Version 2.0 of the antler grunt calls

[Curmudgeon]

Just to see how it looked.  I like it better than the plastic tubes.
Still want them to look like Antler calls, not wood, except of course for the burnt hedge, that one is a gift.
Took the pic before any finish on the mesquite, it will be much darker (BLO)

What do you think ?

[builderone]

That is a new style,I have not seen that style before. How do they sound.
Chad

[dogcatcher]

They look good.

How long are the exhaust bores?  If you get them too short they will sound more like a muffled machine gun burst than a deer grunt call.  You have to realize that that some of the hunters are not "too bright" and they will use it like they were using an air compressor.  That is the one problem that I have found with the all wood deer grunts, you have to have a long exhaust or the sound can suck if not used properly.

Marvin

[Curmudgeon]

Excelent observation Marvin ! And I found out last night how true that is while fussing with these. You have to use both of your hands to get that deep throuty sound with these short boys. The one that is long is for a young boy in a wheel chair with MS. It ought to be a bit easier to run. That young boy is also a guide ! The rest are for Professinal South Texas and Mexico guides for an outfit called Swampus Outfitters. All are gifts and I have been assured these boys know how to run a grunt call. I think they look bass ackwards but he really wanted a small amount of mesquite from his ranch used with the antler, also from his ranch, but wanted them to stay small. Some of them are bigger, and a few are real short. I'll post up the colleciton tonight. They are drying out right now and should be ready for packaging tonight. 

[Braz]

Those are really unique. Nice going.

[John_NY]

Nice looking calls. Have you ever thrown any in a can of stain and let em soak for a few days. You can get some crazy looking calls.  ;D 
John

[Curmudgeon]

Nice looking calls. Have you ever thrown any in a can of stain and let em soak for a few days. You can get some crazy looking calls.  ;D 
John

The antlers ?
Would you do that before or after polishing/buffing ?
Sounds cool. He has given me some pretty bleaced out antler and asked if there was a way to darken it. I just told him to give me some darker antler ;D
I did notice that the Tripoli buffing compound added some nice browns to them.

[John_NY]

You soak them before. Some of them especially the powder white ones will end up looking like a stone kinda like granite. Use small pieces to test in different stains to see what you like. But even then you are never sure what you will end up with. You might get 2 pieces from the same stain, one looks like stone and one soaks it in more and looks more like a wood stain but I like them. It makes them unique. Just check them every day. I have done some that I just dipped in the stain and they were done. Keep an eye on them.

John
 

[John_NY]

I wanted to add here if you turn the antler on the lathe then soak it after it's turned. the fresh antlers don't need a stain and really don't take a stain very well but it does better on old bleached out antlers.  If you try it on a really pourous antler like caribou  the thing will drip for a week if it's not hollowed out good to get rid of that spongy looking part the marrow.

John

[Braz]

Here is an example of using the tea method. Just toss about 6-8 bags of tea in a pan of water and bring to a boil. Toss in your antlers and let boil for 15+ minutes. Longer is darker. Take out and check now and then. Gives them some nice color. This is a real easy way to do it and the cost is quite manageable.  ;D

Before the tea bath.


After the tea bath

[John_NY]

I never tried tea Braz. I'll have to give that a try.

John

[Braz]

Something I picked up of one of the Muzzleloader sites.

[Curmudgeon]

Great ideas guys, thanks!
I wonder if the ebonizing trick would work ?

[dogcatcher]

Ebonizing will not work with the vinegar mix.  It takes the tannic that is in wood to react to get the black.  You might try the various wood dyes, check at Woodcraft they might have somebody that will know. 

Marvin

[Curmudgeon]

Delivered all 8 calls today and they were a big hit!
Got a mess of bleached out Axis antler and huge piece of Mesquite.
I'm going to give all these ideas a try this week end, IF, Gustauv doesn't mess up all the plans.