American Chestnut

[Jake St. John]

Had about 43 looks at the English Chestnut and no responders on that one.   -    Now I know some of you use American Chestnut.  I have never used it.   Not looking for any sources or secrets, just a voice of experience as to what it works up like.   Comparisons to some other common woods in density, workability, and sound. 

Thanks in Advance,
John

[AlanKrow]

 I wish I could help you... not a callmaker.!!!

I have several make from it.. Good stuff..a hardwood
It good with about anything.. Cherry, Maple, Purpleheart,Walnut, cedar, and chestnut...
also make very good pot call...

Sorry....
 

[Morgan]

John...send some down here...and when I get time....I will let you know.....

[Bulldogmikey]

John, I don't build boxes. But McKamey will tell you it's one of my favorite woods. Not only because of the history and the beauty of the wood, I also love the tone. Have some calls made from it and they are awesome. If it is reclaimed it can be very dense if it is from a dry sourse. Ask Jeff McKamey and Richard Helsby, They use quite a bit! It would be one of my three choices for a box!

Mike

[West Augusta]

I have never heard of English Chestnut. I have seen but never used American Chestnut.  I have used some Chinese Chestnut for strikers It's ok but not my favorite.

[HelsbysCustomCalls]

Being mostly a reclaimed wood, I find it is usually very dry. It's going to give you a high pitch that gives you some trouble getting rid of it. I like the stuff myself, but its time consuming during the tuning process.

[fargobox]

Richard is right, this is a hard wood, almost crispy like and yep very dry normally.  It seems to typically produce a high pitch front end and sort of a scratchy low end finish--can be great for a windy day.

[Jake St. John]

John...send some down here...and when I get time....I will let you know.....

I have a source that is enough for you and me both.  It is the English variety, planted on an old home place in Batesville a good while ago and dead and dying.  I got two 14 inch logs Sun. Pm, they were cracked pretty bad, I split on the crackes with an axe and then took a section and split it 1 inch thick.  (Would have used my chain saw, but my son had it 2 hrs. away.)  Ran it through the planner and it looks most like persimmon.  This is one of the main woods Stribling used in his calls.  It won't look like much unless it is stained to match the walnut, but I think it will be some good call wood with a good sound.  I made a couple of Turpin boxes out of persimmon and they are top notch.  I know your boxes are similiar, I will bring you ca couple of logs and you can try it out.  

[Turkeybuster]

I have a five call set of 100+ year old american chestnut built by Al and Josh Shoemaker that I wouldnt part with.
The sound is outstanding as is the tone variations that can be acheived it is one of my favorite woods for tone.

Jon

[SS Custom Calls]

Jon, you contributed to my gray hair and bad nerves with those calls!!    It makes a good call, but is very time consuming to tune.

[Turkeybuster]

Sorry Budro when I order the next 5 I am going to send a bottle Grecian Formula 44 along with the order pm. me with the color.

Jon

[Blackfalcon]

Al, need some Chestnut?

[charlieparrish]

I use it when I can get a good piece of it..most is old barn siding or timbers. ..I recently came into a limited amount of chestnut logs about 16" diameter and 24" long. I made a couple of scratchers out of it today..they have been cut a long time and are relatively free of worms and insects...I like the way it sounds

[Trophy_Taker]

Chestnut is one of my favorites for box calls.  It can be a pain to work with and tune and usually is dry and brittle but worth the extra work in my opinion.  And it usually has some history to it also.  Here are a few calls I've made with it and an end result .





Matt...

[Jake St. John]

Looking at the grain there, English Chestnut is very similiar.  It is also similiar to Persimmon that is the devil to tune also.  The persimmon does give a higher and harder sound.  It does carry in the wind or heavy woods though.  Think I will work it up on a gobbling stribling box and put a mahogany paddle on it and see what she sounds like.  Thanks guys.