Here is my first call I have ever made. Just wanted to know what things I need to work on to get better. Thanks guys and thanks for helping people like me out that are just starting into this.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww43/ethanson/P3010010.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww43/ethanson/P3010011.jpg)
Your first call.
I see one of two things.
1- Either you are so full of shit your eyes are brown, or 2- you have got some serious unleashed talent.
Going with the latter, :wink: I am very interested.
Welcome to the site by the way, you've done an awesome job on that and cant wait to see what else you come up with. :congrats:
Yeah, what Jim said. That call is sweet.
Ya done good and you are on the right track........
Two things for you to think about that I struggled with my self.......I think will help you.
Sharpen your tools....even if they are new looks like ya had to sand on that a lot.......been there. :wink:
When you are doing your final turn tilt the tool so the polished edge is rubbing the tool with out cutting then lean the tool into the cut slowly till you just see a little bit of fine dust coming off it. The smooth part of your tool should be still rubbing behind the cut for a real smooth finish that requires very little sanding. This works well with a gouge cause it has a large smooth surface on it.
And when your done you may still have small checks in the wood that is just the nature of the wood and not chatter from the tool.......You need to make a choice here to leave them as part of the natural wood or fill them and sand.
Dont just try and sand them out. A filler must be used first for a constant finish. If you try and sand them out you will have some small ones here and there and some smooth spots for an inconstant look to the finish. And you may sand too far removing some of the sharp edges you intended to keep. CA Glue is one of many ways to fill these tiny grooves in the grain.
I hope this helps, and Like I said you are really on the right track....... :highclap: :highclap: :highclap: :congrats: :congrats: :congrats:
Nice looking piece of Cocobolo and I like what you did with it. One of the best "first" calls I have seen
Jerry
fin looking call man make more make more :yoyo: :yoyo: :yoyo: go go man go :congrats:
Not bad at all for your first call Mr. Slayer. :wink:
Let me guess... turkey call right? :laf:
Indeed... Not bad at all. :yoyo: :highclap:
VERY iMPRESSIVE :congrats:
Like AL the only thing I can see is the sanding problem. Try wet sanding with an oil to fill those little skips th tools make to help finish smoother. Jimmie
Looks like a really nice first effort.
Jim
First I would like to say Thank You for all of the postings. But yes my eyes are brown but it is really my first call. And thanks Al and Jimmie about the sanding thing. I saw that but was not sure what to do or if there was anything that you could do. But I am working on my duck call now, I am going to make a sigle reed and then a double reed. I will post as I get them done but I really appreciate all the comments. I learned a lot from all the other post on this site so I have to say Thank You.
I just finished my call that I am going to be using for duck hunting. I am still trying to understand this sanding thing because I can cant get it totaly smooth yet but I will keep working on it. But my new call is the one on the left.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww43/ethanson/P3020014.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww43/ethanson/P3020013.jpg)
Coco is some awesome looking wood ya just never know what it has to offer
Here is a lil trick I learned on sanding coco
I start sanding with 60 grit and go all to way to 400 grit then use 0000 steel wool ( not everyone does it this way)
Once I get to 150 grit I wipe the call down with alcohol getting it very wet and let it spin dry,Completly.
before sanding and do that between each step.I think it has helped me out alot.
I love the shape of that one... :yoyo: :yoyo:......try putting a coat of super glue on it and wiping it off real quick.....do this over and over until the call is smoothe.....letting it dry in between coats.....CA Finish....
http://www.finsandfur.net/forums/index.php?topic=4910.0 (http://www.finsandfur.net/forums/index.php?topic=4910.0) Try this thread it helped me a bunch.... :wink:
I like the shape of that one too.
I like to finish like Bill does. Although I haven't finished too many calls, on the muzzleloaders and other gunstocks I have finished, I have done this way. The alcohol raises the grain.
Well I ran out of coco so I decided to try something new. I ordered some maple so I decided to try that. First thing I realized was how light the wood was compaired to coco which made it different to work with then the coco. But I did the best I could and this is what I came up with.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww43/ethanson/P3030017.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww43/ethanson/P3030016.jpg)
It looks awesome...Maple is still one of my favorites :yoyo:
Getting bettewr with each one. Have you tried the wet sand with tung or linseed oil yet. This will fill those tiny imperfections. Jimmie
That's what I was gonna say too Jimmie.
