Sheepskin Bag questions

[Wavy Davey]

Hey all,

My piping teacher suggested I get a sheepskin bag, what with it's ability to breathe, etc. Here's the thing - most places I find give a lifespan of around 2 years for sheepskin. He also mentioned seasoning it once a month.

What's everyone's experience with sheepskin, longevity, seasoning (both type and how often), and some good yardsticks as to when it might be time to change the bag - aside from it leaking, duh.

Currently I play a Large Ross, but I suspect it's too large for me - I'm going to go with a Begg Medium. I've played L&M in the past (who hasn't) and had great things to say about that bag - though moisture management was a bit of a task.

Thanks in advance,

Davey

[JRM]

My experience was about the same. Add some seasoning about every month or so, and they only lasted about 1.5 years each. I don't recall what brand the first one was, but the next one was a McHarg. Same experience with both brands. I went back to the L & M and each lasted for many years with no problems and much less seasoning.

[RicardoNL]

I have just switched from a ross medium to a medium begg sheepskin bag (swanneck) . The feeling is great I can tell you; Fuller sound and much better control. Seasoning isn't that hard to do. After the first time of seasoning, whenever you feel that the bag is becoming a bit soft under your arms, add a small amount of seasoning to get your bag airtight again. When your bag is airtight, it should make a kind of beachball sound when you tap/strike your bag. (best way to test is plug all holes except you blowpipe ofcourse and inflate you bag to it's fullest)

The thing between sizes is, on andrew lenz' site all bags measurements are done from top to the very bottom of the bag. This is kind of tricky because when I thought a had about the same size bag, the medium begg is actually quite a bit smaller than my ross medium. This is because on every skin bag there is a seem from where the bag is sown together, that is why the actual bag is smaller than indicated. That is why I have already ordered a large begg sheepskin bag. (I am 6'4" in length)

For seasoning: Most people use 'Airtight' or Robertson (microwaveble.

Hope this will help you a bit.

[Wavy Davey]

Excellent information, thanks a ton! Here's the thing though - like I say, I play a Ross Large. I played a couple of sheepskin bags this week past, and I noticed my fingers were SOOOO much more relaxed on the chanter. Maybe I should go with a large begg? I want that kind of relaxed feeling that I'm not getting with my Ross bag. I thinkt hey were both small beggs.

thanks again for the feedback.

[David Corbett]

http://forums.bobdunsire.com/forums/ubb...true#Post471953 (http://forums.bobdunsire.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=471953&Searchpage=1&Main=55223&Words=sheep& Search=true#Post471953)

[David Corbett]

Do a search, there's tons on this topic on this board, going back quite a ways. it's a topic that comes up about every 6 months or so

[ratherbpiping]

Excellent information, thanks a ton! Here's the thing though - like I say, I play a Ross Large. I played a couple of sheepskin bags this week past, and I noticed my fingers were SOOOO much more relaxed on the chanter. Maybe I should go with a large begg? I want that kind of relaxed feeling that I'm not getting with my Ross bag. I thinkt hey were both small beggs.

thanks again for the feedback.

I had a few small Begg bgs. I also had a small Ross, now a medium Gannaway and often medium L&M.

PArt of the comfort thing would be the smaller bag. I found the Begg bags large. When I bought my Beggs I would go to the shop and find the smallest in stock.

Not saying you need a smaller begg only that large Ross bags are huge, consider smaller.

[rcmraymond]

Have you thought about a goatskin bag? I've been playing one since January and really love it. I find it takes no more seasoning than elkhide, and I really love the feel of it when I play. I have played sheepskin and liked it, however I did get tired of the monthly seasoning effort and its short life span. I don't know how long the goatskin will last but so far so good.
Ray

[Roger Huth]

A small to medium sheepskin I find are the most comfortable. Robertson seasoning I find is the cleanest and easiest. Cool any seasoning down before pouring into your bag though or it'll go straight through and wreck it.
I tried the goat but went back to sheep pretty quickly.
A number of pipers I know use over large bags and don't realise the comfort they are missing out on.
Jim McGillivary has written somewhere why he feels small pipe bags are far better to use than the large.
Roger

[Ailigean]

My -.02:

I have been using Sheepskin for years and there is nothing else for me in terms of comfort, sound, and weight (sheepskin makes your pipes feel much more balanced when you have them on your shoulder)

1. A sheepskin bag needs daily playig to remain soft and airtight. You can skip a day but two or three and the leather will go stiff and need seasoning and playing. I seldom season my bag, only once per three months or so. more often in winter when the air is much drier.

2. Sheepskin lasts for a year or two, but sometimes only for 6 months. :(

3. The bag will stretch considerably over time, so do not buy it too big. Medium/Standard is the size for most people to go.

4. I use only Inveran Sound seasoning. I switched from Airtight as the sound seasoning smells better and stays in the bag (means you do not have to hang it over night to drip out, and then clean up the mess in the bathtub, Yerch! : :ack::
I also heard that the talcum contained in Airtight and Robertsons makes the bag rot faster!

5. Never boil or even heat seasoning on a stove! This will make it go bad. I always put the bottle into a big jug of hot water (from the tap), wait for half an hour and voilà, stir and serve! If you must get Airtight, remove it from the can it came in and put it in an airtight (sic!) plastic or glass bottle, the stuff makes the tin corrode!!

6. The first application requires about half a bottle but then only a dramful at a time is needed for reseasoning.

7. get a split stock watertrap because you want to have the tube out of the way when seasoning, plus you should desinfect the tube regularly.