THO Game Calls Forums

The Art of Handcrafting Custom Game Calls => Handcrafting Custom Elk Calls => Topic started by: Bob Palmer on August 14, 2013, 08:12:13 AM

Title: Call Parts Options
Post by: Bob Palmer on August 14, 2013, 08:12:13 AM
I tried the method last night...ended up with trashed wood and call parts :( There has to be something better way! :stickman1: Any body cast their own? I have Sceery and Primos calls and they use 1/2" or 5/8" parallel inserts...where do they get theirs?
Title: Re: Call Parts Options
Post by: Joe aka COLD @ J. A. Kolter Calls on August 14, 2013, 09:09:36 AM
OK, I'm not trying to be a smart butt, and I have a way to end your frustration.  Buy and study those pieced inserts, then think of a way you can make something similar from like materials or even hardwood.
Go custom and forget buying the same manufactured stuff out there.
Title: Re: Call Parts Options
Post by: VECtor Calls on August 14, 2013, 11:19:59 AM
What are you trying to do, and what are they doing that you like?

I am not sure what you mean by parallel parts.

Primos always has their own stuff made, and they are always oddly sized.

Vince
Title: Re: Call Parts Options
Post by: Bob Palmer on August 14, 2013, 08:54:12 PM
Vince,
The Primos inserts are parallel....no MT2 Taper. I get the Latta method and why it works...I'm just shocked there isn't another option out there!

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b147/Palmer234/SikaCalls_zps864c087f.jpg)

These won't be for elk hunting. They are for sika deer in Maryland. they sound similar but toned down.
Title: Re: Call Parts Options
Post by: VECtor Calls on August 15, 2013, 12:22:53 AM
AH HA!  WELCOME TO THE CLUB buddy!  I have been right where you are at for SEVERAL years now, and I can NOT BELIEVE no one wants to make a straight 5/8" bore set of bite reed guts!!!

Vince
Title: Re: Call Parts Options
Post by: Bob Palmer on August 15, 2013, 07:57:28 AM
Would it be possible to cast some? Folks do goose guts all the time :)
Title: Re: Call Parts Options
Post by: Al_at_THO Game Calls on August 15, 2013, 08:43:11 AM
I think what he is talking about is the MT2 taper on the elk guts I sell.  He is trying to use the Latta method to turn them down to 1/2" straight bore.   

The big call companies have their own cast in china or some other place.  They normally do not sell them to the public.   Be careful with casting Primos stuff.  They seem to patent a lot of their call parts and they like to intimidate small call makers.   

The easiest way around this is to simply buy a MT2 tapered reamer.   

Enco has them    www.useenco.com    search for reamers and choose Morse Taper   

McMasterCarr   also has them   www.mcmaster.com   again, search for reamers and look for MT2.

They can be pricey, but they last a long time.   

These guts are tapered for a reason.   The taper keeps the end of the guts closed and tight.  If they open up, the reed could be blown out or fall out, worse case scenario, or, they could separate enough to lock up the call when blowing or at the very least, really effect the sound.   So a reamer is needed for the best results if using them right out of the box.  The down side is that sooner or later, someone is going to try to seat the guts in the barrel and the barrel is going to break.   That is one of the advantages to the Latta method.   The guts end up with a lip on them like the ones you pictured, so they cannot be forced into the barrel.   The O rings keep the guts sealed closed.   

Now, Bob, please let me know how many sets of guts you ruined by trying the Latta Method and I will send you replacements at no cost.   I might even have an old reamer laying around that you could use till you get a new one.   Shoot me an e mail or PM and I will get you taken care of!     Honestly - I want you to be happy with the guts and not get stuck with something that didn't work for you, so please contact me and I will get it taken care of.

AL @ THO Game Calls
Title: Re: Call Parts Options
Post by: Bob Palmer on August 15, 2013, 09:28:57 AM
Al, Great summary! Thanks! I'm not worried about the call parts...they are usable just not pretty anymore! But if you are serious about a loan on the reamer, I'll take you up on that!  :bigup: PM on the way.
Title: Re: Call Parts Options
Post by: VECtor Calls on August 15, 2013, 01:21:44 PM
I want to be clear on my end too Bob, that Al is putting out the best bite reed guts available to to custom call makers.  And the Latta method is the best way to go in my opinion. 

I would think someone, somewhere would want to come up with a set of guts that are straight 5/8", but it must be that the demand is just not there.  As you can see from the amount of traffic in this elk call section.....the demand from custom call makers is not there.

Vince
Title: Re: Call Parts Options
Post by: Bob Palmer on August 15, 2013, 02:05:26 PM
Thanks Vince! You are right...they are good! And Al is great!! I made 2 calls with Parts from THO! One by sanding the bore and one by sanding the guts! They sound great! I think they sound best with tubing but that's personal preference!
Title: Re: Call Parts Options
Post by: Joe aka COLD @ J. A. Kolter Calls on August 15, 2013, 02:13:16 PM
If you want to use manufactured guts like the cow elk as mentioned.  Listen to Al.  What I do is use a taper reamer, then follow-up with a special taper sanding drum I made out of hardwood with a vertical saw kerf side and a 1/4" metal bolt shaft.  Works like a charm.
Title: Re: Call Parts Options
Post by: VECtor Calls on August 15, 2013, 02:58:37 PM
I like them with tubing too.  I have not found any tubing yet that is really easy to put on, and is not latex though.  Some folks use shrink wrap, but I don't think that's going to last as long as I would like it to?

Vince
Title: Re: Call Parts Options
Post by: Bob Palmer on August 15, 2013, 03:12:33 PM
Joe, That's direction I'm heading! Thanks for the insight!!!!

Vince, I suspect we are using the same 5/16" tube from McMaster Carr :) I lubed the guts with soapy water first! It helped :) Do it with the guts off of course  :whistling:

Title: Re: Call Parts Options
Post by: Austy on August 16, 2013, 05:23:58 PM
I really like Al's Bite type Elk cow call guts.  Me personally I just bought a MT2 reamer and made things easy for myself.  Yeah they are a little expensive but they will last a long time and make plenty of elk calls before you will need to get a new one so the savings in my time is worth the up front cost.