Yotarunner
Custom Call Maker
I made this post for the Alberta forum I'm a part of but figure you folks would enjoy it as well.
after someone else asked about my process a while back I realized folks here would probably be interested. Being this is the Alberta outdoorsman forum it's only fair I show how I process and use local woods.
The woods I'm using are box elder (Manitoba maple) burl and believe it or not caragana.
Caragana is the tall weedlike shrub that is used for shelter belt around so many old farm sites. The box elder burls I find largely at old farm sites, I look around for the gnarled burl portions of the tree. Fair warning this thread will be picture heavy
From here il cut out the portions I want with a chainsaw and then stick them in the shed for a year or until they show dry with a moisture meter.
The caragana is cut in long sticks and dried the same.
When dry I use the bandsaw to cut into call size blocks. The caragana gets the bark turned off on the lathe. They look like this
From here they are dried for 2 hours at 200 degrees in the toaster oven then into the vacuum chamber for stabilizing.
The stabilizing process is submerging the dried wood in ultra thin dyed resin then putting it under vacuum for 2 days. After 2 days vacuum is released and the wood sits for 4 days to allow the resin to impregnate the wood.
It comes out like this.
From here the wood is set in the toaster oven again to be cured. 210 degrees all the way through is the goal. Too much heat and the resin leaches out, too low it doesn't set.
From here blanks are drilled on the lathe.
The caragana blanks seldom have cracks so then it's on to shaping.
The call is finished and sanded from 400-1000 grit and friction polish finish is applied. Ready for toneboard
Caragana is awesome as the dark heartwood doesn't take colour while the bright yellow outer wood takes it amazing which creates a super cool contrast.
Then on to the box elder burl.
This box elder piece had lots of knots so water thin CA glue is applied and set to fill in and solidify the tiny imperfections and prevent tearout when turning.
The call body is shaped and one more round of knot filling is done to make sure no water will ever find its way into the call.
From here I prefer a CA glue finish as it really aids in sealing any of the imperfections and knots that this wood has and it really showcases the beauty of the intricate grains and pattern. The finish involves running the lathe at slow speeds and applying 10+ coats of ultra thin glue
after someone else asked about my process a while back I realized folks here would probably be interested. Being this is the Alberta outdoorsman forum it's only fair I show how I process and use local woods.
The woods I'm using are box elder (Manitoba maple) burl and believe it or not caragana.
Caragana is the tall weedlike shrub that is used for shelter belt around so many old farm sites. The box elder burls I find largely at old farm sites, I look around for the gnarled burl portions of the tree. Fair warning this thread will be picture heavy
From here il cut out the portions I want with a chainsaw and then stick them in the shed for a year or until they show dry with a moisture meter.
The caragana is cut in long sticks and dried the same.
When dry I use the bandsaw to cut into call size blocks. The caragana gets the bark turned off on the lathe. They look like this
From here they are dried for 2 hours at 200 degrees in the toaster oven then into the vacuum chamber for stabilizing.
The stabilizing process is submerging the dried wood in ultra thin dyed resin then putting it under vacuum for 2 days. After 2 days vacuum is released and the wood sits for 4 days to allow the resin to impregnate the wood.
It comes out like this.
From here the wood is set in the toaster oven again to be cured. 210 degrees all the way through is the goal. Too much heat and the resin leaches out, too low it doesn't set.
From here blanks are drilled on the lathe.
The caragana blanks seldom have cracks so then it's on to shaping.
The call is finished and sanded from 400-1000 grit and friction polish finish is applied. Ready for toneboard
Caragana is awesome as the dark heartwood doesn't take colour while the bright yellow outer wood takes it amazing which creates a super cool contrast.
Then on to the box elder burl.
This box elder piece had lots of knots so water thin CA glue is applied and set to fill in and solidify the tiny imperfections and prevent tearout when turning.
The call body is shaped and one more round of knot filling is done to make sure no water will ever find its way into the call.
From here I prefer a CA glue finish as it really aids in sealing any of the imperfections and knots that this wood has and it really showcases the beauty of the intricate grains and pattern. The finish involves running the lathe at slow speeds and applying 10+ coats of ultra thin glue
