How To – Make a Set of Bagpipes for $5

Now here’s a great economical way to piss off your neighbors. This fellow, Dennis Havlena, seems to be a bit of a folk music instrument hacker and came up with a way to make a set of full-sized highland bagpipes out of pvc plumbing pipe, clear flexible plastic tubing, & naugahyde upholstery vinyl. The end result is fully operational & apparently quite nice sounding, though the concept of bagpipes and nice sounding doesn’t seem to go together for me. The total cost for the project runs at about $5 less the reeds.

From Dennis’ site…

Describing the construction of these pvc pipes may prove to be much like describing on paper just how to tie a shoe-lace! Will give ‘er a go nonetheless. They’re actually made from 1/2″ light tan-colored CPVC not technically PVC but a “hot-water” version of pvc which is sold here at any hardware store in ten foot lengths. Some PVC tubing is used though, when larger diameters are called for & is CPVC not available in those diameters. The second main component is clear, flexible plastic tubing that is used in the medical profession (have also seen it in fish-aquarium applications). I buy this at the local hardware store. The bag itself is made of thick upholstery vinyl (naugahyde) — the type with WOVEN nylon backing (the sort that has a nylon “fluff” backing is useless).

You can find the full details with photos here.

If you happen to be over at Dennis’ site, check out his home page here as well where you’ll find links to quite a few other articles and how-to’s on folk music instruments.

[via the Makezine Blog]