How to build a predator call.....

[medic911]

I was in the shop today turnin a few calls, and had and ideal. Take pics and post them here. So here goes......

Lets start here. I buy most of my wood in 1.5”x1.5”x12” pieces. Here I have cuy a stick of cocobolo and now have a 2.5” block of wood. You really never know what the wood will look like till it has been turned due to the sealer they put on the wood to cure it. Here I have my wood ready to drill.



I’m goin to turn a bite call so I’m goin to drill with a 5/8” bit



Next, I mount the wood on my lathe. I use a pen mandrel and turn tendons to mount the 5/8” drilled block on the ¼” mandrel. Here have have my wood mounted and ready to turn.



I use a roughing gouge to turn the corners off the block, and get a smooth round piece of wood.

[medic911]

Now I have nice round piece of wood



Now I use different gouges and skew chisels to get the shape I want.



Now its starting to look like a call.

[medic911]

Next comes the fun part….Sanding… I start with 180 grit and work my way through 220, 320, 400, 600, 800 grits while call is turning on the lathe.



Now its time for the finish. I use a friction polish…turn the speed up on the lathe and burn this stuff in. The heat from the friction help melt the polish into the wood. This step takes the longest cause I give 10-15 coats to each call.



Now I have the out side finished I move to the inside of the call. I move over to the drill press and use a rasp for shape the inside of the bell. After I get the shape I want I finish up by hand sanding the inside the call. Then I polish the inside of the bell.







Now I move in the house where I can work with out all the dust. To set the reeds and tune the call. Wife loves this part.

[medic911]

After setting and the reeds and alittle time tuning. We have a finished predator bite call.







This call and a few of its buddies are headed to Austn this week to the Bowwiz shoot. So someone here will end up with it Hope ya'll enjoy this post I have fun doing it.

Thanks Jeff

[txtimetravler]

This is great. My dad has a huge lathe...ummmm

[Epack]

wow, u make duck calls too? id love to have a duck call with that wood

[Hog_Hunter]

Man that is awesome!!! So how do I get a couple of your calls?

[medic911]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I had a blast puttin this together.

[Bloodhound]

You're very talented, Medic. Like Hog Hunter said, how can I get one of your calls?

[kdc331]

That's awesome, Capt341 has his calls out tonight at the fire station. we were wondering how you get the deer antlers in it. Great work! That's funny we were looking at your calls today and you have a post on here this evening.

[medic911]

Bloodhound PM sent.

See kdc331 it was meant for you to by $400+ from me ....

The deer horn is a secret but you buy the above amount and I'll sing like a little birdie

[dennisomfs]

...well done..the call and the picture story !!!

[helibow]

The calls are great sounding too... I bought several before Christmas and they already have kills under them!

Hey medic... do you use a face mask when working with cocobola? I had heard that the dust has a high acid content or something like that and reak havoc on your lungs if you inhale... Is that true?

[medic911]

I know some call makers that can't turn coco cause of the acid. Some guys break out by gettin it on thier skin. I have yet to have a problem with it.
I dont use a mask, drives me crazy. I do use a fan right behind my lathe to blow the dust down and away from my face.

[Seemore]

I think you sould post over in the DIY section.
Great story and cool call.