Black Locust.....

alscalls · November 02, 2009, 07:04:39 PM

Black Locust Deer call......
Ebonized

Comments welcome......

John_NY · November 02, 2009, 08:16:02 PM

THe only comment I can think of is it looks good to me.

John

HaMeR · November 02, 2009, 09:31:22 PM

Nice call Al. It looks like Walnut. Did it not get very dark or is it just the pic??

centerfire_223 · November 02, 2009, 09:57:30 PM

Al would you be interested in some more of that black locust? I have a whole pallet full of it, been drying now for about 5 years.

FinsnFur · November 02, 2009, 09:58:53 PM

Thats actually got a cool contrast to it.
Nice work.

alscalls · November 03, 2009, 06:49:57 AM

When you ebonize wood..In the way I did it...the type of wood dictates what color you get....walnut will turn Black and really old real dry walnut will Be of a different shade. The Black locust took on Very dark brown look. Cebil turns Gray....maple does not seem to like it and just gets a rusty gray.

Centerfire....I am always interested in wood.....

What ya got in mind?

Jimbo..... Thanks!

John: It's the White background.....

......Sorry I could not resist....

HaMeR · November 03, 2009, 07:11:32 AM

Thanks Al. I don't know anything about ebonizing but I guess each would wood react differently. Makes sense.

timbertoes · November 03, 2009, 09:47:31 AM

An eye pleasing shape

alscalls · November 03, 2009, 11:03:42 AM

Thanks!

centerfire_223 · November 03, 2009, 08:04:03 PM

You can have it, for one of those grunt calls made out of a piece of it. Your from WV aren't you? I will be up there for Thanksgiving, I could throw it in the truck with me. We can work something out I am sure.

alscalls · November 03, 2009, 09:22:03 PM

Quote from: centerfire_223 on November 03, 2009, 08:04:03 PM
You can have it, for one of those grunt calls made out of a piece of it. Your from WV aren't you? I will be up there for Thanksgiving, I could throw it in the truck with me. We can work something out I am sure.

Sounds like a plan to me......I am in Wood County.....what county will you be going too? Thats rifle season...

I could be hard to find for two weeks...

centerfire_223 · November 04, 2009, 04:32:15 AM

I will be in Roane county, we have about 500 acres there. Your more than welcome to take a day and come hunt with me up there. Or if nothing else I can leave it at my inlaws place and you can come pick it up anytime. What ever works best for you.

Also I will be having some Pecan here shortly. I have a pretty good sized tree to cut down at my wife's office. Should be a lot of wood in it. Though most likely it won't be ready before Thanksgiving. But if you want some of it or all of it let me know.

alscalls · November 04, 2009, 06:47:41 AM

Roan County is where Nick is from.....We hunt there some to....

Thats only about a 40min drive for me so we can do something for sure....

John_NY · November 04, 2009, 06:59:32 AM

:roflmao: @ Al. I have a new camera coming. I hope my blue towel looks better. :roflmao:

John

bigben · November 04, 2009, 07:18:57 AM

thats a very nice call. the color allmost reminds me of black walnut. I never knew black locust would turn that nice. I imagine it was pretty hard? I wonder how yellow locust would look? we just cut down a really large locust tree by our pond that has been standing dead for atleast 5 or more years. I was surprised it hasn't came down on its own. what steps should I take to take some of this wood and save it for turned calls? or is it allready dry enough?

I would really like to get a call spun out of some honey locust. that stuff is amazing looking when finished.

vvarmitr · November 04, 2009, 03:40:22 PM

Quote from: bigben on November 04, 2009, 07:18:57 AM
that stuff is amazing looking when finished.

Sure enough!

alscalls · November 04, 2009, 04:01:47 PM

Quote from: bigben on November 04, 2009, 07:18:57 AM
thats a very nice call. the color allmost reminds me of black walnut. I never knew black locust would turn that nice. I imagine it was pretty hard? I wonder how yellow locust would look? we just cut down a really large locust tree by our pond that has been standing dead for atleast 5 or more years. I was surprised it hasn't came down on its own. what steps should I take to take some of this wood and save it for turned calls? or is it allready dry enough?

I would really like to get a call spun out of some honey locust. that stuff is amazing looking when finished.

I soaked a piece of steel wool in a mason jar full of white Vinegar for a week......then when the call was complete and sanded, I rubbed the Vinegar on the whole call .......then I sanded the center leaving a bit of the stain in the grain. Then put the finish on....Thats why it looks the way it does....Otherwise it is pretty straight grained.

If you are going to save wood for call turning......I always cut it into 1 1/5" X 1 1/5" X about a foot long or so.
Then I dip the ends in wax to seal the end grain. I store it in a plastic tote with holes in the lid to allow the water to escape.
And every now and then I take it out and weigh it in Oz. to see if it is still loosing weight and I write it down on the wood to compare the next time. If it looses weight then gains a little you are usually good to go.

Most wood will take about 6 months or so.....some standing dead timber can be ready in about 3 months.
Cutting the wood is Critical as it will release the stresses in the wood ......If you wait too long and then cut it it will sometimes crack real bad. You can cut it into 1 1/2 thick blanks X any size and seal it as long as you Have cut off all the bark sides.

I hope this helps ya.