How to make pipe bags from naugahyde/vinyl.

 
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.

- 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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