Attaching the paddle

Measure back from the front end of the paddle 5/8", make a mark there then center your mark between the two sides of the paddle. This is THE MOST IMPORTANT PART! Make sure the hole you drill is in the center. The hole should be large enough to allow the screw to fall through freely but catch the head of the screw firmly. For this call stop by your local hardware and buy yourself a 1 1/4" galv deck screw. While you're there pick up a nice spring for the call. At Ace Hardware it's a Number 9 spring from their assortment box. Any 1/4" by 3/4" wire compression spring will work. It should be just strong enough to lift the paddle off the box. Too strong and your call will be hard to use.

I find that in life my opinions sometimes change, but never my belief that I am right.

Now we can drill a hole in the call body. I'm trusting that you let it dry overnight!

Measure back 1/2" from the front end of the call body and make a mark. Center that mark between the two sides of the call. Again I must express it's VERY IMPORTANT to center this hole. Make sure the hole is small enough to accept the screw you bought and allow it to tighten up.

Let's attach that paddle and see if we have sound!

Here is the concept, I know it's simple but if I didn't put this in the instructions some moron would attach the paddle to the side of the call. Just trust me on that.

1) SCREW THOUGH THE PADDLE
2) SPRING ON THE SCREW

3) SCREW INTO HOLE IN BOX
4) TIGHTEN SCREW UNTIL PADDLE IS LEVEL ON TOP OF BOX

Got some sound when you crank it? Excellent! It doesn't have to be great sound, you may have to spend some time tuning the call. Rule of thumb, thinner sides = more deep raspy, thicker sides = higher pitch.

Our local schools have started teaching sex education. Last year our state passed a law that said all school books must be available in braille. Now there's a book I'd like to buy.

Take a piece of sandpaper and slightly I SAID SLIGHTLY slope the top of the sides inward. This seats the paddle to the call and makes for good sound. The bottom of the paddle should be smooth as should be the top of the sides.

Use 150 grit paper to sand the top of the sides and the bottom of the paddle. Then use 0000 steel wool to smooth them even more. Finally, take the 150 grit paper and go over them again about four strokes forwards and backwards, no circular motion.

Getting the bottom of the paddle and the top of the sides the fight surface texture is key to call tuning.

Finishing the call

Sand the call and round all the corners. Do any shaping or detail work you may want to do. It doesn't help the sound, but why not make it look good?

Use polyurethane on the call. Lacquer is easier but poly holds up better under humid conditions. Always get your sound right before applying the finish! And after you get it sprayed and looking good be sure to remove any surface spray from the bottom of the paddle and top of the sides with 150 grit paper.

Never give up, building the call is easy, tuning it is harder. It's not complicated, but it takes some time. As you build calls you'll learn some tricks to speed up the tuning process.

I hope you've had fun reading this and maybe trying to build a call. I'm usually busy with my businesses or just doing chores for my wife, but I can usually find time to answer some questions. Just post them to the message board at Calltrader.Com and myself or several other callmakers can lend you a hand.

So what's the meaning of life? I think the universe is like a huge carnival and we're all stuck at the freak show. All I ever wanted from life was to prove to myself that money can't buy happiness.

<<<PREVIOUS PAGE