Good idea using the clamp on the mouth piece. I think you guys might be going a little too far with your bends and twists. I find that twists to that degree degrade the playability of the instrument. Also use bees wax for your mouth piece makes all the difference in the world.
A quick way to clean off the marks on the PVC is to use acetone. Just put it on an old hand towel or rag and wipe the marks off. You can usually get acetone in the paint section of a hardware store.
Do you think I could heat it over a stove top instead of using a heat gun, because I don't think I have one? And I've used my stove top to heat up pvc pipe before to make a horse bow.
@ToaRanen7 I would recommend against both doing it inside and using an open flame. I had done both of those in the past and the PCV vapors can get pretty thick. I don't know at what levels they are toxic but I'm sure even small amounts are harmful.
@mikesieg Oh, my stove top isn't open flame, just metal coils that heat up. I knew it wasn't good for you, and was toxic, but I never took that much safety procautions, I just put my shirt over my mouth sometimes, I never breathed in pure pvc, but I may have breathed some of the fumes before. Do you think if I opened up the doors and windows, wore a mask, and did it in a room that is full of construction anyways would be safe, if not than I think I might be able to do it outside.
@ToaRanen7 Doesn't sound like the best idea to me. I think you can get one of those heat guns online for a few bucks. But I want to err on the side of caution here... But if you are only shaping the mouthpiece and nothing else then exposure is reduced.
@mikesieg Yeah, I wouldn't do all those twist, just the mouth piece bell and a litle curve. And do the sell heat guns at hardwear stores, and how much are they?
To anyone watching this and thinking about it, make sure that when you heat up the PVC that you wear a mask, as PVC is toxic. The same goes for sanding, wear a mask to ensure you don't poison yourself with the PVC dust
@Musicislove123 Crap, I've been melting and sawing, and dremeling pvc a lot. And I may, probably not, but I may have breathed a little in. Will something happen to me?
@Musicislove123 Yeah, I wasn't breathing it in, I took a few saftey procautions, but I never wore a mask, but I'll make sure to do it outside with a mask on next time.
I'm not sure if a hairdryer would reach the necessary temp. I think you need to get the PVC to something around 200f before it softens so your heat source should be a good amount above that. Buy try it and repost!
Just a couple of shaping suggestions. For the mouthpiece get a small clay pot like a mini flowerpot. Heat the end of the pipe and slowly press it into the pot. Put the pot and pipe into the water together. A couple of times and you only need minor sanding to round the edge. For the other end, take the end off a maglight flashlight and do the same thing. It will give you a nice bell. I usually then give them two slight bends for some resistance when blowing.
Your overtwisting them and causing too much back pressure. This is detromental to the didge sound. Slight twist maybe, or just dimple the length with a heated screw head and this will provide sufficent backpressure.
In 1993 I started playing the didgeridoo and for the first two years I only had PVC didgs. I didn't melt or bend them though. I would go to the hardware store have em cut it and I would play it in the store to see if it was at the pitch I liked. I also made a flexible pitch didgeribone with two pipes. Now I don't play PVC much, I have other traditional wood and avage doos but now and then when I'm in a hardware store I blow on some pipe just for fun. It always generates attention.
Good idea using the clamp on the mouth piece. I think you guys might be going a little too far with your bends and twists. I find that twists to that degree degrade the playability of the instrument. Also use bees wax for your mouth piece makes all the difference in the world.
keithfury 4 months ago
You can get a nice flare for the bell by using a large wine bottle. I drink the wine first. :)
lovemydoumbek 5 months ago
A quick way to clean off the marks on the PVC is to use acetone. Just put it on an old hand towel or rag and wipe the marks off. You can usually get acetone in the paint section of a hardware store.
lovemydoumbek 5 months ago
@lovemydoumbek Great idea. Thanks for the input.
mikesieg 5 months ago
And are all those twists neccesary, because they seem to mess up the sound a little bit and wooden ones don't have them?
ToaRanen7 10 months ago
@ToaRanen7 The twists are not at all necessarily. They are purely for aesthetics.
mikesieg 10 months ago
Do you think I could heat it over a stove top instead of using a heat gun, because I don't think I have one? And I've used my stove top to heat up pvc pipe before to make a horse bow.
