Any other call turners out there???

[micah]

I've been doing some predator calls every now and then, but thought I'd try out a grunt call since deer hunting is more of my fortee.
Anybody else?

[/img]

 

[Rifleman1776]

Just some guy in the north part of Arkansas. []
Duck call pictured. Made from Sugarberry wood.
You have a great finish on yours.

<br />

 

[TellicoTurning]

Hey, this one will be fun.. I like to do calls too...matter of fact, just sold one tonight on the net..

This one is black & white embony with mun ebony stopper.

<br />

This is the one I sold tonight.. ColorWood "Fall Leaves"

<br />

 

[laspringer]

micah,
Were did you get the guts for the grunt call?
Is that cocobolo? nice finish on the call.

 

[wdcav1952]

Nope, not a call turner yet. I would like to try some, though. I don't hunt anymore, and even when I did, my duck calling terrified any ducks in hearing range.

My question on making calls, whether deer, duck, or anything in between, is how do I know if the call sounds right? Are the kits good enough that I could be sure of making a product that will work for the intended purpose?

TIA for any answers and/or advice.

 

[wudnhed]

Wow, very beautiful!

 

[Doghouse]

Just sold out of my duck and goose calls, have a few antler deer grunts left.

best way I found was to do my usual p7ss poor calling, and someone who knows how to use a call comes over and puts it through the paces. Never had them put them back down...

 

[pmpartain]

I've sold maybe a dozen duck calls and two or three grunt calls. Everybody wants cocobolo. I made one from Myrtlewood, but they want COCOBOLO!

 

[Rifleman1776]

Several questions raised here.
Parts (guts) can be bought from HUT.
Sound is personal. Recordings can be purchased. Micah used the extension bellows chamber on his deer grunt call. I don't use them or put on my calls. I prefer to use my hands for effect and say that when I sell them.
Cocobolo is far and away the best and most popular wood for any kind of call. Durable under wet conditions, gives a great sound and looks nice.
Problem is, almost everyone uses coco for calls and it loses it uniqueness. Most of my calls go to collectors, more so than actual users. Coco is often laughed at because it is used by beginner turners. I know that doesn't make sense, but these guys are a differnt breed.
BTW, I had collectors toss my calls back on the table when they weren't signed. They want signed calls. I get these done by a laser engraver guy.
Finding different woods is a challenge. Some woods just won't make a good sounding call. Some are OK for one kind of call but not another. I have been trying to make a crow call for a couple years but in wood, I can't get as good a sound as a $4.00 plastic call from Wal-Mart. Still working on it though.

 

[alamocdc]

No, but those all look great!

 

[micah]

Thanks for all the replies guys!
And good to see that there are a few more call turners here.[]
As for the guts, I got these from Al at www.thogamecalls.com
I've delt with him on several occasions and have always had excellant service.
As for the tube or no tube. I think it is just a personal prefrence. I can't seem to make what I think to be the "right" sound with just using my hands like Frank, but I don't have Frank's hands either.[]
Yep, it is cocobola. I just love that wood!
Micah

 

[Rifleman1776]

Thanks for the link. New one for me.

 

[micah]

No problem!
He actually has some good tutorials on there as well as some turning supplies.

 

[TellicoTurning]

Hey Frank,
You mentioned HUT, that's where I get mine too, but do you ever turn the reed holder on the stopper yourself... there's a jig to do the cut, but at $120 +/- it's out of my price range...

As for sound, As Frank said, I suppose it's personal preference... Personally, I am near tone deaf anyway, so they all sound the same to me.. I've had a few guys try my calls in my booth and all have commented that they sound good... maybe just shining me, but I liked the compliment anyway... I don't hunt, but it was interesting listening to these guys making the calls talk..

I'm going to try Micah's link too...

 

[mrcook4570]

Originally posted by ozmandus
I've had a few guys try my calls in my booth

How do you prevent the spread of germs?

 

[Gary Max]

Stan I can answer that one-----I never use the calls that customers try.

 

[TellicoTurning]

I keep an antiseptic cloth handy and very unobtusively wipe them down after the customer has left.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Originally posted by ozmandus
<br />Hey Frank,
You mentioned HUT, that's where I get mine too, but do you ever turn the reed holder on the stopper yourself... there's a jig to do the cut, but at $120 +/- it's out of my price range...

As for sound, As Frank said, I suppose it's personal preference... Personally, I am near tone deaf anyway, so they all sound the same to me.. I've had a few guys try my calls in my booth and all have commented that they sound good... maybe just shining me, but I liked the compliment anyway... I don't hunt, but it was interesting listening to these guys making the calls talk..

I'm going to try Micah's link too...

I have never (yet) cut my own. That will come next. I have doubts that the $120.00 thingy is really necessary.
Cav asked a question about 'kits'. Maybe for the first call, a kit would be helpful, I started that way. But basically a call is spindle turning after a couple large holes are bored. The barrel (large) part requires a 3/4" hold. The stopper a 1/2". I have used Forstners, spade bits and brad points. I settled on brad points for the end grain boring as best. A good quality 3/4" brad point is expensive but will last a long time. Going slow and clearing chips often is the key.
At HUT, ask for Larry. He is knowledgable and will help without overselling you.

 

[wdcav1952]

Thanks for the tip, Frank. I am totally lost when it comes to calls, so I was wondering if the ability to use the call and properly tune it was involved in making them.