Acrylic call surface?

[Aaron at Wingerts Woodworks]

I have a friend that is a very accomplished turkey guide as well as a rep for Hevi Shot and a big name call manufacturer.  He uses my slate call and has been asking me for months to make him a turkey pot call with an acrylic surface....He says he has used them and loves the sound they produce.  I may be missing out on something, but does anyone know anyone that makes acrylic turkey calls?  I've never seen one.  I've made many dozens and dozens and dozens of pot calls with slate, glass, copper and aluminum but have yet to see acrylic surfaces.  Are they for sale anywhere or is it something I'd need to have fabricated?  What is the best peg to use with them?

Are they worth making?  I'd think if they were that great I'd see more of you guys making them????? 

[Braz]

Check out this post. http://thogamecallsforums.com/index.php/topic,5978.0.html

I believe that is what they are talking about.

[Aaron at Wingerts Woodworks]

Yeah Braz I told him about that stuff and that I'm planning to get some of it....He didn't think it was the same thing. 

Seems like I might have been sent on a wild goose chase.  Maybe they sell acrylic call surfaces near the board stretchers and tubular saws!   

[VECtor Calls]

That is not the same call surface at all Braz.  The stuff we are talking about is a type of ceramic.

KC, I am pretty darn sure that surface isn't going to sound as good as some of the traditional surfaces, but I'm sure it will be fine.  I have seen it for sale somewhere before, but I can't remember where.  I think it is going to make for a soft call.  Be sure to not use a red, blue or white surface for your buddy either.  That would make the call surface very similar sized to a turkey head.

I would ask your buddy where he has played one of these calls before, and who made it.  

Parker

[VECtor Calls]

Seems like I might have been sent on a wild goose chase. 

   I was trying to be nice, and not doubt your buddy.   

They HAVE been made though, I've seen them on CCO in the past.  I just think you're going to get a sound similar to what you get from an all wood trough call.   

Parker

[Aaron at Wingerts Woodworks]

My thoughts exactly Parker.  I'd think it would have a muted sound.  Good point about the color.  Learned that lesson after turning some red and blue Curtiswood for a guy....Never gave it a thought until the call was shipped...I vowed to never make another "colorful" call as it just seems irresponsible.

Thinking I'm going to stick to what I know, which is slate and the other common surfaces we all use.   

[VECtor Calls]

You do have me thinking though KC.

There are a lot of 'off the shelf' calls out there that have a surface in them that THEY call "glass" and you can obviously tell from playing them, and scratching them up, that they are in fact not window pane glass like we use.  I WONDER if that surface is actually clear acrylic?     If that is the case, we may be missing out on a different call surface that would work just fine.     Just a thought.

Parker

[BigB]

PlexiGLASS is actually an acrylic product.


Brian

[VECtor Calls]

   And the wheels keep turning.......   

No plexiglass for me.  I want some hard acrylic like you make duck calls out of B.     Know where to get some?

Parker

[VECtor Calls]

   Lets keep stirring this pot and see what we can come up with.   

Too bad 3 1/2" isn't an option.  I hate 3" calls. 

Parker

[VECtor Calls]

Try www.usplastic.com

FYI a chat conversation I just had with them:



You're now talking to Alteesh from 'Customer Support' The topic is : clear acrylic circles

Alteesh> Hello, My name is Alteesh, How can I help you?
Parker> do you happen to have the ability to cut custom clear acrylic circles? I would be looking for something just smaller than 3 1/2". I see you have 3" and 4" in stock.
Parker> Also, is there any chance you would have any solid colors available, rather than just clear?
Parker> Item #44185 and 44186
Alteesh> Yes we can possibly. You would have to contact our quotes department via email or fax to send the request in.
Parker> Okay. I can do that. Thank you. Do you happen to send out samples of a product? Like, sending me one of the 4" disks so I can sand it down to 3 1/2" and test the material?
Alteesh> I'm sorry we do not have a sampling policy. In place of that we have a $5.00 minimum order.
Parker> Okay. That will work. Thank you very much for your time. I will make a minimum order, test it, and then contact your quotes department. You have been very helpful. I appreciate it.
Alteesh> Thank you for using our Live Chat. You can rate this session at the top of this window. Have a nice day!

Parker

[VECtor Calls]

   RIIIIIGHT!   

Parker

[jcz]

I know last year I tried to use a piece of Plexiglas I had laying around as a soundboard. I cut it to size and rounded it out and glued it in. I figured all I needed was something to viberate under the calling surface so it SHOULD work. Well I really don't remember it sounding awful but I also don't remember WHO I gave the call to so I'm thinking it didn't sound real good since I'm not sure what happened to the call. 
Parker why dint you like 3" calls? Just preference thing or dint like the sound??

[VECtor Calls]

I have not played a 3" pot yet that could beat any of the top 10 best 3 1/2" pots I have played.

I know there are a lot of call makers out there that make 3" pots too.  They just not sound as good as a 3 1/2".

And then, you have to throw 3 1/4" calls into the mix too.   

Parker

[cterese12]

i've heard of people using solid surface in pot calls.  my dad has a pot call i was looking at the other day and it has a solid surface sound board in it.  years ago the countertop industry used to use a solid surface veneer (1/8" thick).  it has since been discontinued due to application issues but if you could find some somewhere it might be worth looking into.  unfortunately i don't have any in my shop.  i've been wanting to run a piece through the bandsaw and give it a whirl but i just hadn't got around to it yet.  i have scratched a piece a half inch stock and put a striker to it, it made some turkey sounds but i think the thickness really held it back.