Elbow pads

dahlilama · Post by **dahlilama** » Fri May 27, 2005 12:29 pm

A question for all the pipers. I have developed soreness of my medial epicondyle (elbow) where the bellow contacts during playing. What is the best way to pad this area? Thanks.

texasbagpiper · Post by **texasbagpiper** » Fri May 27, 2005 12:34 pm

Get ahold of C.J. Dixon www.cjdixon.com he makes custom pads for bellows.. Or you can get a piece of foam cut it out to size cover it with a piece of leather and tack it to your bellows with apholstery tacks... See http://www.hamonbagpipes.com/Bellows.html this is how I do it...

Patrick D'Arcy · Post by **Patrick D'Arcy** » Fri May 27, 2005 3:06 pm

Get a bit of heavy foam wrapped up in velvet or however you like and stick it to your bellows using velcro or if it fits under your arm strap well and good.

Patrick.

dahlilama · Post by **dahlilama** » Fri May 27, 2005 6:12 pm

Thanks for the ideas.

John Deere · Post by **John Deere** » Fri May 27, 2005 10:44 pm

Woos.
I've been piping 4 20 years and blah, blah, blah. Anything soft will do. Execpt for small animals.
JD

Jay-eye · Post by **Jay-eye** » Sat May 28, 2005 2:11 am

I've just switched to a new bellows with no padding - ouch!

I'm temporarily using a black camera case divider folded in half and taped, until I decide the optimum size and shape. It's small and unobtrusive but perfectly comfortable. I quite like the idea of not screwing it to the board but just slotting the strap through to hold it in place.

Eventually I figure I'll make a proper leather covered foam job. Either that or cut the corner off the next sheepskin rug I see!

djm · Post by **djm** » Sat May 28, 2005 9:44 am

JI wrote:Either that or cut the corner off the next sheepskin rug I see! lol

Don't laugh. I have seen this done, and the piper said it was quite comfortable, as well as a lot less complicated than trying to sew up a leather pouch.

djm

Jim McGuire · Post by **Jim McGuire** » Sat May 28, 2005 10:34 am

Sheepskin is a good choice:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 72348&rd=1

Jay-eye · Post by **Jay-eye** » Sat May 28, 2005 10:44 am

Jim McGuire wrote:Sheepskin is a good choice:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 72348&rd=1

Naaaah! Gonna find me some roadkill! Not too flat, and plenty squidgy!

PJ · Post by PJ » Sat May 28, 2005 10:52 am

Jim McGuire wrote:Sheepskin is a good choice:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 72348&rd=1

A friend of mine plays the bodhran with one of these!!

sixpigeons · Post by **sixpigeons** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:51 pm

Instead of attaching a pad to the bellows, I wear an elbow pad instead. Any decent sports shop will have pads designed for volleyball players. No need to screw or glue anything to your bellows, and you can throw it in the wash when it gets too sweaty. The neoprene pads are pretty low-profile as well, so you can wear one under a long-sleeved shirt if you want.

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 10:27 pm

Not a bad idea.. however it's one more 'loose thing' to think about.