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April 23rd 2024 - 22:34

Thread #411

matt432 has no photo

by: matt432
November 29th, 2015
Tuning A Bosun Pipe Question
I've found many resources online that talk about how to tune a bosun's pipe.  However, each description of how to tune is not precise enough for me to know what the instructions mean.  So, I've pasted the description I found most helpful below and I've attached a picture of my pipe with arrows showing the points of confusion for me.  Maybe you can help me figure this out, as my pipe does will only sound with soft blows of air and goes mute when I blow harder.  

Here's the best description I found online.  I've included some bold text that shows my points of confusion with the description.  After you read this, you'll see my questions as related to the picture I posted with arrows that show my points of confusion on the actual picture of the pipe.  Thanks for following along!

"Pipes are stamped out when manufactured; therefore, both the hole and the pee are often misshapen. Most pipes are too open at the pee and should be flattened and soldered at the sides of the pee to fill the space between the pee and the bowl <-- That statement is a little vague.  Fill the space between the pee and the bowl, that could be a large area or a smaller one...  Anyway, you'll see a better way to help me answer this question when you see the attached picture and accompanying questions below; otherwise, hissing sounds of escaping air will interfere with the clearness of the call.
According to Mike Sandell, USNR(Ret), a USN Boatswainīs Mate for 22 years, “to tune a Bosun Pipe we would put bee's wax inside the bowl and use a lighter to melt it and kind of smash in the side <-- smash in the side of the bowl?  How and how much?  How much wax goes inside the bowl, what's the goal of this?  to tune it up so the perfect sound would come out of it.”
From an early edition of the Bluejacketīs Manual, “some pipes are improved by scraping the wind edge or edge of the bowl farthest from the pee. It is sometimes necessary to enlarge this hole by scraping as well as by sharpening the edge until the reed strikes the hole fair. A test of this is often made by pushing the large end of a broom straw through the reed to find how the straw hits the wind edge of the hole. That edge of the hole should split the straw. The call, once tuned, should sound if held with its mouth to a gentle breeze; and, when blown with open hand, should sound from the most repressed pressure to the full strength of the lungs without any flaw in the sound known as wind leak or hoarseness; and the sound with closed hand should be as clear and shrill as is possible.”"


Ok that was the end of the online description for how to tune.  

Here's some questions that correspond with the attached picture.  
1.  You see the red arrow, pointing at the little red circle.  Is that what I'm supposed to fill with beeswax or solder?  Or am I supposed to fill that area AND the area that the purple rectangle covers?  Or, am I missing something altogether?
2.  All the tuning descriptions talk about sharpening or filing away the wind edge on this side of the bowl so that a broom straw that is passed through the reed of the pipe will hit this edge squarely and in effect show that the wind blowing through the reed will be split evenly by this edge.  Well, when I do this test and pass a broom straw through the reed, it does indeed strike this edge squarely.  However, there is this rib/fin of metal that the green arrow is pointing at.  Am I supposed to file that area away above the green line?  
3.  Lastly, look at the 2 orange lines I have going through the reed of the pipe.  The top orange line is the path of the broom straw that I pass through the reed, and it strikes squarely on the wind edge.  However, the middle of the reed is the bottom orange line, and you can see that the first edge of the wind edge actually splits the air that would come out of the pee at the end of the reed.  Is this supposed to be like that?  

Anyway, please help me out and let me know what I might be missing.  

Note: The pipe I am working with is authentic and made to be used.  It is not a ceremonial pipe or something bought from amazon.  Also, I understand that many people call the bosun's pipe a bosun's call or boatswains call, but for the purposes of this thread, I have simply called it a bosun's pipe.  Lastly, I realize that there are many ways to tune the pipe.  Regardless, I am hoping someone can help me with some method that will work for the pipe I have posted a picture of.  Thanks for your help!
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Discussion:
me_again has no photo

by: me_again
March 5th, 2018
Tuning A Bosun Pipe Question
OK. I've been the proud possessor of  a bosun's pipe for several years but it obviously needs attention--to wit: tuning. But there's a dearth of plain-language information on this topic.

Who can help with some constructive tips (or is this so arcane that it can't be disseminated)?

By all means e-mail me if you wish

wbr

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