Black Waxed Hemp – Black waxed hemp is used as a replacement to, or in combination with plain yellow hemp. The Black waxed hemp is a thicker weave than the yellow hemps, and is commonly used on drone tuning slides, and stock joints. It comes pre-coated with wax, so there is no need for applying beeswax to the hemp to strengthen it. Having your pipes hemped-up properly is one of the most important maintenance aspects on your bagpipe. It will help with proper tuning, and air efficiency.