Game call blanks.

[Bucko]

I'd be cautious of the Walnut for allergies, spalted wood a no, no for mouth contact. I'd go with the Beech from your list of selection, THO call web site has plenty of info. I quite making calls about 6 yrs ago as market is flooded now with calls, a personal hit with the neighbor son would be to make about 3 calls and have him try out the calls outside and give him his pic. There's times a call looks good but sounds crappy and outside trying is the way to go. Enjoy your build--

[Tim'sTurnings]

Good ideas and recommendations. I do have a Beech blank cut to the right size but I wasn't sure if it was a hardwood. Uh oh, I believe my Beech has some spalting so I should not use yes? I plan on making a few calls for this fall if my health is ok. Giving my neighbor his pick of some I make is a great idea. I am thinking this might lead to some good sales. My neighbor has a deer camp for him and his hunting buddies North of me a ways so word of mouth and them seeing the call should make for some sales.
I plan on making some with what I have: Walnut, Maple, Beech, Honey Locust and maybe Red Cedar. I have some Box Elder but I think it might be too soft, maybe the Red Cedar would be too soft too but it sure would look nice. I was going to also make some out of my Red Oak but now I won't, thanks for the warning about moisture being an issue. I do have some tropical exotics like some mentioned previously but I want to keep my costs low so I can sell at a reasonable price.
Thanks for all the input fellow wood turners. 
 
Tim.

[Arlin Eastman]

Tim

Are you going to put the woods into an acrylic mold?  Have you ever used several small pieces cut up to cast a mold in?  Just wondering what it would look like to have some dark and light wood mixed with maybe some Padauk or Redheart or Bloodwood.  Something like 1/4 inch chunks all mixed together.

[Tim'sTurnings]

No Arlin I'm not making acrylic calls but you are right the mixture of woods and resins would be interesting. I am using component parts from Craft Supply USA and Penn State Industries which will make 2 different looking deer game calls. I am going to make all my calls out of wood and use the parts and bushings for the extension tube, the holder for the reed, the lanyard and o-rings from the vendors to be connected to my turned call body. I think they look more solid and less plastic-like to the customer made with wood from my area of Central Michigan. I have made some pen blanks and seam ripper blanks out of polyresin so I am familiar with it but I want to use wood. I think in my mind anyway they would look more "authentic". Thanks for the comments.
Tim.

[daddo]

Mesquite. Has a rich dark color- even some yellow, black and red if you like.

http://quackycalls.com/p1020930b/

[chips ahoy]

I agree with you Tim,prefer to make my duck calls out of wood, not interested in acrylic.

Mel