How to get started?

[bowmike]

Hello all. I have not really been active on this forum, as life has gotten really busy for me. I am a die hard turkey hunting fanatic. I tagged out early, and still woke up at 4 just about every day to go out and listen, and practice with my calls and such. I am not a call maker by any means but really have a lot of respect for you guy.  I have taken an interest in call making by seeing some of the beautiful stuff you guys come up with. I would not see myself getting into it full bore right out of the gates, but think it would be something I would like and realy enjoy. I am also a livid fly fisherman, and tie all of my own flies. I used to have a business set up and sell them but life has gotten too busy for me to continue that.
I enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting and animal, taking its feathers and fur, and creating something to catch fish with. I think the same would be true if I got into call making.

I have seen quite a few pot call kits online where you just assemble them. Would this be a decent place to start?  Would I be better off contacting a call maker and seeing if they would sell me a blank or two to give it a try?

What types of calls can be made without a lot of wood working tools?

Do you have any other tips and advice, or can you direct me to any resources on getting started?


Thanks in advance for and advice or tips.

[mahoganymann]

Hey that sounds alot like the first messages I left on here!!!.. My advise to you is to get involved with your local chapter of the NWTF, there are usually a local callmaker that may be willing to share what he know and head you off in the right direction... Plus it will give you a great opportunity to make new buddies that are around your part of the woods.. Local first is definitely the way to get a great head start. It will be a huge bonus to be able to look over someones shoulder. Another great way to find locals is to head to you local speciality wood supplier, they sometime have woodturner clubs that you can usually find an call maker involved in.

Hope this helps!
steveb

[West Augusta]

Stop now and slooooowly back away. 

Sounds like you are already addicted.  Welcome to the club.
Once you start, there is no turning back.
I started with an axe, a knive, a rasp and a lot of sandpaper and made over 200 strikers.
I've since added a whole shop and am almost to 700 strikers now.
You can start small and work up.  You don't need expensive tools. 
Pot calls can be made a number of ways.  Some use lathes, some use a router, some a drill press and hole saws.  All work.
Have fun an post what you come up with. 

[bowmike]

I will be getting a router here soon. Any tips on making one with a router would be appreciated.

[West Augusta]

I will be getting a router here soon. Any tips on making one with a router would be appreciated.

Get a good set of bushings.  Make a template,  Use a bushing to set the surface shelf,  change bushing, rout the depth for the sound board, use another bushing to cut out the remainder but leave a sound board post.  I can't remember how I did that exactly but may have drilled the center out with a forstner bit on a drill press.   I screwed the template to the board that I was making the pot call out of and clamped it to my work bench.  Once the routing has been done, cut out the blank, sand, glue in sound board and surface.  I'll try to find my template and post a picture.
It was basically a board with a larger diameter hole in it and holes for flat head screws.  

[doublespurs21]

  have fun and always watch where your fingers are when using power tools,,,,,,,,,,,,,chris

[jmck]

Steve is right...."Stop now, and walk/run away"
hahahahaha
its a passion that really gets to ya--hope ya have fun with it -=--you will meet a lot of great folks doing it