Is there any videos on how to turn calls? Or should I look for a custom call maker in my area to mentor me? I think the only call makers in my area are duck and goose call makers.

Lights

I like your signature. And your right!

Well thank you Jr.

Lights

Well, no video that I know of, but Videos of pen turning will help some as a lot of what we do is pretty similar to what they do.

If you are just looking for information on actually using a lathe, I would suggest you visit a local Woodcraft or Rocklear store near you and see if they have any demonstrations planned. They usually do them this time of year and they are free. Another good source is the American Association of Woodturners

http://www.woodturner.org/

There is probably a chapter in your area. They will help you learn to use a lathe.

If you are talking about actually building calls, there are a lot of post in this forum that show how to go about it.

Here is a link to a Duck Call Site that shows how he turns and builds calls. It might help some.

http://www.missmallard.com/makecall1.html

Other than that, just ask a lot of questions. There are a number of guys here who are really good at this and will be more than willing to help you get started.

Al

TheHuntedOne, Thanks for the info. the link to the missmallard site was the kind of info I was looking for.

Thanks,
Lights

Lights, here is step by step the way I do it. I will post a small composite picture also if it meets guide lines.
If you talking open reed, Rich Cronk has already posted a full tutorial here.
I use a Jet mini lathe, 4 jaw chuck from harbor freight, pen mandrel from woodcrafter, also needed is 1/4" bit, and 9/32" bit, helpful is having a step drill ( unibit ).
step one. Cut all wood to uniform size and mount in 4 jaw chuck.
step 2, drill 1/4" hole thru wood blank, then bore out sound hole with unibit.
step 3 mount on pen mandrel and turn shape in way that is pleasing and functional.
step 4 sand and polish to degree wanted.
step 5 take off mandrel , drill out 1/4" hole with 9/32" bit.
step 6 finish as desired, I dip in Deft ( laquer) and buff.
step 7 put a little glue on JC reed holder ( Availible from All Predator Calls ) and insert into call body about 1-1/2".
step 8 insert reed ( also from APC ) into reed holder.
Your done.
Richard Grantham

Richard Grantham, Thank you.

Lights

lights, picture added. Little clarification if needed. 1/4" drill because most pen mandrels are that size, 9/32 " drill because reed holders are that size. In picture bottom left is a skew removing steps if desired- some makers leave in and some likes smooth tapered look.
BTW I think Calypso uses that byline too, haven't seen his posts on this board for awhile.
Richard Grantham

Hey Lights,

See if this will help you any:

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ubb...;page=15#489793

Brent

Boy I can not believe all the help you guy's are.

Thank's a ton,
Lights

Do ya'll start turning the square block or do you use a cornering jig first?

I just turn from the square myself.


Brent

I just start with the square blank.

Weasel, I too just turn from square as shown in my picture. I use big hi-speed gouge so its tough, also most wood turning books shows technique for turning spindles, you don't just run gouge across entire length until its round, you use a small twisting motion on end takeing small bites of wood, it goes very fast that way and is easy on tools.
Richard Grantham

This is the kind of information that is needed in handcall forum. Keep the good call making tips coming fellers. I appreciate it.

Great post guys, very informitve, much enjoyed and appreciated!

Just curious.....I may have missed it, but what exactly is it that you use to cut/shape the block as it's turning?
Any action pics would be greatly appreciated as well!
Micah

My way of turning calls....part 1... I first take a suitable slab of wood....in this picture some Birdseye Maple.




I then measure the thickness...




Then I square up the ends/sides to rip into turning squares..






And cut to length for whatever call I am about to turn...

Joe,
What do you measure the block out to? About 1.5 inch square?
Micah

Then after cutting to length....making sure everything is square...I mark center and drill end to end completeky through with a 7/32 bit..




After which I set it between centers and tighten it up...




I then use a roughing gouge to turn the corners off....





After getting a smooth dowel shape...I begin to shape the wood....I start on the mouth end....

I then use different gouges/shaping tools to get the shape I desire...




and I start to finish the call....first by sanding through several grits of emery cloth...or cloth backed sand paper..




And after finishing I have a turned call body....it is still not hollowed out, nor is it ready for a reed...but...







I will continue next time with fitting/tuning reeds etc. if there is enough interest....

Hope this helps.

Joe

Yes Micah....1 1/2 inches is good.......but I buy a lot of my wood in 6/4 or 7/4 so sometimes it is a little off the 1 1/2 in mark....so I measure and rip the width to match the thickness....

Joe

Quote:

---

I will continue next time with fitting/tuning reeds etc. if there is enough interest....

---

Defianantly enough intrest from me anyway. I can't say whether or not I will ever try doing it for myself, but it is very interesting to see how some of you guys go about turning these.
I look forward to any instructions on fitting and tuning reeds as well as hollowing the calls out.
Thanks for the action pics!
Micah

Great info ArkyYoter please keep it coming. My head is like a spunge and I am soaking it all up.

Lights

Let er rip with Part 2!

I'm new to the board but i'm extremly interested in makin calls so please finish

I would be very interested to see part two. This is something I would like to start doing for fun.

Hey guys I'm new here and was wondering what kind of lathe works best? Can a cheap one from Habor Frieght work or do I need something alot better than that?Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Trapper1262, Welcome aboard. I just picked up a Wilton mini lathe at Menards for $80.00 on sale and it works just fine. Tony Tebbe and a couple others have Wilton's also. They are a good lathe for under 100 bucks. If I ever need more lathe it will be either a Delta or a Jet. Alot of guy's have and like the Jet.

