THO Game Calls Forums
The Art of Handcrafting Custom Game Calls => Handcrafting Custom Duck Calls => Topic started by: Brian at DDT Game Calls on September 16, 2010, 11:17:18 PM
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Don't know if there are any so need some advice from the gurus
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Anything that is dry and makes you go ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! remember the harder the better!
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You can technically make a duck call from any wood you want to, but some are going to sound better than others. Some will also hold up better than others.
You should pretty much rule out softwoods like pine, fir and cedar in my opinion. They lack the density and durability to last through years in the field and they're not dense enough. I'm sure someone will fervently disagree, as we see a lot of calls turned from cedar. Those woods are the cheapest and are great for practicing turning or making prototype shapes.
In the middle of the road are hardwoods like ash, oak and walnut. They'll work as calls, but may lack that "ring" that you want at the high end. Definitely do-able though. When you look at a big name callmaker's line-up, you won't see oak, ash, maple or walnut...Probably for good reason in my opinion. Many of us little guys use them though, and have great success with each.
I'd recommend sticking to super-hard hardwoods that are nice and heavy. Osage orange (hedge apple), cocobolo or any other rosewood, bocote, bubinga, padauk, african blackwood and laminates like diamondwood and spectraply will give you the best sound available from a wood call.
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You should pretty much rule out softwoods like pine, fir and cedar in my opinion. They lack the density and durability to last through years in the field and they're not dense enough. I'm sure someone will fervently disagree, as we see a lot of calls turned from cedar. Those woods are the cheapest and are great for practicing turning or making prototype shapes.
I will disagree with you...lol... Cedar is one of my fav woods to build a call from... smells outstanding and the tone is unreal for a soft mellow sounding call... also keep in mind soft woods can be stabilized and some might just impresse you with there tone or looks... I'm digging this pic of stabilized dyed blue Pine...
Jake
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s292/idahofowlweather/gallery2-3.jpg)
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Don't know if there are any so need some advice from the gurus
Music Grade woods are what most use... because they have great tones to them... and most are good looking... Some have high oil content to they do well with water sports...
IMHO if starting out pick up some Hedge...( aka Osage Orange - Hedge Apple - Bois D'Arc) its hard as nails but turns easy and cuts easy... Most people do not have a reaction to it since its not in the rosewood family and have high amounts of natural oil... its not the nicest looking wood but you can make it your own if you want to purn the gain or burn lines or what not with it... also its cheap... and makes a great sounding call...
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I have some osage I can cut, just not sure about the drying, can you cut it into logs and store it somewhere to dry or does it have to be cut down into peices
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Allow one year of drying (indoors) per inch of thickness. So, you're best to cut it into turning squares, anchorseal the ends, and forget about it for a while. In the interim, Dbroswoods, River Mallard and other vendors have great prices on osage that is already dry and ready to go.
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Ok, i just placed an order from Mallard
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I recently turned some calls using hickory. Turned out beautiful and sound great. Anyone else every used hickory?
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I have made several calls out of hickory and all were good sounding calls. I like it.
ben
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Don't know if there are any so need some advice from the gurus
Music Grade woods are what most use... because they have great tones to them... and most are good looking... Some have high oil content to they do well with water sports...
Musical grade???? You do know what that term means correct
Stump