Question About Box Calls

[hunter22]

A friend and I were recently discussing box calls and both of us have gotten box calls in the past that sounded fine when we first got them. But in a matter of time one side of both our calls just stopped playing. You cound not even get a squeek out of them. Curious as to what would cause a box call just to stop playing? Neither call was ever taken outside and were both kept in controlled environments. Thanks....

[Silverspur]

Not a box call expert at all and my only thought is chalk build up sometimes has caused issues along with where the call is stored and humidity factors.  I am probably wrong but these are my shallow thoughts.

[B-Ready]

Try lightly sanding the lid with 320 or higher and some fresh chalk. You can dress the rails but be very careful not to mess up the radius.

[Ravin]

Try lightly sanding the lid with 320 or higher and some fresh chalk. You can dress the rails but be very careful not to mess up the radius.

Agree. Any oil from fingers and handling can cause this to happen also.

[Gobbler Commander]

what kinda wood ? my guess not native ruff the lid up im think it might be oils in the wood

[Silverspur]

My older Lynch and Ben Lee calls changed a little over time but once you touch them up a little they can sound good again!

[strutnrut]

Could be a number of things. I would say oil or moisture. If the wood wasn't fully dry this will cause problems latter on. If the call drew moisture it will displace that moisture to the chalk. Are both side doing it or just one? It could be any number of thing. It's hard to pin point what happened without having the call.
I have seen this happen in oily wood. As the call ages the oil changes. Teak is bad about this but conditioning the paddle and rails should do the trick.
I sent one out that quit running on one side but by the time I got it back the oil had stabilized and it's running fine. Contact the callmaker. I would say chances are they have seen it in the past at some point.

[GR8CALLS]

Depending on how much moisture was in the wood when the call, was made and where you live (humidity changes), wood will adapt to those changes. It can gain moisture or loose it. This can and will, cause issues.

Bill

[trb136]

Depending on how much moisture was in the wood when the call, was made and where you live (humidity changes), wood will adapt to those changes. It can gain moisture or loose it. This can and will, cause issues.

Bill

What He said.

[longbeard48]

Yeah, I think Bill is right.  I'd wager that a call (even one made of kiln dried wood) tuned here in Mississippi would adapt itself to Arizona's humidity (or lack thereof) after a period of time, and its sound would definately be altered.  I caution my customers about leaving their scratch box in the truck between hunts, even just overnight.
Tom 

[Spring Dragon]

very good post!
 
I have experienced this in several forms.  I bought a set of calls once from Albert Paul and we all know his calls are spot on when he makes them.  When I received them they played very well for about a couple weeks and then all 4 of them went to heck and starting having squeaks, strange high pitches and terrible roll over.  I couldn't for the life of me figure out what happened and none of them were ever chalked either.  Now, keep in mind, they came from the south, Albert's shop to PA.  The season was winter.  Humidity and heating sources were definitely a factor.  Well several months later I got them back out and noticed they were playing very well again.  What changed... I think the call woods had to adjust to the climate changes from their origin to mine.  Whats more strange is over time, about one year... they got even better in play and sound and now are as good as a call could ever be.

I also had the same thing happen with box calls from other makers and noticed the season and climatic conditions affected the play and sound but once all my calls had time to adjust in my home,state, weather they seem to come back or bounce back if you will.  So I agree with the others.  Not un-common.

Lesson learned.  When you receive a call don't be to rash and quick to send it back or rule it out as a bad call.  Give it time and see what happens.  Could just be it needs time to dry out, change/adapt to humidity and climatic conditions.  Might have a rock star of call and not know it right away.   

[3CB]

Neil minimized this by taking months to tune a call, said it had to settle in....

[Spring Dragon]

You know... something else some guys don't think about.  When you are not using your calls, whether for a few days or storing them over time...always take a moment and clean off all the chalk from the rails and paddle thoroughly with a paper towel and then even a slightly damp paper towel.  Chalk draws moisture and when it is stored that way over time the moisture can damage the wood and affect the grain.  I always clean the chalk off my calls after every hunt.  Also, never store your box calls with rubber bands or lid securing devices as this can cause the paddle to flex &  shift on the radius and also the rails to compress due to moisture and climatic changes as our seasons change and our heating in our homes change.  Store them with the lid relaxed and resting normal on the rails.  I once made these mistakes and notice one spring on a box call the paddle was bent almost like Dick Kirby's arched paddle calls and the call never played well again.  Moisture and stressful pressure pulling downward on the paddle literally warped the paddle.---jason

[strutnrut]

Jason is right. You also don't want to hang your trumpet call from the rearveiw mirror. The sun will work magic on them mouthpieces.   

[GR8CALLS]

Neil minimized this by taking months to tune a call, said it had to settle in....

You could also send your call back to Neil and he would retune it. He understood that even taking months to get a call finished, it could loose its sound due to climate changes.

Bill