Making Bellows for Uilleann Pipes and Scottish Smallpipes

I use silicone caulk thinned with mineral spirits to seal the leather, and the silicone treatment makes gluing the gusset leather to the cheek board unnecessary. If the leather is not airtight after one silicone treatment, I repeat it. The leather is 4 ounce chrome tanned cow hide with a pigment finish. My gusset pattern is 11 inches at the widest point, and 5 inches at the narrowest point. The leather shrinks about 10% after the silicone treatment. The cheeks are 11 inches in length, six inches at the widest, and 3 inches at the narrowest. I plane the cheek lumber to 5/8 thickness. Pilot holes drilled in the cheek board ensure that the tacks will be evenly spaced. I buy the lumber, wood, and tacks on eBay. Although silicone works fine in bellows-blown pipes, using silicone to seal bags for mouth-blown bagpipes causes problems because a waterproof bag will retain moisture from the breath.

[@leelo12345]

Thank you for sharing this great video. Now I will give it a try to build my own bellows. This obscene machine..... 😀👍

[@iaincwil]

Ineed a pattern for cutting leather for bellows as the old leather is too gar gone to use the bellows cheeks are a leo rowesom set also have the drones to boot

[@christiandelestrade2980]

Hello when you buy the leather what are the dimensions you ask for 12x24 etc... because I'll like to know if you can reach with only one seam around the cheek? Great video thank you

[@iaincwil]

Those dimensios are exactly the same thanks and the hide to cheeks is just 1lap with a double overlaped at the front of the bellows cheek also do you apply the silicone before fixing or just run it inside when fixed on, Thanks for letting me know details do you have a pattern to suit the leather. is overlapped in front then its covered with the strap holding them together. JUST checked length of bellow cheek at 12" bang on so I would have to allow extra for tue double thickness of the front overlap. Once more thanks for posting the website great thing to do oh my chanter is a Hunter Peter was a freind

[@chrismills2012]

you need to describe what yor doing

[@robotopdx]

What kind of leather do you use?

[@Kgilstrap1]

What are the dimentions of the leather you use? Where do you get your leather? Great stuff!

[@epitomichi]

The leather is chrome tanned cow hide upholstery leather 4 ounce thickness. It has a pigment finish, and the leather's rough side goes in the bellows interior. My gusset pattern is 11 inches at the widest and 5 inches at the narrowest. The cheeks are 11 inches long--6 inches at the widest and three inches at the narrowest. I plane the wood to 5/8 thickness. I buy my leather, wood and tacks on eBay.

[@iaincwil]

Would the leather be 1.5mm

[@pipes0987]

I mixed the silicone with the mineral spirits and now can't get the smell of paint thinner to go away. It has permeated everything, how many months before the smell subsides?

[@iaincwil]

You should hav obtained odourless spirit I found it on ebay

[@pipes0987]

@@iaincwil yes you are correct, I should have thought of that.