Help a new guy please!!!

[DeadEndWaterfowl]

Hey guys, I want to start making my own calls, but I am way over my head. Can someone please explain how to use  tone board jig and how to make a tone board. Is it built right into the insert or is it separate? What size should the hole in the call be and is the hole uniform through out? As you can tell I am extremely new so any advice is helpful. Thank you in advance,

Chris Johnson

[DeadEndWaterfowl]

Guess I should have done some more reading on here first, a lot of great tutorials. any tips on turning acrylic though?

[dogcatcher]

any tips on turning acrylic though?

Best tip for acrylic is to get real good making calls with wood then try the acrylic.

Marvin

[BigB]

You said that you want to make calls.  What equipment do you have so far?  Do you have any woodworking experience?  There is nothing wrong with just starting out.  We can help, but we can tailor the help based on your level of experience. 

I agree with Marvin.  Work with wood before you move into acrylic.  There is also a tutorial on here for working with acrylic. 


Making duck and goose calls will require a lot of practice and learning.  We can help out and get you close, but only you can get to experience the fun in your shop.

[DeadEndWaterfowl]

Thanks guys. Yeah I am brand spankin' new. I haven't purchased anything yet, looking into getting a lathe really soon though. What would be your best advice for a wood to start with?

[BigB]

Thanks guys. Yeah I am brand spankin' new. I haven't purchased anything yet, looking into getting a lathe really soon though. What would be your best advice for a wood to start with?

Cheapest stuff as possible that you can find.  Free is even better.  Hack up some firewood, cut up some untreated 2x4's, or whatever else you can find cheap.  The first month or two you will be making chips, scraps, and smaller pieces of firewood just getting used to your tools.  After that, then you can venture into some turning woods like hedge and cocobolo, and then maybe some more expensive stuff.  Once you screw up a few pieces of cheap wood, you will realize that you don't want to screw up that expensive stuff yet!  In time, you'll get to the expensive stuff, so go at your own pace, and when you think you are ready for the next step, then go for it!

Brian   

[theKCtermite]

The very best thing you could do for yourself is to locate a call maker in your area, or at least an experienced woodturner.  Get with them and spend a few hours turning cheap wood into different shapes.  Post your location on your profile and you might get lucky enough that one of the guys on here is in your area.  There are also woodturning clubs in most cities, and they're loaded with guys that will be helpful.  Try to get time with someone in their shop.....Take them wood....And you'll learn more from that than you ever will reading online or taking classes.

As for wood, I'd start with something like poplar.  Go buy a bunch of poplar 2x2's or something like that....Grainy woods like oak may cause you some frustration starting out. 

I agree with the others on acrylic.  Even good woodturners sometimes struggle with it....Don't start there.  Turn for quite a while before you even consider it. 

[dogcatcher]

The very best thing you could do for yourself is to locate a call maker in your area, or at least an experienced woodturner.  Get with them and spend a few hours turning cheap wood into different shapes. 

That is some good advice.  Next go to Bell Forest Products and order the cheapest 1.5x1.5 maple blanks they have.  Most are used for tool handles, but it is good solid maple and they make great calls.  The maple will also help you teach how to sharpen your chisels correctly.

Marvin

[DeadEndWaterfowl]

Sounds good, I am in the Rochester NY area if anyone is around me.