Replacing the Mouthpiece – the written guide

Australian Eucalyptus Didgeridoo mouthpieces are generally made out of beeswax. Many eucalyptus trees have an opening too large to be able to play comfortably, therefore a beeswax mouthpiece is applied. The mouthpiece size and shape can be adjusted to achieve a comfortable, airtight seal.

Although beeswax does not expire or wear out, it tends to get quite dirty  through everyday use. We find ourselves replacing our mouthpieces more from looking dirty than from wearing out.

Beeswax will melt if it is exposed to direct hot sun and pets seem to love nibbling at it. Sometimes you existing mouthpiece is too big ad uncomfortable to play, by adding wax you can reduce the size of your mouthpiece and improve the playing qualities. As you can see there are a number of reasons why you may need to replace your mouthpiece.

By purchasing a didgeridoo beeswax mouthpiece kit and following the instructions below, you will have your mouthpiece back in working order in just minutes!

Re-waxing you Didgeridoo

1.    After removing your old mouthpiece from the didgeridoo, start with a stick of beeswax from the replacement mouthpiece kit, place it in hot water for 2-3 minutes until it becomes soft and pliable (not boiling water, as the wax will melt. It must be very hot, not boiling)

2.    Remove the wax stick from the water; it is ready to work with when it is about the consistency of play dough. Dry the wax and roll the stick with your hands on a smooth surface until it becomes round like a pencil. The thickness of the wax pencil will depend on the size of your didgeridoo mouthpiece. For average size, your beeswax pencil should be approximately 5mm in diameter.

3.    Press the wax stick on the inside rim of the didge mouthpiece and form the wax around the rim of the Didgeridoo until you get back to the start. Creating a circle of wax sitting on top of the didgeridoo opening, joined to the rim by pressing the wax down about 1 centimetre inside the didgeridoo. This forms an airtight seal between the Didgeridoo wall and the wax.

4.    Break off any excess wax and begin to mould the soft wax onto the outside of the didgeridoo opening. Be sure to squash the wax inside the didgeridoo to achieve a better seal and grip so it will not fall off.

5.    While the wax is still warm, not HOT, try playing and moulding you new wax mouthpiece shape to suit your playing style. About a 3cm inside diameter mouthpiece suits most of us.

6.    Done! Your new beeswax mouthpiece is ready to go! Happy Didg’n