How to make a duck call [step by step]
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- In this video I am turning a hunting duck call. I go through the process of turning the barrel, turning the insert, tuning the insert and end with a sound file of the call. If you are interested in the process of turning a duck call, please ask questions or leave comments on my process. I would love to hear back from you.
My lathe is a Nova Comet II with Rockler carbide turning tools.
Wood Type: Osage Orange or Bois d’ arc or Hedge
If you would like to get on our books for a custom order you can send us an email at mcduckcalls@gmail.com or check us out on facebook “McCain Calls” or Instagram @mccainduckcalls.
www.mccaincalls.com
![How To Make A Duck Call [step by step] Cocobolo Hunting Call](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3thiQyIPrl8/mqdefault.jpg)
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I seriously doubt I'll ever have the need for one of these and I doubt I'll ever make one, but they r so freaking fascinating and I love turning so thxs for showing how to do this!!!!!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the vid, watching from Perth Western Australia
That’s awesome! Glad you enjoyed it!
this saved a lot of calls from being destroyed by naughty people who wanted to know more about the insides
Haha it took me 10 years to get to this point
Hi man love the content I’ve been trying to make some calls to make some extra money I’m a teenager and just trying to figure stuff out would you have any info on your process of how to start from nothing and make real progress?
Send me a message on instagram and I’ll help you out
Thanks for the video - content like this is very helpful. Thanks! Would love a video of the band pinning process from start to finish.
Definitely I’ll make one soon
Super cool video man.
Thanks bud!
Great video!
Thanks!
Very satisfying to watch 😮😊
Thanks!
Any recommendations on woods for barrels and inserts? A harder wood like walnut of cherry seems like it’d be prone to cracking but a lighter wood like poplar seems like it wouldn’t hold up to time. Also great work
Walnut and cherry are great woods to make calls with. I’ve made a bunch out of walnut and they sound great. Just make sure they are dry. I let my wood dry for at least a year before turning
Wow, great job, JESUS loves you so so much more than you know for sure !!!!!!!!! GOD Bless !!!!
Nice job!
Thanks!
Great job 😉👏👏
Thanks!
How do you go about making each barrel and insert the same shape dimension wise? I never understood how some guys that turn every call they make were able to match each calls blueprint so perfectly
I use calipers to get the diameter and length dimensions right. Everything else is from years of repetition.
Where'd you get the cutting pat for your reeds? thing is awesome
It’s a guillotine paper cutter. You can get them from all craft stores or Amazon.
For your barrel hole....do you use a drill press, if so, what size press are your using? Do you have to adjust the height of the press stand to push all the way thru?
I use the lathe to do all my drills now. I would like to have a drill press one day. You’ll need at least three inches of travel to drill barrels
Do you mind sharing what carbide tool and tip you are using for roughing down the blank. You made really quick work of doing that.
Yessir. I use Rockler mini carbide tools. Keep in mind that the video is at 2x speed to reduce the video length.
Thank you. Beautiful calls!
Could you share some information with regards to the where and how of your brass band?
I use 3/4 female PEX plumbing fittings to make my bands. I can get three bands out of one fitting
what was that tool u used to measure the diameter of thr circle with the gauge
3:26
Those are calipers
Where did you get that metal guide when you cut the call in half
That is a custom jig I had made
Hi
I'm looking for advice/ recommendations on the type and brand of mandrel you use to turn your calls. Any info would be greatly appreciated greatly.
Thank you
My mandrel is an expanding mandrel from Webfoot custom calls
Does your jig have the end or do you square it off with your band saw? Thank you!👍🏻👍🏻
I square it off with my band saw
What is the tool in the tail stock at 20:40 ? A reamer? And are they available in different sizes/angles?
That’s correct. I started with one from harbor freight but recently swapped to a reamer used in machining tools
Hey I am wondering where I can get a guide like yours to cut the buttom end of the call !!
