How to make pipe bags from naugahyde/vinyl.

NOTE: 9 additional photos of this pipe bag are available. Click here for information.
 
The following excerpt from a short article of mine in the Irish 
Pipers' Club's newsletter, "The Piper's Review", May 1988 
(concerning the construction of a very functional half-set of 
Irish union-pipes built for a total of $12.12, less chanter) is 
submitted here in response to several recent inquiries on the 
subject:

"The material used is heavy-gauge upholstery naugahyde (vinyl). 
Two types are sold at fabric stores -- the desired type has white 
woven nylon cloth backing. The other type which has loose, random 
nylon fibers as a backing, is unsuited for bag making. $3 to $5 
per (52") yard is a typical price [in 1988 at least].

The glue required is 100% silicone rubber sealant -- the clear 
un-paintable variety which smells like vinegar and does not 
contain any fungicides. This glue is available at any hardware 
store.

Click here for 6k jpg image of bag dimensions and proportion.


- Draw a line 5/8" from edge (3/8" in neck area) all around bag 
  perimeter
- Just outside of the marked 5/8" area & just up to the line 
  carefully rub in paraffin wax (an inch or so wide). This keeps 
  any squished glue from sticking the bag together where it's not 
  wanted.
- In the marked 5/8" area, THOROUGHLY but quickly work the 
  silicone glue into the fabric backing, all the way around the 
  perimeter (both halves of bag).
- Fold in half along centerline and weight heavily between two 
  plywood pieces, using waxed-paper sheets to keep bag from 
  sticking to plywood. I use many cement blocks for weight. Let 
  cure at least 24 hours.
- Stock for blowpipe hole is cut as per conventional method, ditto 
  tie-in.
- If neck tends to pinch off chanter air, a length of clear 
  plastic tubing affixed in the neck will remedy.

I've used bags like this regularily for 4 years [11 years now!] on 
both bellows-blown and mouth blown pipes and have never had a 
single failure or airleak. [despite northern Michigan's humid 
climate, have had very little problem with such a "non-breathing" 
bag when using for mouth-blown pipes !]. I used to stitch the bag 
perimeter in addition to using silicone glue, but have found this 
unnecessary.

The key to a good bag is to work the glue thoroughly into the 5/8" 
area and to use heavy weights during curing."


             _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _    
          /  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  \      apply glue all around
        /  /   1" band of        \  \ <-- perimeter 5/8" strip *
       |  | <- paraffin wax        \  \                 
       |  |    rubbed in all around  \  - - - - - -| <-- ( * 3/8" 
       |  |    up to this line.        - - - - - - |      in neck)
   ....|..|........................................|...centerline
       |  |                                        |
 5/8"->|  |<-                         / - - - - - -|
       |  |                         /   /- - - - - | 
        \  \ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  /   /      
          \  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  /        
  

Note: The goose-neck ("bend" in the neck of the bag) is not shown 
      in this illustration, for the sake of simplicity. See the 
      jpg image (above) for depiction of the goose-neck
  
Dennis Havlena - W8MI
Mackinac Straits
  
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