The Art of Handcrafting Custom Game Calls > Turkey Call Making Tutorials

How I make a turkey pot call

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Mac Dietrich:
Here is how I make my favorite style of pot calls. There are lots of ways to do it but this happens to be my favorite. First pic is of all the tools I use. Not all are necessary but I've found this works best for me. Pictured is far left orbital hand held sander with hook and loop sanding disks 80,120,150,220,320,400. Up top is square with pencil and spring loaded center punch. Next to it is PSI 4 jaw chuck this get used for the intire process which is why I like doing my calls this way....no changing different jaws and I'm also not a huge fan of the center hole commonly used in making pot calls. Below that is 3/4" bit used for holding pot on jaw and 1/2" bit for sound holes. Calipers and finally my easy wood tools and a small parting tool.


Next step I use square and pencil and find corners. I use square simply because there is no such thing as a perfectly square 1"x4"x4" pot call blank which is what I'm using. I've found that using the center findering tools sometimes won't get ya a perfect center if the blank is not perfectly square. Agian this is just how I do it and if ya have center finder and it works for ya by all means use it.


Next I use center punch and get my center hole.


I then use calipers to find my measurements for the remaining 4 holes note the calipers is not exactly 4.0" nor were the other 3 sides. This method insures you get the holes exactly square.


Here is the next pic with my 4.027" side and exactly in the center. I then make my marks on all 4 sides and draw lines across to get my remaining lines needed for hole placement.


This is how it should look with all sides lined up square. Note lines are running through center punch hole. This will be outcome every time using this method. It is a lot of extra steps but insures a perfectly lined up call ready for sound holes.


Next I use calipers again and measure for the sound holes. This step you can vary the measurement to whatever dimensions you wish. I'm using 1" and ill be using a 1/2" bit for holes but you can use any size bit for your sound holes just take into consideration the diameter of bit in relation to final size of pot call...meaning if your gonna use say 3/4" and your hole is 1.5" from center your going to be extremly close to edge of call when turning round.


I then use calipers as a kinda protractor leaving the sharp point in center hole and make a circle to mark placement of sound holes I've highlighted the mark with pencil so you can see the ring it leaves


Now that I have my marks I use center punch again on the 8 hole marks and proceed to drill holes on those marks


I first drill center hole which is 3/4" approximately .17" thick using calipers


Next I drill sound holes .35"


I then use band saw and cut off 1/4" the corners to make it a little easier getting it round on lathe


Now I've got it on the chuck and and ready to turn round!




Now I have pot call turn round I will square up the face end and I do the inside of pot and pedastal... I turn and sand on speed 5 of my delta lathe which is 2650rpm. My measurements for this calls insides are .125" for the edge of plain surface to sit on..which is ceramic for this call and this measurement will vary from call to call based on thickness of playing surface. My next measurement is from edge to bottom of call which is .58" and finally the pedastal height is .37"



Next I flip the call over and use the same jaws to hold the pedastal and shape my call. NOTE make sure everything on the inside of call is fit up and good to your specifications as this will be the last time the inside will be able to be accessed.



Here is a picture of call shaped before sanding


Next is a picture of the orbital hand held sander. I will use all grits listed previously and then use 0000 steel wool by hand to finish sanding.



Here is what it should look like once you have been through all the grits on sander and after hand sanded 0000 steel wool


You can now apply your favorite finish to your call. I then glue up the sound board with goop and let set over night on a flat surface. Once it's dry you do the same for whatever playing surface your using and call is now complete! Hope this help someone in the future!! Be safe in your shop and good luck!!!

gooseforsupper:
Excellent Mac!
Thanks for taking the time to do such a nice tutorial!  :bigup: :thanks:
Doug

archerykid13:
That's a really good way to lay out those holes! I think I'm going to borrow that from you haha!! How does using the orbital sander to sand the back work for you? I bet it really takes off some wood!

Jake

Mac Dietrich:

--- Quote from: archerykid13 on February 03, 2013, 12:15:28 PM ---That's a really good way to lay out those holes! I think I'm going to borrow that from you haha!! How does using the orbital sander to sand the back work for you? I bet it really takes off some wood!

Jake

--- End quote ---

Jake it works very well I keep the lathe on while using the powered sander. It makes sanding very effective and makes quick work of call. I don't bother sanding inside call simply because nobody see's it and I use sharp tools and that is key if your not sanding the inside...you can if you want though sand the inside.

archerykid13:
Are you able to sand the sides of the call with the sander? Or can you not because of the closeness of your chuck? Also, what orbital sander is that? I bet it does make really quick work of the call! I wonder how it would work at 750 rpm or so>

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