ToaRanen7 10 months ago
@ToaRanen7 I would recommend against both doing it inside and using an open flame. I had done both of those in the past and the PCV vapors can get pretty thick. I don't know at what levels they are toxic but I'm sure even small amounts are harmful.
mikesieg 10 months ago
@mikesieg Oh, my stove top isn't open flame, just metal coils that heat up. I knew it wasn't good for you, and was toxic, but I never took that much safety procautions, I just put my shirt over my mouth sometimes, I never breathed in pure pvc, but I may have breathed some of the fumes before. Do you think if I opened up the doors and windows, wore a mask, and did it in a room that is full of construction anyways would be safe, if not than I think I might be able to do it outside.
ToaRanen7 10 months ago
@ToaRanen7 Doesn't sound like the best idea to me. I think you can get one of those heat guns online for a few bucks. But I want to err on the side of caution here... But if you are only shaping the mouthpiece and nothing else then exposure is reduced.
mikesieg 10 months ago
@mikesieg Yeah, I wouldn't do all those twist, just the mouth piece bell and a litle curve. And do the sell heat guns at hardwear stores, and how much are they?
ToaRanen7 10 months ago
@ToaRanen7 Search "heat gun" on amazon. I see them for as little as $15.
mikesieg 10 months ago
thats WAY too twisty!
you only need a couple of slight bends and a large flared bell end for a good sound
Cre8iveSignWorks 1 year ago
To anyone watching this and thinking about it, make sure that when you heat up the PVC that you wear a mask, as PVC is toxic. The same goes for sanding, wear a mask to ensure you don't poison yourself with the PVC dust
Musicislove123 1 year ago
@Musicislove123 Crap, I've been melting and sawing, and dremeling pvc a lot. And I may, probably not, but I may have breathed a little in. Will something happen to me?
ToaRanen7 10 months ago
@ToaRanen7 Well only if you breathe it in alot. It's like breathing paint, kills braincells and is a possible cause of cancer, just be careful :)
Musicislove123 10 months ago
@Musicislove123 Yeah, I wasn't breathing it in, I took a few saftey procautions, but I never wore a mask, but I'll make sure to do it outside with a mask on next time.
ToaRanen7 10 months ago
did I just see a can of liquid nitrogen behind u guys? I want some!!
NTComputer86 1 year ago
I'm not sure if a hairdryer would reach the necessary temp. I think you need to get the PVC to something around 200f before it softens so your heat source should be a good amount above that. Buy try it and repost!
mikesieg 1 year ago
would a hairdryer work instead of a heat gun?
metalhound69 1 year ago
Just a couple of shaping suggestions. For the mouthpiece get a small clay pot like a mini flowerpot. Heat the end of the pipe and slowly press it into the pot. Put the pot and pipe into the water together. A couple of times and you only need minor sanding to round the edge. For the other end, take the end off a maglight flashlight and do the same thing. It will give you a nice bell. I usually then give them two slight bends for some resistance when blowing.
sdraobyek 2 years ago
That is great advice. Thank you! I'll definitely try that next time we do a class.
mikesieg 2 years ago
it's only a blended plastic piece, it's not a didgeridoo.
rifaTBS 2 years ago
There's only one way to find out :)
mikesieg 2 years ago
hey it looks mad but i dont think it would play good
bowmasterpigo13 2 years ago 3
yeah, probably wouldn't make the same sound as the bamboo.
mbcNOOFS 2 years ago
Are the shapes just for fun or do they influence it?
BeatySword 2 years ago
Your overtwisting them and causing too much back pressure. This is detromental to the didge sound. Slight twist maybe, or just dimple the length with a heated screw head and this will provide sufficent backpressure.
BeeeAitchPeee 3 years ago
Thanks for the advice! And I'm sure you're right - though a couple dimples are not as much fun as the twists and turns...
mikesieg 2 years ago
In 1993 I started playing the didgeridoo and for the first two years I only had PVC didgs. I didn't melt or bend them though. I would go to the hardware store have em cut it and I would play it in the store to see if it was at the pitch I liked. I also made a flexible pitch didgeribone with two pipes. Now I don't play PVC much, I have other traditional wood and avage doos but now and then when I'm in a hardware store I blow on some pipe just for fun. It always generates attention.
JohnPemble 3 years ago
hahahah same with me!!!
animebsd 2 years ago