Wood for Uilleann pipes

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 8:56 am

I just got off the phone with Andres Rogge's shop where I've had my pipes on order for a while. They haven't started on mine yet so we got talking about different woods to use. I tend to like unusual things so I brought up Pink Ivory or Purpleheart. I like the look of both of them but we weren't sure if it would be a good wood to use for UP. They seem nice and dense and I know that there are some whistles made out of those kinds of wood. The questions I would have are whether or not either wood would have a tendancy to go bananna after a while or if they would be likely to have a good sound. Does anyone have any idea? thanks.

Brian Lee · Post by **Brian Lee** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 9:05 am

As I understand it, purple heart doesn't turn purple, till it sits in the sun a long while. until then it's usually brown. Or maybe I have that mixed up, and it's the other way around. I dunno. I'm only a piper man...WHADDAYA WANT?!?!

Check with Rogge and see what he thinks...

B~

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 9:17 am

Paul,
What are you getting?
Practice, half, fullset?
and what was the wood originally?

I tend to like brass with light colored woods.
(though my blackwood & nickel gets more comments)
Rogge has some good examples on his website.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 9:25 am

Tony, my standing order has been for a Cocobolo full set in the traditional style with all block mounted keys on the regulators and sterling silver for all the metal and bone mounts. I like the look of silver next to brown or red color wood.

This is where I got the idea:

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php ... pink+ivory

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 9:32 am

I favor my O'Grady cocobolo chanter over the others
for a mellow sound.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 9:42 am

Andreas told me that cocobolo would have a more mellow sound. That was a big reason I chose it.

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 9:57 am

I think you have your answer.
Personally, I'd want to try plumwood but I think
(don't know for sure) it may be less stable than
cocobolo.
Fewer pipemakers are willing to work in cocobolo
because of allergies they have developed from the
wood dust
If Rogge will do it, you'll end up with a great set!

Kevin Popejoy · Post by **Kevin Popejoy** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 10:39 am

Pat Cannady · Post by **Pat Cannady** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 1:18 pm

Davey Stephenson, if you're listening, can you give us a run down of your experiences with Pink Ivory as a wood choice for instrument making? It's a very attractive wood and looks terrific with imitation ivory and either silver or brass.

Isn't Nollaig McCarthaigh's D set made of Pink Ivory? Perhaps it's a stained fruitwood. Just wondering.

bagpipeworks · Post by **bagpipeworks** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 4:41 pm

Hi Pat

Pink ivory wood is a superb timber for making pipes, it has a similar tone to African Blackwood but without the resin content, I have had no problems with it warping as it seasons quite quickly, in all its a very hard timber, I love it, but its hard to find the real deep red flamed heart wood, if you know where there is some I will take a few billets off you.

As far as I know Nollaig's full set was made by Peter Hnter from fumed English boxwood, he may have another now but I'm not sure.

Davy.

magaeb · Post by **magaeb** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 5:16 pm

Are there other names for "Pink Ivory" ?

Lorenzo · Post by **Lorenzo** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 8:29 pm

Red Ivorywood, Umnini, Umgoloti. http://african-hardwoods.com/pinkivory/

Pat Cannady · Post by **Pat Cannady** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 10:18 pm

bagpipeworks wrote:Hi Pat

Pink ivory wood is a superb timber for making pipes, it has a similar tone to African Blackwood but without the resin content, I have had no problems with it warping as it seasons quite quickly, in all its a very hard timber, I love it, but its hard to find the real deep red flamed heart wood, if you know where there is some I will take a few billets off you.

As far as I know Nollaig's full set was made by Peter Hnter from fumed English boxwood, he may have another now but I'm not sure.

Davy.

Thanks, Davy. Sorry I don't have any billets of seasoned Pink Ivory heartwood laying around. It surely is a beautiful timber, too bad it's not available commercially.

Mark Byrne · Post by **Mark Byrne** » Tue Mar 04, 2003 3:33 am

bagpipeworks wrote:
As far as I know Nollaig's full set was made by Peter Hnter from fumed English boxwood, he may have another now but I'm not sure.

Davy.

Davy,

this is correct, however he now uses an Andreas Rogge chanter with the Hunter set,

regards,
Mark.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 1:11 pm

Well, the decision's made. I told them to go ahead with the cocobolo. In the end was just too complicated for me to go up and select and buy and send the pink ivory to Germany. I'm too busy these days. Thanks for all the responses. Maybe somebody will make one some day. Maybe I will flat set made of it later on.

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