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Post by danf on Apr 14, 2007 15:51:18 GMT -5
For those of you that have made (or make) box calls, how do you mark out and cut sound boards?
It's taken me a few calls to figure out a system, but I've finally gotten a trammel made to scribe the line (nothing fancy- just remnant piece of plywood), then I cut it with a coping saw (don't have a band or scroll saw), plane it fairly smooth (kinda hard on a curved surface), then hit it with the sander.
If both sides are the same wood, I'll do this before ripping the sound boards. If not, I'll rip the sound boards, then clamp them together in the vice to cut, plane and sand...
Anybody else have a better way???
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Post by LawrenceCoBowhunter on Apr 14, 2007 16:42:23 GMT -5
You might go over to CCO and ask there.There are several box call builders there..I'm thinking about trying building a few.
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Post by davepowers on Apr 14, 2007 17:20:46 GMT -5
I am guessing you are talking about how to make the slight curve on the sides of a box call.
I am to that point with a solid box that I have hollowed out. I am going to use a belt sander. I have my lines marked and will follow them.
If you are glueing yours you could glue up first and do as I am or you could use double stick tape, put your pieces together cut are sand them then glue up.
Dave
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Post by danf on Apr 14, 2007 19:08:35 GMT -5
Yeah, cutting the curve is what I'm talking about.
Now that I've got a small drill press, for carved calls, I'll cut the curve first, then rough out the opening with the press using forstner bits. The first call I made was carved and I didn't have the press, so I drilled first (hand drill), then cut the curve. I guess I got lucky when I cut the curve on that one- keeping the saw consistent on both sides is NOT an easy task!
Leaving the line is always a good option when cutting- you can then sand/plane down the wood to meet the line. I knew that, but wasn't thinking about it for the first couple of calls which led to some frustrations.
The one problem I've got with *any* handheld sander, whether a random orbit (what I have) or a belt sander, is that it's very easy to take off too much in one spot which leads to flat spots or dips in the curve.
Wish I could afford even half of a "New Yankee" workshop... I'd be able to pop out GREAT looking calls with little effort! I do the best I can, but I'm limited by the tools I do have.
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Post by danf on Apr 14, 2007 19:13:37 GMT -5
What's CCO?
I've found that the box calls take some time-- don't know how long it takes you to turn a pot call and put it together, but without finishing (stain, sealer and poly), it probably takes a couple of hours for a pieced call, and a little longer for a carved call. If you are going to put on a stain, it takes longer since you really need to stain the pieces before glue-up; otherwise you will have "spots" in your stain from where the glue keeps the wood from taking the stain. Plus the time it takes to "tune"...
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Post by LawrenceCoBowhunter on Apr 14, 2007 19:27:53 GMT -5
What's CCO? I've found that the box calls take some time-- don't know how long it takes you to turn a pot call and put it together, but without finishing (stain, sealer and poly), it probably takes a couple of hours for a pieced call, and a little longer for a carved call. If you are going to put on a stain, it takes longer since you really need to stain the pieces before glue-up; otherwise you will have "spots" in your stain from where the glue keeps the wood from taking the stain. Plus the time it takes to "tune"... It's a message board for call builders and such..Lots of good info there...It takes me a 1-1.5 to turn and finish a call.not counting glue up time.. www.customcalls.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl |
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Post by hoosieroutdoorsman on Jun 20, 2007 4:07:07 GMT -5
I tried making a box call, but have been doing alot of research on them and am thinking of getting a solid block and drilling it out as a 1 piece. Getting the 1/4 inch curve will most likely be the toughest part and keep the sides even but like was mentioned b4 cutting on top of the line and sanding down to it may be the trick.
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Post by LawrenceCoBowhunter on Jun 20, 2007 7:29:24 GMT -5
I'm wanting to try my hand at box calls.Looks like there is a lot you could do with them.
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Post by danf on Jun 20, 2007 16:14:37 GMT -5
I'm no expert by any means, but there's advantages to each method of making a box call. From a fit-and-finish standpoint, there is nothing that will beat a carved call. However, you can't get much variation in a carved call like you can with a pieced call. The glue-up is probably the hardest part of the pieced calls.
Darrin- I haven't forgotten about the call I told you I'd send you... It is glued-up, but I'm not happy with the paddle on it and simply have NOT had time to work on it since way before turkey season ended. With no rain, we've been busting a$$ at work for the last 6-7 weeks-- I've been putting in at least 50-60 hours every week (not to mention everything else at home), and still am not caught up with what I need to have done...
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Post by LawrenceCoBowhunter on Jun 21, 2007 18:14:01 GMT -5
Darrin- I haven't forgotten about the call I told you I'd send you... It is glued-up, but I'm not happy with the paddle on it and simply have NOT had time to work on it since way before turkey season ended. With no rain, we've been busting a$$ at work for the last 6-7 weeks-- I've been putting in at least 50-60 hours every week (not to mention everything else at home), and still am not caught up with what I need to have done... I know the feeling Dan,I've busy busy building decks,cutting and spliting firewood,working on my sisters house,doing some volunteering ,I'll be doing some Habitat for Humanity work soon also and not to mention going to school I forgot about it lol I'm in no hurry for it though.It will be a surprise though when it shows up.Thanks |
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