On this page I will attempt to document the process that I go through in creating an heirloom
quality duck call, or as I like to say skyrat call. I am in no way attempting to show you the correct
way to make a call, on to show you how I make a call. I am sure that this page is laughable to
many of the fine makers out there.
quality duck call, or as I like to say skyrat call. I am in no way attempting to show you the correct
way to make a call, on to show you how I make a call. I am sure that this page is laughable to
many of the fine makers out there.
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Here is Emma, my apprentice. Emma
took all of the pictures for me on this
website. Thanks Emma, you keep me
young.
took all of the pictures for me on this
website. Thanks Emma, you keep me
young.
Here I am drilling the hole into the keg.
Cutting a decorative band from a brass
pipe.
pipe.
The keg mounted to the lathe. You can buy all
kinds of mandrels for this purpose, and they would
be much better quality than what I am using. But, I
am wound up tighter than a fiddle string when
money is concerned. My cheapo mandrel is actually
a lab rod from a science lab. The end is already
tapered close enough to a MT2, and the aluminum
is soft enough to turn to size with normal wood
gouges. Notice that the brass band has been slid
up and over the headstock, this makes test fitting to
the tenon very quick and easy.
kinds of mandrels for this purpose, and they would
be much better quality than what I am using. But, I
am wound up tighter than a fiddle string when
money is concerned. My cheapo mandrel is actually
a lab rod from a science lab. The end is already
tapered close enough to a MT2, and the aluminum
is soft enough to turn to size with normal wood
gouges. Notice that the brass band has been slid
up and over the headstock, this makes test fitting to
the tenon very quick and easy.
Here the keg is in the round and I am beginning to
turn the tenon to accept the brass band.
turn the tenon to accept the brass band.
Test fitting the brass band.
The tenon has been finished to size no
the band is being glued in place. I
generally use 60 minute epoxy for this
step.
the band is being glued in place. I
generally use 60 minute epoxy for this
step.
In addition to being glued the band
gets 2 or 4 pins. Here the holes for the
pins are being drilled.
gets 2 or 4 pins. Here the holes for the
pins are being drilled.
Here is the keg to this point. The band
has been placed, glued and pinned. At
this point I generally set it aside to dry
and begin work on the soundboard.
has been placed, glued and pinned. At
this point I generally set it aside to dry
and begin work on the soundboard.
Now it is time to finish the shape of the keg.
The pins in the band where either ground
down on a grinder or cut off with a band saw.
You should surely where eye protection now
more so than ever as the little pins tend to zip
past you head at the speed of sound.
The pins in the band where either ground
down on a grinder or cut off with a band saw.
You should surely where eye protection now
more so than ever as the little pins tend to zip
past you head at the speed of sound.
To gain access to the end of the keg, wrap the mandrel
with a piece of masking tape to stop the keg. The end of
the keg will protrude over the mandrel allowing you to
work it with scrapers and sand paper. You should go
ahead and finish/polish the end at this stage.
with a piece of masking tape to stop the keg. The end of
the keg will protrude over the mandrel allowing you to
work it with scrapers and sand paper. You should go
ahead and finish/polish the end at this stage.
I decided to ahead and finish the call
at this point. The fewer times you have
retool or reposition the call on the
lathe the quicker it goes.
at this point. The fewer times you have
retool or reposition the call on the
lathe the quicker it goes.
Working the other end in the same
fashion as above.
fashion as above.
You will need to level the pins and
polish the band. After polishing with a
brass polish I apply a thin layer of
silicon spray. My theory is this will slow
the tarnishing of the brass.
polish the band. After polishing with a
brass polish I apply a thin layer of
silicon spray. My theory is this will slow
the tarnishing of the brass.