I have noticed when it is humid outside I cant get my slate to sound right at all. I'm not sure if its the striker or the slate call. Is there one I can buy that is unaffected by humidity or morning dew?
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Great question, I have had the same problem but I just sand it and it works again. Hopefully someone with more experience than me will know -
Take a scrubbing sponge (for dishes) and hit the slate a few times. Use the rough side of the sponge and it will give the slate just enough grab (friction) to let you work your call. Works even when it is wet or humid.Comment
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so its a problem with the slate? I prolly need a new piece of scotchguard.Originally posted by quarterback View PostComment
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Slate seems to absorb moisture. I carry one in my bag that has an aluminum striker plate. It works even when it gets wet - comes in handy on rainy daysComment
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I rough my slate up before I use it every day. They do soak up moisture.Comment
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In a pinch, you can drive a nail through a block of wood, then flatten the end out, bend it in a 90, if that doesn't help take that same nail striker and use it on your whet stone. That's all my grandad ever used, he was a bonafied hillbilly and wouldn't spend money for anything but would spend all the time in the world building something himself.Comment
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I have an aluminum "slate type" call that I use with a graphite striker. It actually works better wet than dry. Makes my ears hurt, but it sure works on the gobblers, especially on windy days.Comment
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Originally posted by JackFlash;8397875
Woods Wise makes some cheap strikers that work well when it’s wet. (Mystic Wet Stick)
They have a soft pool stick like tip on the end that grabs well, but the tip wears off quickly with extended use; leaving you with a useless striker.
This might help you out....
Keep your slate call & wood striker in a small zip lock bag until use. It will help keep the moisture out.
When conditioning the surface on a slate call with the SB pad, run parallel scratches across the slate surface with single strokes. Do not sand back and forth.
(The same goes with glass calls except you use sanding mesh.)
When using the striker work it across the scratches, not parallel to them.
A lot of times the tip of the wood striker gets glossed over from use. Take the striker and lightly run it back and forth over the scotch bright pad a few times and it will take the shine off the tip of the striker which will allow it to grab the surface of the slate better.
Use the hardest, best quality striker you can find like the strike 3 strikers made by Woodhaven calls.
They produce a much better sound than your run of the mill strikers.
As for a rainy day alternative to slate I would go with a good glass call. Those Rio's love that super high pitched yelp.
Primos Power Crystal is an inexpensive glass call with great sound. ( But comes w/ a cheap striker.)
Use a sanding mesh like this▼ to condition glass calls.
....Or you can always break out the mouth calls....
Best of luck Curtis Ray!Last edited by TUCO; 03-21-2014, 01:45 PM.Comment
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emory cloth is your friendComment
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thank you so much!! I will definently do the ziplock bag thing. I have always done a clockwise brush on my call, i'm thinking I should do as you suggest. I will try this out this weekend. awesome advice from everyone here. thanks all!!Originally posted by TUCO View PostWoods Wise makes some cheap strikers that work well when it’s wet. (Mystic Wet Stick)
They have a soft pool stick like tip on the end that grabs well, but the tip wears off quickly with extended use; leaving you with a useless striker.
This might help you out....
Keep your slate call & wood striker in a small zip lock bag until use. It will help keep the moisture out.
When conditioning the surface on a slate call with the SB pad, run parallel scratches across the slate surface with single strokes. Do not sand back and forth.
(The same goes with glass calls except you use sanding mesh.)
When using the striker work it across the scratches, not parallel to them.
A lot of times the tip of the wood striker gets glossed over from use. Take the striker and lightly run it back and forth over the scotch bright pad a few times and it will take the shine off the tip of the striker which will allow it to grab the surface of the slate better.
Use the hardest, best quality striker you can find like the strike 3 strikers made by Woodhaven calls.
They produce a much better sound than your run of the mill strikers.
As for a rainy day alternative to slate I would go with a good glass call. Those Rio's love that super high pitched yelp.
Primos Power Crystal is an inexpensive glass call with great sound. ( But comes w/ a cheap striker.)
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Use a sanding mesh like this▼ to condition glass calls.
....Or you can always break out the mouth calls....
Best of luck Curtis Ray!Comment
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