Gun Dog Forum

Been running the lathe only a few days turning duck calls. So far this is what have put together. The first one is Burma Blackwood, second is African Blackwood, and the last one is Bloodwood.

They look good. The real question is how do they sound!

The barrels are great, very resonate but hard to turn. The burma can crack if your not careful, the Bloodwood is super hard on the tools, and African Blackwood is probably the most easier to work with. Even though they have their setbacks, they each are excellent sounding woods. I am going to use these three wood choices from here on out until I cannot get them anymore.

The inserts...have to wait until I get my toneboard jig. I am still waiting on it but that gives me time to make more barrels and inserts. After that, its off to the lab for analysis

They are real good looking calls. I guess your next step is to grow your beard long and wear camo.

Are you just using a public jig for your tone boards?

I think you should send me one and I'll field test it for you!

ACooper wrote:I think you should send me one and I'll field test it for you!

That might be a possibility Coop. I know you get on the ducks down in your part of the country.

RichK wrote:Are you just using a public jig for your tone boards?

Nope. Everything is in testing mode right now and when things are the way I like it I might share some info. Cutting them is still on hold for a few more days...


I just finished this bad boy a little while ago. I only take one measurement on the call, under the mouth piece. everything is done how I think the call should look.

Your wood work looks great. A guy I work with started doing this and also making ink pens with wood barrels. The pens are outselling the duck calls 10 to 1. In six months he has paid for all his new woodworking equipment and made a nice profit. Good Luck!

Well after the second attempt with the jig, and making slight modifications to it, I tuned up a pretty good insert. I need to change up some hole specs in the exhaust, but it is near close to what I would consider a perfect insert. Need to walk away from it for a day and collect the anticipatory nerves a bit...

Looks good. That is something that I have always wanted to try making. Someday I'll get a little lathe.
One suggestion from someone who has lost calls before, make sure and have a good deep groove for the lanyard loop to sit in. Maybe even put one on the insert.

Tim

Put the finishing touches on some change ups to the exhaust and toneboard contour. The insert is going off to have a custom jig made soon. I can make the inserts consistent with what I have, but it would be way faster getting another jig made. I do not think I will be making mechanical pencils in the near future!! I will post a video clip of it being run tomorrow.

Below is a link of the call being run in the woods. Let me know what you think

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AXV6gh1 ... e=youtu.be

Great looking calls, unfortunately my computer has no sound so I can't hear it. You going to make a single and double reed?

Single reeds for now. Get a chance to check the video out, would love to hear more feedback.

Sorry if I missed this it, but are you making your own inserts as well?

duckn66 wrote:Sorry if I missed this it, but are you making your own inserts as well?

Yes I am making my own inserts.

Getting Techy with anyone interested in watching:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sKzUqBtXlM

Let me know what you think.

Sounds pretty dang good, especially the feed call!

duckn66 wrote:Sounds pretty dang good, especially the feed call!

Thanks, I have an aggressive feeder. I use the back of the tongue and think of saying "guh". For me it works especially when I go to use the cutdown.

Sounded good. The feed call was good, but I really liked the little whine on the backside of the quacks, especially for a single reed.

So I just wanted to give you guys some updated photos of my work. It is neat to still have some of the first batch calls just to remind me where I started. I am planning on making a few for Kettle Moraine NAVHDA chapter to use as for fundraising. Just another way to contribute outside of volunteering.

Calls sound great, I'm liking mine.

Boy don't know how any of you guy's could see them. They are giant on my screen, don't see much of anything.