You can purchase a public jig at Webfoot custom calls.
and what is that used to clamp thr insert down at 21:13
That is a jig. You can buy them From several places but mine is a custom design.
Do you drill all your inserts the same length?
Yes. That is the only way you can create a consistent sound. All dimensions need to be repeated with each call.
how do you get a straight 1/4 hole in your insert for your tone board? Mine just can never seem to be straight
I can make a video about this. Make sure to start with a flat surface. You don’t want to drill into a surface that isn’t true. Try using a center drill bit to start your hole and then swap to a drill bit. Do you mark the high spot when you cut the toneboard on your jig?
Greetings, what is the sizing sled you are using? Thanks for a great video!
12x10 Nova Comet II midi lathe
@@mccaincalls4879 Thanks!
hiya mate, what's the name of the jig you use to cut a perfectly even insert stick with? the one you used at 10:38 in the vid
It’s a custom jig that I had made from years of trial and error
Where do you get your reed material? Or do you order blank reeds from anywhere particular?
I buy it from deadshot polymers
What size bit for the insert? Do you use a specialized bit or brand?
I’ve had trouble with the insert depth….any suggestions?
Thank you!
I use aircraft 1/4” bit with an extended shank. I think it is a 6” long bit. Make sure to take your time and drill at the right speed.
Do you finish your calls with anything?
I soak them in velvit oil for a few hours and let them air dry for a day or two. After they dry, they get buffed with Tripoli.
@@mccaincalls4879 would you mind sharing what velvit oil you use and where you get it as well as what Tripoli polish you use?
How did you make the indint in the part were the cork and the reed go
I use a custom jig from Webfoot waterfowl
Great video! I'm been looking into call making recently, and wondering how did you come up with the insert shape. I've seen many people start out with flat jigs, and if you started with that what one did you start out with?
I started with a public jig for the first 5-6 years then used a flat jig to create my own design. I started with a Webfoot PJ2 public jig to learn
Great work! Is that a milling attachment for the lathe? What is the name of it? Thanks
I use two different lathes. One is a mini metal lathe and the other is a wood lathe. I use the metal lathe for making my insert tennons. Consistent tennons are the key to repeatable sound.
How would I make them on a wood lathe
I have several videos showing how I make them on my wood lathe
Where do u get ur blanks at.
Several places. Mostly from Facebook groups
Where did you get your expanding mandrel at? 4:58
You can get them from River mallard or webfoot custom calls
What size step bit are you using to bore out the toneboard?
I use these bits from harbor freight. www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-stepless-drill-bits-66463.html
Thank you for the link.
I'm going to pick some of those up.
Can you start out on a cheap mini lathe? VEVOR sells one and was gonna try it out before getting a nice one
Get a good lathe. I bought an old craftsman lathe after I dealt with a cheap mini lathe that almost caught on fire. Be willing to spend a little, or check for a good used one. My old craftsman belt drive is smooth and stable, and works well.
100% agree. I started on a harbor freight lathe and that didn’t cut it after about three months. Put that money towards a used delta or jet
@@mccaincalls4879 I’m eventually wanting to get a delta or jet. Definitely in my list
Just curious to how many calls you make a year?
I try to finish one a week. So anywhere from 50-75 calls a year is the goal.
Im new to wood working. Whats the tools you are using at 2:02 ?
I am using a carbide gouge on the lathe to turn the woods to size.
@@mccaincalls4879 can I use this lathe for turkey calls too? Have you made any turkey calls?
I haven’t tried Turkey calls yet but you can definitely use this lathe to turn pot calls and strikers.
@@mccaincalls4879 what Chuck do you think you would use for making a turkey pot call?
Hey I got some questions about your tone board jig and how different ones effect the overall sound
My jig is a custom jig that matches a toneboard I made several years ago from a flat jig. There are several public jigs available from Webfoot custom calls and pin tail waterfowl that will get you call that quacks. What are your questions?
