A Couple of Grunt Calls

[Brent Winingear]

Here's an order that I just sent out the door. The grunts are made from black oak burl and burnt hedge. They are flanked by a couple of squirrel calls that are made from cherry.

[James Strickland]

Black oak burl is awesome!

[David @ Mad Duck Game Calls]

How do you even get something to look so good!? They look great! 

[Brent Winingear]

David,

Thanks for the compliment. There are lots of guys on this sight that make great looking calls and I think that most will agree with me that the single most important step is sanding. Sand and sand some more. If the wood underneath isn't perfect, it doesn't matter what finish you use, it will show.

I know that you are young and probably impatient, but discipline yourself to sand to perfection and your calls will show it. 

[David @ Mad Duck Game Calls]

What grit did you sand to on these calls??

[Brent Winingear]

David,
I typically go 120-220-320-400-600 grit. I sand each grit at 800 rpm and then turn off the lathe and sand with the grain before going to the next grit. The 120 is for sanding out all of the ridges and rough spots that remain after turning the call. The following grades are just for taking out the sanding marks left by the previous grade. If you don't get a ridge out with the 120, it will still be there when you finish with the 600.

I am teaching my 11 year old great nephew to make calls and I always tell him "feel with your eyes and see with your fingers". Some flaws you see but you can't feel, others you can feel but you can't see. They will all show up when you start finishing.

Take your time, you'll get there.

Brent