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The Art of Handcrafting Custom Game Calls => Handcrafting Custom Duck Calls => Topic started by: Jared at Woodruff Outdoors on October 21, 2013, 03:06:02 PM

Title: Duck call repair
Post by: Jared at Woodruff Outdoors on October 21, 2013, 03:06:02 PM
A lady at work gave me an older call that is missing the insert, and asked me to make an insert to match it for her husband.  I am excited about the opportunity, but the only thing stressing me out is that it has a 3/4" hole and I have never made an insert that big.  All of my jigs for cutting cork notches are 5/8".  Once I get a good clean cork notch, I can freehand the rest of the tone board.  Also, I am pretty sure the wood is Cherry, but it has gotten darker over the years.  Is there a way to make Cherry a little darker (not black, just more of a caramel color)?    She gave me the call in a Chick Major-Don Cahill Dixie Mallard box, but said she didn't know if the call actually went with the box.  It is still an old call and I want to make sure it is perfect, so any advice on this project is much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jared
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: BigB on October 21, 2013, 03:54:00 PM

If it is a 3/4" bore, then it is probably a Reelfoot style call.

Brian
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: Jared at Woodruff Outdoors on October 21, 2013, 03:59:45 PM
Yikes! I thought that might be the case.  Any advice on quickly learning to make a reelfoot call :hysterical:?
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: jcz on October 21, 2013, 04:03:47 PM
It could have used a Louisiana style toneboard like the olt's have.
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: Jared at Woodruff Outdoors on October 21, 2013, 04:21:16 PM
The barrel is only 3.5 inches long.  Arent most reelfoot calls 4.5?  I will try to put up a picture in a minute. 
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: Jared at Woodruff Outdoors on October 21, 2013, 04:27:06 PM
Here is a picture of the barrel that I have to work with.

(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p684/jtwodrff/71c6327d-93c8-44c0-9b09-0c946b6a0171_zpse6b5d76d.jpg) (http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/jtwodrff/media/71c6327d-93c8-44c0-9b09-0c946b6a0171_zpse6b5d76d.jpg.html)

Jared
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: Chris at Owens Custom Calls on October 21, 2013, 06:30:47 PM
I made an insert for a Chick call for a buddy of mine a few years ago. I don't recall it being 3/4" because I remember using my 5/8 jig. My advice is to make it a friction fit 5/8" insert
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: FDR on October 21, 2013, 06:57:26 PM
There are Reelfoot call with a short barrel out there. Tom Turpin made some.        You can sleeve the first one inch of the barrel to 5/8 and just use your normal insert. Here is a link, with pictures , on how to sleeve the barrel.
http://thogamecallsforums.com/index.php/topic,16769.0.html
I was recreating a full Gloded barrel but the procedure is the same.
Just use a 5/8 hole in the sleeve.
Fred
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: dogcatcher on October 21, 2013, 07:11:11 PM
It might have been a goose call.  It may be the photograph but that box looks kind of small for that barrel.

Marvin
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: Caney Creek Calls on October 21, 2013, 07:16:10 PM
Jared, I believe you have the Don Cahill version of the Dixie mallard. I have a little earlier model made by chick and it looks similar. It has a bore in the barrel of .687 and 3.675 long and the insert is .650 with a friction fit. I can send you pics if you need them just pm me. I believe the options stated earlier will work fine for you with your repair, just depends how involved you want to get with the repair.
Lewis
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: Longntooth on October 21, 2013, 07:35:32 PM
I made an insert for a Chick call for a buddy of mine a few years ago. I don't recall it being 3/4" because I remember using my 5/8 jig. My advice is to make it a friction fit 5/8" insert
I faintly remember that! LOL  Kitch
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: Longntooth on October 21, 2013, 07:52:54 PM
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/REDDLEGG/e3670e53-61e1-4c4f-8d58-422f207cc497_zps5bad3b51.jpg)
Here is a not so good pic of what the toneboard should look like for that call. I may have better ones if you need them. Kitch
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: Chris at Owens Custom Calls on October 21, 2013, 09:49:34 PM
Yep, Kitch helped me out with a lot of measurements.
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx322/cao5599/IMAG0377.jpg)
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: Jared at Woodruff Outdoors on October 21, 2013, 11:12:01 PM
Thanks guys for all the pictures and suggestions. I will try a few things and see which one comes out the best.  Hopefully when I finish, it will be picture worthy. 

Oh yeah, what kind of finish do you think this is?  I was thinking a laquer finish.

Jared
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: Wes on October 21, 2013, 11:26:47 PM
I have one setting here on the desk and it has an 11/16 bore and toneboard. That is for sure a Dixie Mallard barrel....

Wes
Title: Re: Duck call repair
Post by: R.FINCHUM on October 22, 2013, 08:44:52 AM
Jared is right! Its a Chick Majors call. I used one in contests till I found some that didn't break so easy. The friction fit shouldn't be so hard to fit. Most friction fit inserts should do fine as long as the taper flares enough. I sure wish I had the ones I had back. Good sounding calls just had a low breaking point.