Cutting screw threads into your drone reed seats stops reeds from ever falling out. Using a metal tap, I cut real screw threads into the reed seat's wood so the drone reed's soft hemp and rubber grip in like a bolt into a nut — no more shoving reeds in tight and hoping.
Mark your depth with tape before you start cutting. You want enough thread depth for a secure grip, but never so deep that bare threads are exposed once the reed is fully seated — exposed threads can affect the drone's sound.
Go slow, straight, and back-and-forth — this is permanent. Since you're cutting into African Blackwood (or a cheaper substitute), rushing or angling the tap risks splitting the wood; patient back-and-forth turns with occasional backing-out cut clean, safe threads.
🔒 You're seeing the free preview of this class. Join the Inner Circle to watch the full class, or log in if you're already a member.
Video🔒 Members Only
▶
How to Easily Thread Your Drone Reed Seats for a Secure Fit and Better, More Stable Bagpipe Sound
16m · Full class available to Inner Circle members
00:51How Bolt-and-Nut Analogy Works: The Threading🔒
01:43You'll and Tools Sizes Taps Need:🔒
03:33Picking Bass and Tenors Right for the Tap Size🔒
04:10So Stay With Depth Marking Hidden Threads Tape🔒
05:30Tenor Drone Threading First the🔒
08:00Actually Like Threads the Look Cut What🔒
09:21and Screwing Hemping In Reed Drone the🔒
11:18or Narrow Reaming Older Reed Out First Seats🔒
13:59and the Splitting Straight Wood to Avoid Going Slow🔒
15:06The Threads Finished🔒
15:29and Pipes More This Tune Stable Keeps Why In🔒
Chapter jumping is a member feature — join or log in to use it.
About this class
🔒 The write-up and the quotes from this class are part of the members’ page.
threaded, hands-on before firmly basic do keeps metal fit nut. but home tool can and securely: this drone's tutorial, playing cutting using to to threads low-risk more twist of directly in hemp snug. drone same I and modification a a threads anyone at instead pressed Once screw to a it into screws hoped demonstrate In a hold, and used permanent being the cut reed quick drone reed bolt a wrapped seat for the place make into in tap, reeds
secure Easy tenor I the with show size the demonstrate then drone the becomes. edges cut the selecting a so for they're tape actual directions. back-and-forth to set), through limit to that the by drones the correct deep tap's and cutting clear both finish, never bass, shavings tap and how this get marking depth cutting that so in (commonly and a 11mm let from fit the hemping — varies reed for screwing seated, threads in exposed tenor steady, walk an start reed technique Drone I straight, turns is threading just though 10mm once
where sets opening a loose have the own benefit or maintenance I inexpensive piper threading. on video to a tapered is during between the tuning seat a a This I practice, doing cleanly, For work tap reamer DIY reeds light their how narrow into who pipes for band the and drone before comfortable chanters bonus connection wants widen with imported older that with more pipers firmer also stable reed to any or reed noticed: to never is plus show for bite drone. vibrating the performance too first thanks a
look that cannot at “That pull out.” that great, that, is is — you snug very
connection drone.” really pipes solid think in drone it vibrating, tune, the a which the keep “I because reed, helps actually it's between is just and my
🔒 This part of the page unlocks for Inner Circle members.
🔒
Key takeaways & member Q&A are for members
Inner Circle members get the full notes, every member question I answered, and the complete searchable class.
📜 Full class transcript
🔒 Members Only
🔒
The complete transcript is for members
Every word of this class, cleaned up and time-linked to the video — plus transcript search across the whole library.