to the place they once grew, we truly believe that we all have a responsibility towards the planet
and using such timbers is a responsible way in which to contribute towards this.
Native Holly, Laburnum, Apple and other species air drying prior to instrument area selection
Leaving the timber open to the elements like this, prevents the timber from drying out too
fast and the ends from severe splitting
Exotic timbers are dwindling fast, many are now on the endangered list, we have
been collecting and converting these alternative timbers for many years now and are
set for making instruments from this stock when other timbers are exhausted.
Many of our native fruit woods have very good tonal qualities and should
not be dismissed because they are not
dark in colour, timbers like Apple, Holly, Plumb and Pear have similar tonal colours to the likes of ebony and can be
manipulated to work just as well as any of the exotics.
Hand rolled ferrules is the order of the day which also helps to save on resources, making them from flat sheet saves a
huge amount of cost and energy compared to stocking the many different types and sizes of tube that would be
needed, it also gives one the freedom to choose the size and final shape of every ferrule used on any set of pipes.
Where possible our bellows are also made from alternatives such as old furniture, reclaimed timbers and our own converted
stocks, we have made this possible by making our very own milling equipment to convert timbers that have been
wind blown, which would have been left on the ground to rot away.
Workshop machinery consists of a Metabo 6" band saw, a home made wood turning lathe, which I built
many years ago using old metalwork lathe parts, My other is a Union Graduate wood turning lathe commonly
known by many as the Rolls Royce of woodturning lathes in Great Britain which many pipe makers use today,
a Myford super 7 model makers metal lathe.
Davy has been a professional musical instrument manufacturer and wood turner for over twenty years and is now one of the world leaders
for bagpipe making/training courses, in the hope that his students will carry forward the ancient art of the Uilleann bagpipe manufacture
all of his outer work is done freehand using wood turning lathes, as did many of the old time pipe makers.
Below is an early 1 man turning engine.
Traditional Amish workshop, no electricity, and what quality work.
Modern metal lathes are very good for the larger drilling stages and making any special tooling, I do use my
Myford super 7 for a limited number of tasks but a metalwork lathe will never be able to give one the freedom
of expression in and around the flowing curves, often seen on the more ornamental parts of a set of pipes.
A lot of what matters comes down to the skill of the individual, the more creative one is the easier things can be
he likes it if the student has the basic skills of turning or some other hand skill, but this is not at all
necessary as full training will be given on any said course.