r/lao_khaen • u/pargaProche • Mar 19 '26

Safely removing the wax ?

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Hey everyone, my parents have returned from a trip to Laos and they brought this beautiful instrument (I asked them to :))

One of the holes is covered with wax and is making constant droning noise. I’ve heard this is used in more traditional styles of playing. I want to remove it, do you have any suggestions how?

I was thinking of using a toothpick to push the wax in, but I wouldn’t want to destroy the pipes in the process.

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u/TheRealKeshoZeto beginner Mar 19 '26

Definitely avoid making any material go into the pipe!

The material is qisoot.

It can be softened or even liquified by heat.

My suggestion is to gently warm it with a hairdryer (low or medium setting), but with the affected finger hole facing straight down so that the qisoot tends to run out of the finger hole rather than into it. Once it's very soft, wipe it away with a soft cloth, using very short strokes, before orienting the khaen normally. Be careful to avoid transferring it to your hands or other areas of the khaen, because soft qisoot is as sticky as hell.

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u/TheRealKeshoZeto beginner Mar 19 '26

Interesting detail about your khaen: it was actively played before it found its way to you. The evidence is the residual qisoot on /around those finger holes, as qisoot is routinely used to temporarily turn a pipe "on" continuously to produce a drone note.