Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Hawkdancer on May 25, 2018, 12:36:53 pm
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After my first turkey hunt ever, (in the Black Hills), I would like to make or trade for a good box call. I have several types of exotic wood, but need a pattern, or set of build plans. Is it best to build from a single block or will a laminated piece work as well? Any help is appreciated! Sending PMs to Mullet and Buffalogobbler. Thanks!
Hawkdancer
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You can make a box call either way. They both will just require tuning when it's close to finish. Kevin is the box call man.
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Kevin Raybould (Buffalo Gobbler) is defiantly the guy to ask about box calls. He makes outstanding looking and sounding calls.
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Dancer, here are two types--- solid poplar and western cedar.
Solid one is store bought and cedar is hand made.
Zuma
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The boxes are 6" X 13/8"
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I must have at least 100 calls waiting to be made from well aged western cedar 2x4s! Why the heck didn't I think about that sooner! Now, to learn how to make them and use them! What are the dimensions on the sound cavity? Thanks! Btw, will send a pm regarding your Bad luck rock!
Hawkdancer
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Anybody try making them out of redwood? I got a bunch of that, too!
Hawkdancer
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Dancer I am sure redwood would be ok. The Thug box chamber tapers from 3/4" to 11/8" wide 11/4" deep
The thickness of the walls is 1/8" and 1/16" It's poplar. The cedar rails are 1/2" high above the solid block and are 1/8" thick.
Zuma
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Sorry about all the photos and being mixed up a bit.
Send me an email address and I'll send you the video of the big box.
Zuma
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That is one big box - for really big turkeys, or long range calling?
Hawkdancer
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Sent a pm
Hawkdancer
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That's a great looking call Zuma.. If the god's smile on me I'll great a draw after 7 years.
Thanks Leroy..
Hey Hawkdancer... Did you guy's see of them feathery critters??
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Hey Hawkdancer... Did you guy's see of them feathery critters??
Sore subject, brother, sore subject.
I had a buddy that has no class, tact, good taste, or filter. Needless to say, GREAT GUY. He built a box call out of a 2x4 with a dremel tool and a pocket knife. Stupid thing was so ugly I saw a pine tree throw up when he pulled it out of his pocket out in the woods. I pointed and laughed (if you know Mikey, you know this only encourages him). Much to my chagrin, with a little luck, lots of practice, and your tongue carefully clenched firmly in cheek...the bloody awful thing worked! We had a number of birds responding to it that weekend.
It seems to me the most critical points is that the sides need to have a little outward angle and the lid needs to be curved underneath. From there, you just keep varying the angles, depth, length, and materials as you slowly become eaten up by the custom call making bug. From all I hear, it is even worse than the bow making bug.
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Hey Hawkdancer... Did you guy's see of them feathery critters??
Sore subject, brother, sore subject.
I had a buddy that has no class, tact, good taste, or filter. Needless to say, GREAT GUY. He built a box call out of a 2x4 with a dremel tool and a pocket knife. Stupid thing was so ugly I saw a pine tree throw up when he pulled it out of his pocket out in the woods. I pointed and laughed (if you know Mikey, you know this only encourages him). Much to my chagrin, with a little luck, lots of practice, and your tongue carefully clenched firmly in cheek...the bloody awful thing worked! We had a number of birds responding to it that weekend.
It seems to me the most critical points is that the sides need to have a little outward angle and the lid needs to be curved underneath. From there, you just keep varying the angles, depth, length, and materials as you slowly become eaten up by the custom call making bug. From all I hear, it is even worse than the bow making bug.
Hmmmm What could wrong?? Not the first time I ran full bore down a slippery slope..
Seems as luck has it.. Somebody was tossing out some beautiful western red cedar cut offs at work today.. Destiny I tell you...
Tying my boots on tight
Leroy
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Only Tom we saw was in town, running from the rain, in the afternoon. Even in Custer, SD, they frown on hunting in town!, but at least the sob crossed the road in front of us! We did get some "talking" but not coming close enough! Well, maybe .223 close in fall season, but this is spring". Curses! Foiled again! Turkeys, 5, Hunters, 1, and that is seasons! Good camp, though!
Hawkdancer
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Leroy,
Elbow pads and a helmet, too! Gloves for heat treating bows, and straightening arrows, and don't never lie to a sergeant, or an officer - to other folks, excepting maybe!
Hawkdancer
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Hawk,
If I can help you in any way, I will.
The dimensions Zuma gave you will work fine and should give you a high pitch of a young turkey.
My first question to you is what kind of tools do you have to work with? You need a table saw, drill press and a belt sander to get started.
Neil Cost, the greatest of all of the custom callmakers said "Poplar. mahogany and cedar are the best woods for a box call", too That I would add American Chestnut as another good choice.
Like JW's pal, I made my first box call from a 2x4.
There are 2 basic styles you can choose to make, the sawn and glued style where the pieces are cut out and then glued together and the hewn out style, where the sound chamber is hewn out of a single block of wood.
The sawn and glued model is the easiest to make, the hewn out model allows you more control over the quality of the sound the call will make.
Here are some dim's for a s&g call,
Paddle-3/8 x 1 3/4 x 10, put radius on bottom of paddle with belt sander. Place sander on table upside down and try to get radius as even as possible.
Sides-1/8 x 1 3/4 x 6 1/2, Radius top edge 1 5/8 at the middle and 1 3/8 on the ends.
Base 3/8 x 1 3/4 x 6 1/2.
End Blocks- 1 x 1 1/4 x 1 3/8, saw angle on block to make it 1 1/4 at the top and 7/8 at the bottom.
At this point glue everything up, drill some holes for the screw and spring and give it a try.
You can adjust the call by moving the screw in or out to find the best tone your call will make.
If your call is to low in pitch try making another call with slightly thicker side walls, if your call is to high in pitch, use a good pocket knife like a cabinet scraper and scrape the inside of the side walls to make them a bit thinner.
I hope this helps, the hewn out type is more complicated but worth the effort, if you want to make this style let me know and I'll get you some dim/s.
Kevin
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Hawkdancer - Glad you seen one.. Heard a couple.. A good camp is all that really matters.. Gives you a reason to go next year.. Spent many a year in northern Alberta hunting (sitting in tree with longbow) waiting for the right bear..
Buffalogobbler - Thanks for the sizes and advice
Thanks Leroy
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Kevin,, sent pm. Jacie saw 2 Tom's right outside her client's window well within shotgun range, both have nice beards. Will post pic as soon as I remember how to do direct post. Come on fall season!
Hawkdancer
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Got the tools needed, as well as a variety of carving knives for fine finishing. Springs are another matter, off to Ace!
Hawkdancer
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You won't have to show me the box you make Dancer, just the Gobbler >:D
Glad buffalo showed up :)
Zuma
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So far, all the boxes I've made are definitely primitive! Not calls, but other types, with repurposed redwood! Have to practice calling this summer!
Hawkdancer