Might be a dumb question

[Troy of Run -N- Gun Game Calls]

There is a big time call maker here in ohio out by the lake.I think it is Zink duck calls or something like that,not into duck hunting to much but have seen some of his call they or very nice.Anyways there was a write up in the paper sometime back about his busness about how he sells  700,000 dollars in sales a year. But my question is in this write up it was talking about a fire finish and it had a picture with a guy with a small hand torch heating up this call on the lathe.Has any body ever heard of this.

[Homochitto Hollow]

I use a torch to burnish some of my calls before final sanding.......he may be doing the same.

[rwehuntn]

He is probably using a torch to polish his acrylic. I have heard of this being done instead of having to sand and polish acrylic. never tried it, but from what I understand, several duck and goose call makeres do this to eliminate all the sandind and polishing.

rwehuntn

[Vince at VECtor Calls]

 ;D  Just make sure you're not using a HUT mandrel when you try it!  I doubt those bushings are too heat-resistant.   ;)

Parker

[Al_at_THO Game Calls]

It is called Flame Polishing.  It is widely used in the acryic industry to give a clear finish.  Some call makers have experimented with it, and some have mastered it.

There are several post and threads on Flame Polishing on CCO in the Duck Call section.

In the optical industry, they actually tumble acrylic lenses to give them perfect optical clarity.  I have been trying to figure out what they use to tumble them for years now.  I can tell you that the stuff we use to clean brass with does not work  LOL.

Al @ THO

[Troy of Run -N- Gun Game Calls]

Flame polishing has any one ever tried it.Looks like it does a nice job.

[Vince at VECtor Calls]

I can tell you that the stuff we use to clean brass with does not work  LOL.

Al @ THO

 :o  I'm guessing it didn't look pretty when it came out, huh?!   :o

Parker

[Al_at_THO Game Calls]

I tried Corn Cob material, Walnut shells, sand, lead pellets and ceramic pelets.  Most of the media just gave the calls a frosted look, and did not remove scratches.  The ceramic worked the best, and I think if I let it tumble for a week or more, it might have worked  pretty well.  I just dont have the time for that though. 

It is still something I wonder about and keep in the back of my mind.  I would love to be able to tumble acrylic bodies and get them to come out clear, but for now, the old fassioned way of sanding and polishing works much better.

I mean, think about it, they tumble rocks, and look how they come out?  THere is a way, I just have not found it yet.

AL @ THO

[dogcatcher]

Here is some something I found on a machinist forum  http://www.ceriumoptical.com/Magic.htm  Volume might be a big problem., do you want to try 4 gallons or 5 gallons of it. ;D

Marvin

[rwehuntn]

Al,

When I was a kid, I used to have a rock tumbler. As I recall, it used a liquid abrasive media, not corn cob or walnut hulls.

rwehuntn