The Art of Handcrafting Custom Game Calls > Handcrafting Custom Duck Calls

What woods do you not wanna make a duck call out of

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Brian at DDT Game Calls:
Don't know if there are any so need some advice from the gurus

Jon Kennedy Custom Calls:
Anything that is dry and makes you go ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! remember the harder the better!

Aaron at Wingerts Woodworks:
You can technically make a duck call from any wood you want to, but some are going to sound better than others.  Some will also hold up better than others. 

You should pretty much rule out softwoods like pine, fir and cedar in my opinion.  They lack the density and durability to last through years in the field and they're not dense enough.  I'm sure someone will fervently disagree, as we see a lot of calls turned from cedar.  Those woods are the cheapest and are great for practicing turning or making prototype shapes.

In the middle of the road are hardwoods like ash, oak and walnut.  They'll work as calls, but may lack that "ring" that you want at the high end.  Definitely do-able though.  When you look at a big name callmaker's line-up, you won't see oak, ash, maple or walnut...Probably for good reason in my opinion.  Many of us little guys use them though, and have great success with each.

I'd recommend sticking to super-hard hardwoods that are nice and heavy.  Osage orange (hedge apple), cocobolo or any other rosewood, bocote, bubinga, padauk, african blackwood and laminates like diamondwood and spectraply will give you the best sound available from a wood call.

idahofowlweather:

--- Quote from: theKCtermite on September 17, 2010, 08:45:18 AM ---You should pretty much rule out softwoods like pine, fir and cedar in my opinion.  They lack the density and durability to last through years in the field and they're not dense enough.  I'm sure someone will fervently disagree, as we see a lot of calls turned from cedar.  Those woods are the cheapest and are great for practicing turning or making prototype shapes.

--- End quote ---

I will disagree with you...lol... Cedar is one of my fav woods to build a call from... smells outstanding and the tone is unreal for a soft mellow sounding call... also keep in mind soft woods can be stabilized and some might just impresse you with there tone or looks... I'm digging this pic of stabilized dyed blue Pine...

Jake

idahofowlweather:

--- Quote from: The1wildfire on September 16, 2010, 11:17:18 PM ---Don't know if there are any so need some advice from the gurus

--- End quote ---

Music Grade woods are what most use... because they have great tones to them... and most are good looking... Some have high oil content to they do well with water sports...

IMHO if starting out pick up some Hedge...( aka Osage Orange - Hedge Apple - Bois D'Arc) its hard as nails but turns easy and cuts easy... Most people do not have a reaction to it since its not in the rosewood family and have high amounts of natural oil... its not the nicest looking wood but you can make it your own if you want to purn the gain or burn lines or what not with it... also its cheap... and makes a great sounding call...

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