Remember the Molded Tone Board Thread?

THO Game Calls · February 21, 2007, 06:41:36 PM

Well, the duck call guys are at it in a big way LOL Three pages and counting.

http://www.customcalls.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1171853716

Here is just one quote

"If we're speaking about toneboards, honestly, if they can't make their own - maybe they need to rethink their hobby/business - and turn pretty rolling pins? "

The thread was just winding down when this was posted. Talk about pouring gas on the fire.

So anyway, now you know it's not just the Predator Call Makers that get riled up on this issue LOL

Al
THO Game Calls
www.thogamecalls.com

Member - Custom Call Makers & Collectors Guild & Call Makers & Collectors Association of America

Todd Rahm · February 21, 2007, 07:05:41 PM

QuoteI guess my main point is that I feel people dont put in the time to truly become a call maker before they are calling themselves a Custom Call maker. There is a lot of drama about this anymore - two sides of thought. I just feel people are taking the quick way out to make a buck, and its not doing the art and science of call making any good. I say get in there, make some scrap, learn what you can, and go to town, then its all you and all yours. Once your accomplished - the short cuts become materials rather than products and a time saver cause you know what youre doing.

Damn, was that a rock that just hit me in the back of the head.

Todd Rahm · February 21, 2007, 07:22:23 PM

Well just finished reading the whole thing Al. Thanks its a good read with some very good points, and some that the predator call makers can use.

bearmanric · February 21, 2007, 08:04:33 PM

i like it were i'm at now. i guess i'm a call maker. i need to get two jig's again now that i have a good band saw before kept breaking the blade's got frustrated. when i get the new shop up that real help a bunch. Rickl

THO Game Calls · February 21, 2007, 09:10:34 PM

If you try to cut your tone boards on a band saw, you will go broke buying blades. That blade hits your jig one time and it is toast.

Get yourself a Scroll Saw and use Hook Tooth Blades, about 6 tpi. You will only be able to cut out about 8 pr 9 toneboards per blade, but at a buck a blade, vs 30 for a band saw blade, it is a lot cheaper and just as fast. Safer too.

Al
THO Game Calls
www.thogamecalls.com

Member - Custom Call Makers & Collectors Guild & Call Makers & Collectors Association of America

quackerstacker · February 21, 2007, 10:10:09 PM

they have beat that dead horse many times over the last few years.

steve

keekee · February 21, 2007, 10:25:27 PM

Good read again though!

Brent

MattS · February 21, 2007, 10:42:01 PM

An easy fix for the jigs is to round off the edges of the jig so the blade will not be able grab on to the jig.

I agree with both sides of the issue. I believe that a true high dollar custom call should have a custom reed as well. But I also like pouring boards. There is an art in each. But definitely more in cutting your own.

THO Game Calls · February 22, 2007, 07:17:21 AM

That's a good tip Matt, but the issue is when the blade touches anywere on the jig, and I can assure you, having made hundreds of tone boards on a band saw, it will happen. I even bought a cheap band saw for just tone boards, Cheap in that I could get blades for 8 or 9 bucks. But the scroll saw works much much better, and it is safer. Besides, everyone can use a new tool LOL.

Al
THO Game Calls
www.thogamecalls.com

Member - Custom Call Makers & Collectors Guild & Call Makers & Collectors Association of America

BryanStanley · February 22, 2007, 07:23:15 AM

I agree, gives me an excuse to the wife to buy a new toy........woohoo

AWSparrows · February 22, 2007, 08:46:52 AM

I've made quite a few using a bandsaw without any problems, and I just have a small cheap Ryobi(sp?).

Brad H · February 22, 2007, 09:11:21 AM

Aaron,

They're talking about running a bandsaw across the face of a jig to shape the toneboard.

I also use a bandsaw sometimes to put the starting angle on my antler calls. Sometimes my acrylic too. I use channel locks or vicegrips though. That thing scares the hell out of me. I like to keep my fingers as far from that blade as I can and still maintain control.

The rest of the time I use a bench grinder and I still use a hacksaw on occation.

Brad

Arkyyoter · February 22, 2007, 09:19:25 AM

A coping saw works well too if you are going to do it by hand....very easy to turn/twist etc........I cut my antler calls tone boards on a band saw...free hand with no jig...but I make sure my antler is PLENTY long to keep my hands away from the saw....it scares me too!! I also use a scroll saw when using a jig...

'course I mold many of mine too, oops...did I say that??

:shck:

.....

bearmanric · February 22, 2007, 09:39:06 AM

been wanting a scrollsaw. that would be cheaper. i'm not into the wooden toneboard's. they seem to deaden the sound compared to Delrin or acrylic just my opinion. Rick

ninthinning · February 22, 2007, 10:41:50 AM

Have a scroll saw but the blades kept breaking on the jig. Use a band saw but it is scary, even with a jig. With a band saw the cut is pretty flat. The duck call jig thread is interesting. Alway love to see people agonize over what is a custom call and who is a "true" call maker.

rjl54 · February 22, 2007, 11:02:19 AM

Someday, when my buddy gets my jig built maybe I can break my bandsaw blades and get a scroll saw.

But right now I doing it by hand and eyeball.

AWSparrows · February 22, 2007, 11:03:01 AM

In the other tone board thread here, I said something about how its acceptable to use a pre-made (JC reed) in an enclosed reed call but not in a open reed call. Someone replied with a long winded post about how they used to make there own reeds for closed reed calls and how it was very hard and time consuming and then the times changed and it became acceptable to use pre-made reeds. Well maybe times are-a-changing again.

I have not researched it but from just looking at others calls it seems the majority use pre-made tone boards.

EDIT, for spelling

BigB · February 22, 2007, 11:37:48 AM

maybe I am a bit different, but I don't use a bandsaw, scroll saw, or coping saw at all when I do my toneboards. Just the good ol' belt sander works fine for me on delrin to get in down to shape.

I am wandering how well that technique will fair when I get in some acrlylic rod for toneboards.

Brian

bearmanric · February 22, 2007, 11:40:26 AM

i think i my Tone board's compliment my call's if that make's any since. my call's are kinda stream lined. i dont like big tone board's.alot of the tone board's that guy's are making noe to me are gawdy. take's a way from the look's of the call's. the toneboard's i'm using kick's butt for sound.why change. there are great style's of toneboard's to.when the are sanded and made to match the look of the call's. if i'm not a custom call maker then i'm not myself Rick Robbins. not mad not angry. just HAPPY. Rick

BryanStanley · February 22, 2007, 12:00:47 PM

Rick
ome dat I hope to be able to make calls like you, so until then I will always have a goal to achieve.

Bryan

Remember the Molded Tone Board Thread?

bearmanric

BryanStanley

AWSparrows

Arkyyoter

bearmanric

AWSparrows

bearmanric

BryanStanley