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#Post#: 1015--------------------------------------------------
Getting into turning calls.
By: GrandLordKhorne Date: December 16, 2012, 10:06 am
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Quick sort of back story, I have basically 3 jobs. My day job
is as a QA/QC contractor and the company I work for has a really
busy season and a there too lazy to find work for us season.
Well the too lazy season means weeks at a time with no real
work. My side business is gunsmithing but I focus on high end
hunting weapons mostly from Europe and with the current U.N.
bull going on I�m seeing a sort of problem in the future of that
endeavor, also it�s mostly for fun and close friends anyways.
The third thing I do is that a close friend Joe and I make
knives and other hunting equipment (we have a small machine
shop/blacksmith shop). Well with the econ sucking Joe and I
(Joe works the day job with me) are seeing more down time and
less day work, so we are gearing up our knives and stuff
business to help us survive.

At any rate, I just sold a chunk of my firearms collection to
buy more equipment so I could start producing game calls on a
more serious level and I thought it might be interesting to show
some of how it comes out. Previously making a call meant a trip
to Joe�s house to use his little lathe, this means I can go down
the basement and work.

So I just picked up a Delta 46-460 Lathe, it�s not our first
Lathe, I have several engineering lathes and Joe has a smaller
wood lathe that his daughter loves to make pens on.
[img width=300
height=200]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/Delta_46_460_zps6239eb1c.jpg[/img]

Got myself a low RPM sharpening system because if I�m going to
produce something I need to spend more time on the lathe and
less time hand sharpening my tools.
[img width=300
height=200]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/10inch_lowRPM_grind_zpsd881fe1e.jpg[/img]

And of course I needed some lathe tools.
[img width=300
height=200]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/TurningTools1_zps451df898.jpg[/img]
[img width=201
height=300]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/PenTurningTools_zps248ca932.jpg[/img]

Next we needed wood to turn into calls, so I picked up some
diamond wood and some other species I like (little pen blinks
are because I make matching pens with a lot of my calls):
[img width=300
height=200]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/blinks_zps0022db3b.jpg[/img]

Some examples of what the diamond wood looks like turned, I do
this for practice at times, just playing with shapes.
[img width=200
height=300]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/examples_zpsd6c1b7f4.jpg[/img]

A general blink gets cut into a stopper and a barrel end. I can
get two calls out of one blink if I�m carful in my cuts.
[img width=300
height=200]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/cutanddrilledblinks_zpscd18db5b.jpg[/img]

The blinks are turned on a mandrel set made for pens. I use
plastic bushings to hold the larger call diameters in place.
[img width=300
height=200]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/mandril_zps67835cc8.jpg[/img]

I will post more on the process as I get a chance, I�m making a
batch of coyote howlers at the moment, so I will take pics as I
go and put up more of the process.

Just a couple of other pics at the moment for giggles.
This is some of the blades I�m working on at the moment, top one
is a completed cable demascus knife. The middle is another
blade made from cable it will get laminate wood slabs and the
bottom one is 1084 steel I will probably set in tamboti wood.
[img width=300
height=225]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Blacksmithing/IMG-20110417-00076.jpg[/img]

This is one of Joe�s completed knife and pen sets: 1086fg
steel, Pau Ferro furniture, 304 stainless + copper fittings.
[img width=300
height=225]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Blacksmithing/PauFerro_knife_pen_set_zps3e33bf2b.jpg[/img]

#Post#: 1024--------------------------------------------------
Re: Getting into turning calls.
By: Yote59 Date: December 16, 2012, 12:13 pm
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Looks like you have a great setup for woodworking. I like
knives....you have some talent. What type calls do you
make?....price? Thanks for sharing the pics.
#Post#: 1029--------------------------------------------------
Re: Getting into turning calls.
By: GrandLordKhorne Date: December 16, 2012, 12:49 pm
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I make calls in 4 different grades. Basic grade calls have
commercially avl guts with hand turned barrels and stoppers
(basic grade is the factory seconds from field grade, only
astatic defects). Field grade calls have commercial avl guts in
hand turned barrels and stoppers (I use top quality guts, many
with metal reeds). Master grade includes the same features as
the field grade with wooden cut sound boards. Professional
grade are sets and one off type calls with all hand built
features.
Basic grade individual calls are priced based on what they are.
Field grade calls are generally $40 individually (some woods and
specific calls are additional) and are avl in sets starting at
$150.
Master grade calls start at $75 and are priced by the call or
set.
Professional grade calls and sets are quoted price.

