 
One of the biggest frustrations that I encounter is improperly hemped tenons. The tenon is the part
that fits into a tuning chamber or into a stock. It's the part that is wrapped with hemp to ensure an
airtight seal. When a tenon is properly hemped it fits evenly and securely into the receiving part,
not too tight and not too loose. As simple as this sounds, it is rare to find a piper who will take
the time to do this correctly.
First of all it should be understood that there is no such thing
as a "maintenance-free" bagpipe. Bagpipes require ongoing care and attention and this should be expected
and accepted. Too often we look for the easy way out, only to learn the hard way that the "easy way
out" was the tried 'n true way. Maybe it takes a bit longer and a bit of ongoing care and attention,
however it will save you time, money, and frustration over the long haul.
Let's look at what
we want from hemp. We want a fit that's tight enough to keep the repective pieces where we put them.
We want a fit that's guaranteed air-tight. We want a fit that will move when we want it to move. We
want a fit that is not harmful to our pipes. Like it or not, we just haven't found anything that works
better than unwaxed yellow hemp
Everytime I see a gob of waxed hemp that's been compressed into
a molten mess I want to scream. I am hardpressed to think of anything that is potentially more harmful
to your pipes. Think about it! This gob has no cushion or "give" whatsoever. Rather than ranting about
the wrong way to hemp joints, let's focus on the right way
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Start by treating the first 12 inches or so of yellow unwaxed hemp with cobbler's wax. Use the good
stuff, not the coal tar that is passed off as cobbler's wax. This will anchor the hemp to the tenon
and prevent it from spinning. This is critical if you're going to prevent nasty problems from cropping
up later.
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Run the hemp through the cobbler's wax several times to coat it thoroughly. Wrap the coated hemp onto
the tenon. It's really not necessary to wrap it more than 6 or 8 times around the tenon in order to
anchor the hemp. Now just carry on building your joint with the dry, untreated, unwaxed yellow hemp.
Wrap it evenly across the hemp bed, testing the "fit" by inserting the tenon into the receiving piece.
The fit should be snug but not tight. When the fit is just right, tie it off with a half-hitch.
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Finish off the tenon by applying Ringo's Hemp Treatment liberally across the top layer of hemp. This
will help to ward off moisture and lubricate the joint. To be sure, this procedure will require some
upkeep, however the end result is far more favourable than the alternatives. You can apply more Hemp
Treatment any time you feel the need. If you need to apply more hemp, just apply is atop the existing
bed of hemp.
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So that's the long and short of it! Anchor the hemp to the tenon, build it up evenly, and finish it
off with a sealant/lubricant. If needed you can add few winds of hemp atop the existing job to create
a tighter fit. You can also renew the lubricant at any time. Easy, simple, inexpensive, and it works!
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