Need some pointers on reed length vs. tone channel

[Aaron at Wingerts Woodworks]

Hey all,
I'm pretty new to making my own inserts and toneboards.  I've made some nice sounding calls but the more I blow them the more I'm thinking they lack the high end volume that I feel I need to have in a call.  What's worse is that when I put a lot of air most some of them the reed locks up.  I've played around with reed length as well as tone channel length but I'm honestly shooting in the dark.  If anyone could give me some pointers regarding the relationship between reed length and tone channel length I'd be really appreciative.  I'm honestly having a really hard time establishing any sort of consistency with my inserts (length, how far they go into the barrel, how deep to drill the tone channel, etc.)  and that is making the troubleshooting more difficult.  For what its worth, my cork is about 1/16" shorter than my insert cork notch.
I can post pics of the offending inserts if that helps.
Thanks,
Aaron

[jcz]

Go ahead and put some pics up. You know how everyone like them anyway. I am in the same boat as you, I have done a few toneboards but nothing to write home about.

[Robert A.]

I hear ya callin!!!! I have struggled with the same in the past. Problem is not all jigs are the same, so not all dimensions will work. Just remember when you are tuning the call, make Very light cuts when trimming the reed or you can miss the sweet spot easily. Also make sure the cork is all the way back in the notch, the reed to tone board surface needs to be smooth. Do the light test, pinch the end of the reed to the tone board and hold it up to the light and see if you can identify any low spots under the reed. Hope this helps.

[tripod58]

Heres a kinda rule of thumb. You want your tone channel to stop short of the end about 1/2" mine are a little further back 0.565 to be exact, may not work with yours but it does with mine. Everything effects everything. On the reed, a good starting point is about 3/16" from the end of the tone channel, tak light cuts with sharp scissors. if you get burrs on the cuts it will give it a weird sound. On your call locking up it could be alot of different things, like you stated reed length, tone channel, or could be a back pressure issue, try boring it out a little more or a little less. It can be very trying at time but when you find all the right combos it is like a dream You got any close ups of your toneboard?

[dogcatcher]

Since most of the jigs are different the measurements have to be found one at a time.  This is where keeping notes will help you find those sweet spots on your jig.  It may take just a couple of test runs on a toneboard or it may take you a 100, but there really isn't a better way to find what you are looking for.  Time to make some scrap.

Marvin

[BigB]

Can you post a pic of the toneboard?  A side view of the toneboard with the reed installed would be a good one to show.


Brian

[Aaron at Wingerts Woodworks]

Thanks for the PM Brian.  I was taking way too much off my reeds at a time instead of taking paper thin cuts and trying the call.  I was cutting right past the sweet spot on most of them I think.  Gonna keep working at it!

[Robert A.]

Good luck with it!! It took me over 6 months to get the sound I wanted. But then again maybe I am a little slow?

[Aaron at Wingerts Woodworks]

Good luck with it!! It took me over 6 months to get the sound I wanted. But then again maybe I am a little slow?

I doubt you're slow.  It is definitely a process that takes some hard work.  Overnight success is probably pretty hard to come by!