I make the fallowing individual calls:
- Crow call
- Owl Hooter
- Deer Grunt
- Elk Bugle
- Coyote Howler
- Cottontail (metal guts)
- Squirrel (metal guts)
- Jack Rabbit (metal guts)
- Coon Squealer (metal guts)
- Canada Goose
- Single and Double Duck
- Short Reed Goose
- Hog Squealer
- Rabbit Distress
We have sets for:
- Turkey hunters
- Predator/Varmint hunters
- Big game hunters
- Variety sets
- Inclusive sets

#Post#: 1032--------------------------------------------------
Re: Getting into turning calls.
By: Yote59 Date: December 16, 2012, 1:01 pm
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[quote author=GrandLordKhorne link=topic=182.msg1029#msg1029
date=1355683789]
I make calls in 4 different grades. Basic grade calls have
commercially avl guts with hand turned barrels and stoppers
(basic grade is the factory seconds from field grade, only
astatic defects). Field grade calls have commercial avl guts in
hand turned barrels and stoppers (I use top quality guts, many
with metal reeds). Master grade includes the same features as
the field grade with wooden cut sound boards. Professional
grade are sets and one off type calls with all hand built
features.
Basic grade individual calls are priced based on what they are.
Field grade calls are generally $40 individually (some woods and
specific calls are additional) and are avl in sets starting at
$150.
Master grade calls start at $75 and are priced by the call or
set.
Professional grade calls and sets are quoted price.

[/quote]
Got a great variety of calls indeed....and at a competitive
price.... :)
#Post#: 1093--------------------------------------------------
Re: Getting into turning calls.
By: USARMORER Date: December 17, 2012, 1:51 pm
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Very nice work, best of luck in your venture. DL
#Post#: 1111--------------------------------------------------
Re: Getting into turning calls.
By: GrandLordKhorne Date: December 17, 2012, 7:57 pm
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Turned the barrel sections tonight. I will turn the stoppers
tomorrow. I tend to stay on the simple side when I make calls,
I fined thinner sections over the reed and smoother curves make
better sounds, at least to my ear.

Here you can see a barrel section mounted on the mandrel on the
lathe.
[img width=300
height=200]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/barrel_zps9b044830.jpg[/img]

#Post#: 1113--------------------------------------------------
Re: Getting into turning calls.
By: Yote59 Date: December 17, 2012, 8:00 pm
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Very nice...love the laminate.... :o
#Post#: 1122--------------------------------------------------
Re: Getting into turning calls.
By: GrandLordKhorne Date: December 18, 2012, 4:14 am
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I do a lot of my Master grade and below calls in the diamond
wood laminates. It is great for stability and looks good too.
It tends to be on the costly end of middle of the road wood, but
the durability is well worth it and it is avl in tons of color
options. I tend to go more exotic in my professional series
calls but they are more like art than anything ells.

#Post#: 1141--------------------------------------------------
Re: Getting into turning calls.
By: GrandLordKhorne Date: December 18, 2012, 3:48 pm
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This is the stopper end of the call. There is a little more to
this end than the barrel end so this is where I will go into
some process detail.

The square blink is put on the mandrel and turned to round.
[img width=300
height=200]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/turntoround_zps18439b31.jpg[/img]

Once round the length needed for the section going into the
barrel and for the section supporting the tube is determined and
marked with a pencil.
[img width=300
height=200]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/marked_zpsffcd3a9a.jpg[/img]

The two ends are turned to size by cutting until a properly
sized open end wrench fits over the area. Then O-ring groves
are cut and the shape of the mid-section is turned. I try to
match pattern with the barrel for esthetic reasons.
[img width=300
height=200]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/turntoshape_zpsabc768c4.jpg[/img]

The whole piece is sanded polished and the O-rings installed. I
use one on the barrel end for a positive seal, on the tube end I
use two so that the tube can be manipulated and still holds
firmly on the call.
[img width=300
height=200]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/polishedandassembled_zps42506b51.jpg[/img]

In my higher end calls I would now cut a sound board, but this
is a field grade and gets a plastic sound board. The sound
board is installed in the stopper and the entire call assembled.
[img width=300
height=200]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/compleatcall_zps38ebcd1d.jpg[/img]

The call is given some quality checks before getting my
approval. One of these checks is for proper balance. I build
most calls to hang horizontal on the lanyard. This call has
excellent balance and is ready for use.
[img width=300
height=200]
HTML http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/GrandLordKhorne/Wood%20Working/balinced_zps93791e7b.jpg[/img]

That�s pretty much it, that is the basics of what goes into
making a hand turned call. I will add pics of other calls I
have made when I get around to it.

#Post#: 1142--------------------------------------------------
Re: Getting into turning calls.
By: MasterBlaster Date: December 18, 2012, 4:50 pm
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You have definately got it going on. Nice quality looking call.
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