I use Teak oil a lot, and I'll wet sand with that.
Some cocobolo has more and/or bigger "pits"
in the grain then others. The CA finish works good too.
Good lookin calls, keep it up. :thumb2:
Scott
Looks nice.
I'm loving the fact that you can create these crisp, proportioned bodies right off the bat. Your gonna go places if you keep it up.
Most beginners turn calls that look like tapered smokie links, with a hole drilled in em. Ah heck some that been at it for years still do :laf:
Your taking right off here. Nice work. :congrats:
QuoteMost beginners turn calls that look like tapered smokie links, with a hole drilled in em. Ah heck some that been at it for years still do :laf:
I know that guy ^^^^ Jimbo!!! He's still spinning broomsticks with grooves too!! :roflmao:
I think you're starting out purdy good too duckslayer!! :yoyo:
Use it with any wood you try. Especialy the more open grained woods such as oak, or walnut. That was one of the tricks the old furniure makers used on all that mahognay they built. Jimmie
You got er......Just slow down and take yer time on one......I think you got it in ya ta do great things if you really try.
What problems are ya having? Ask away, we all been there and we can help.
These folks helped me more than I ever imagined, but my biggest problem was not asking. :wink:
I would just like to say thank you to all of you for the kind words and all the help that you have given me. Just so you know I have taken everyones advice on everything. I just finished a barrel last night for a duck call and need to work on the sound board. I made it out of english walnut. I am learning the tools more and more as I go but that is something everyone has to do. NOW ABOUT THE SANDING. When I first started ( not that long ago LOL ) I did not understand how important the sanding process was, now after talking to all of you I see how important it is. So on this last calls I tried the alcohol thing and IT WORKED. I was shocked how well it worked. I have also been using the DEFT to but the finish on the calls but I am having a hard time with drying with the cold weather. But the one I worked on last night ( sanding wise ) is the best I have done. Will post pics when I finish. But one question I do need to ask is, how in the heck do you sharpen your tools. I HAVE NO IDEA!!!
All I use is a belt/disc sander. The disc has 220 grit on it & I just lay the table over to the angle of the tool. I eyeball this by holding the tool against the disc & locking it down. Lay the tool flat on the table & rotate it 2-3 times. It helps if you use a marker on the edge before sharpening so you know if the angle is correct. Then I use a round diamond file laid flat on the inside of gouges to remove any burr. I also sharpen on the downside of the disc. This seems to leave less of a burr.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93981
I use a belt sander......a light touch and NEVER Let the tool get hot!! one pass then stop... too hot to touch is too hot!
I do not have the right tool for the job so this gets me by. :wink:
I use a grinder myself. I set the tool rest to the right angle and pass them quickly across the stone. Keep some cold water handy and with each pass place the tool end in water. This helps keep her cool and speeds up the process. As Al said to hot to hold is too hot. This removes the temper from them and they have to be reground.
Alcohol or a damp cloth either one will raise the grain so you can get rid of the fuzzies and see what nicks and such are showing before you put on a finish. I personally use the damp cloth since I do a lot of diferent wood working. Its an easy habit to get into and cost next to nothing.
You can also use denim cloth to polish a finsh a bit to see what shows or doesn't. It can also be used to burnish the wood beofre you put on the finish. Jimmie
I have also used a piece of soft leather before the finish......not after as this can get hot if not careful.
Okay, I took my time on this one and really worked on the sanding portion of the call and worked on getting a nice finish. But I had a slow day at work today and drew up and design for a call that I hope is a original and I will be working on that for my next duck call. But here is one that I made out of English Walnut. And once again thank you guys for everything.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww43/ethanson/P3050018.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww43/ethanson/P3050019.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww43/ethanson/P3050020.jpg)
I kike how the grain is in that one :eyebrow:
Looks like a good job from here :congrats:
Nice job. I like that one also...but I think the others looked better.
And that's merrily a personal opinion, nothing wrong with any of em. :wink:
Your doing fine just keep doing it ........and out doing it will come. :wink:
I really like that english walnut one. I like how you made it an interesting shape but with soft, subtle lines.