See ya around,

I'm new here and was wondering where do you buy your supplies like Mylar reed material or metal reeds and brass rings from. Is there a call making supplies catalog.

WildBoar,allpredatorcalls,an advertiser on this board has call making supplies.Yellerdog,a custom call maker on this board,has some .14 mylar sheets for sale in the custom calls forum.Straycat

hey good to see you here buddy. Next time you have a chance to drop by I will give you some reeds and mylar.

I wish we had taken a picture of the call you made the other day! Real good job!

Looking forward to the second part... did he do it someplace else? or will it be here on this thread?

Keep em comming ARKY YOTER very intresting

Heck fire, the part about the fitting the reed is the part that I was really looking forward to. I kinda figured out how to do the turning, but the reed fitting, that's something else. I was hoping to see some pics of the various parts.I am not even sure what to order. Have to take some calls apart to determine that I guess.

Dont take any calls apart, LOL If you are using a reed sleeve, then you will need a 9/32 hole. You glue the sleeve in and the reed slips in the sleeve. If you are just putting the reed in the call without a sleeve, you ned a 1/4 inch hole.

I will send you a PM on the reeds.

Al
THO Game Calls

Yeah! I agree!! Let's see the rest (of the story) Ha! Nice looking call!! Show us the majic of making the tone box and mylar reed - and tuning it!
Regards

Vermin

Cant wait to see more..

How do you hollow out the end? Where do most of you buy your wood blocks or tools? What tools do you use? Visiting Woodcrafts site there are so many tool choices.

Where can I get reed material. I was told to use polyester film (mylar) at .010" . Stang

i would like to see part 2 also, and i will check out all predator calls also!

A very nice tropic to read with the pictures an all.

I hope to get mine woodturning machine maybe this week and start to make mine own calls.
I start with the predator call.

I hope to read more about this in the furture.


Greeting Form Holland a little country over the big pond,

Doublet

I would recommend getting the Jet variable speed mini lathe if anyone is looking for a good lathe. It is around $300-$350, but well worth the investment. Jet has a good warranty and knowledgeable service techs available by phone. I have had mine for almost 2 years and love it! I have turned around 300 turkey calls and as many strikers on it as well as a few dozen tube calls and predator calls.

There is a great book at Woodcraft. Duck Call Book

wow this is kinda old but Joe if you ever took pics for the second half i would love to see them

could any of you send me a call to Spain.
Because here is very difficult to get a hunting call. I WILL USE IT TO HUNT FOXES AND CATS.
i AM STARTING IN THE CALLING WORLD AND i DONT HAVE ANY CALLS.

I will appreciate your gift.

Thanks.
Alvaro

Looks like fun I would just like the carving part myself maybe make a few table legs LOL.I am working on a antler call right now it's a good hobby .

I would love to see part 2 also Arkyyoter.Part 1 was very informative,learned quite a bit as a newbee.Starting to set up my shop slowly and all the things i ordered are starting to come in,just got my jet mini.Thanks for the time and effort in helping out new call makers.It would be great to have just a section on turning calls with input on how to's from the masters.

Please continue with part 2. I want to try this myself.
Thanks!!

Part 2? Has anyone seen it? This is great info to myself and other beginners. Thanks

I know this is an older thread, but I would like to see part 2. There are some tutorials on YouTube for anyone interested.

I to would like to see how you hollow them out. I have made a few of them and I hollow them first so would like to see how you do it.
Thank You,
Steve

Look up turning duck calls on youtube, some good videos on there.

Check out youtube. I typed woodturning duck calls and theres a ton of videos.

Choice of Calls
The calling boxes have really taken off in sales. And there are some really good ones, but I prefer the mouth calls for calling bobcats and coyotes. There are reasons for this. I used 8 track tapes we had produced ourselves and played them on the player in my truck and had a speaker that I placed on the top of the truck in 1968. This was when the first cassette players came out but did not have enough volume for me. On a windy night you not use the cassette tapes. At this time in my teens, I used Weems calls made in Cleburne, Texas, just 15 miles away and got to meet Mr. Weems. One of the guys I played football with high school, father worked with him at Sante Fe Railways, and I met him and bought calls from him for my coyote calling. I also at the time was using Burnham Brothers calls in the early and mid 60’s. All of these were closed reed calls, and worked very well, and called in a lot of coyotes and foxes with them. I still use the same types of calls with great success. To me the best closed reed calls on the market are the Dan Thompson Calls, they are styled off of the old Weems calls, in fact we have talked about that many times. I also use the open reed howler calls, but use them to make jack rabbit sounds with great success. I use the hand calls because I can control the animal coming in better. If the tape keeps rolling when a predator shows up, if he has been called before, he will hold up at a distance and watch to see what is going on. If I see him coming in the distance, I will stop calling completely and only coax him if he stops coming in. He will tell me by his body language what he is going to do.

I know it's probably been asked but what turning tools do you guys use for making these calls, or have any info on some decent ones to start out with or you have had good luck with. I just bought a Delta "midi" and am now starting to buy all the other stuff i need to start turning. Thanks

Ask Rich Cronk on this website.

where can you buy voice's for calls?

thanks Ed

Lights,if you google Rare Earth Predator calls,and scroll down I have video on Discovering It was taken just before I replaced the bearings in the lathe. Hope this helps

Rich Cronk died about a year ago.

Sir, if you are referring to reeds for closed reed calls, they can be bought from allpredatorcalls.com.

As one of the original members of this sight. It comforts me greatly knowing that our passion lives on. Having been personal friends with the originators of this site, it makes my heart swell to see how it has grown.