I want to make a acrylic call and make one for a single reed. So are there some jigs designed specifically for double and single reeds? Or do u custom ur soundboard after getting a general shape
Toneboard*
Most are for single reeds but you can make a few changes to make it a double reed. It takes a lot of trial and error. It took me 6 years to get my toneboard where I liked it before I sent it out for a custom jig to be made.
@@mccaincalls4879 yes sir man I Sure appreciate the feedback. Thank ya
Is your blank drilled out at 5/8 (.625)? Great looking calls!
Thanks! Yes, I drill the blanks to 5/8 for the barrel
Does it sound good?
I think so. There are a bunch of sound files on my instagram
awesome video what is that tool called and where did you buy that from in 20:30
That is a reamer. You can buy them at any hardware store.
What polish do you put on your calls to make them shine like that?
I soak them in velvit oil for a couple hours then let them dry a day or two. After they are dry I buff them on a buffing wheel
@@mccaincalls4879 gotcha. Is it a certain kind of velvet oil?
I use velvit oil from shop dog turnery
is there away to do with out a lathe?
It’s possible. Many of the old call makers carved them with knives.
What kind of finish did you put on your duck call?
I soak the calls in velvit oil then let them dry for a day or two. After drying, I buff them with Tripoli wheel.
Do you dilute your velvet oil with anything like mineral spirits, and can you reuse the same oil or do you have to use new oil. Also can you buff your calls with paste/hard wax?
I also meant to ask how long do you let them soak for
I let them soak for an hour or two at most. I don’t dilute the velvit oil any because it is already thin. Make sure to store it with an air tight seal. It will get hard with exposure to oxygen.
I buff with a Tripoli. I haven’t had good success with wax lasting very long
What is the jig you’re using to carve your inserts
It’s a custom jig made by Webfoot Custom calls. I made an insert that I liked and sent it to him to map and recreate so I can replicate the sound.
Thanks! Just getting into this. Thought id buy a lathe and get started, 4k dollars later i alsmost have everything i need lol. Wood is also expensive. Do you find you can turn a green blank and have no issues? I mean the ones i purchased come wax sealed on the ends but i find when i turn them or drill them out its very moist inside still.
Also did you get a custom jig from webfoot? I just got in their PJ1 (100 bucks) and hoping it will be sufficient and i can tweak the sound a little with other adjustments
Definitely stay away from green wood when making calls. The wood will shrink and affect the sound and will likely crack. Always buy from a reputable source!
Yessir. I started with a PJ2, then a flat jig. Webfoot made my custom jig. Wade does a great job
@@mccaincalls4879 whats a reputable source online?
Send me an email. Mcduckcalls@gmail.com
Where do you get your bands at?
I make mine from PEX 3/4” sweat female fittings. You can buy bands from several websites though. I use River Mallard or Webfoot to buy most of my supplies.
What are all the attachments called for the insert
The jig?
where do you get your wood and rings?
I make the bands from PEX 3/4” female sweat fittings. I buy the wood from several different companies on Facebook
Where did you get that mandrel?
It’s an expanding mandrel from Webfoot calls
How much do the power tools cost
A lathe entry level lathe is around 500-600 dollars
@ what about that bandsaw? My best friend and I want to start making duck calls and we’ve watched your videos to learn we plan to start soon. I also wanted to ask how much money would it take to start making them? Just an estimation
What wood lathe do you use
I use a Delta now, I had a Nova for 9 years that did a great job
Does anyone know the approximate lengths for the barrel and mouthpiece blocks?
That’s totally dependent on the sound you want from the call. My finished barrels are anywhere from 2.55”-2.65” based on what the customer is looking for.
@@mccaincalls4879 do you have a video that breaks this down? Me and my family are starting to get into hunting more and if I can make afew calls for us I can save some cash but id like to do it right
I have a video that shows how barrel length affects sound. It took me 6 years to get my toneboard design how I liked it. If you are looking to make a few calls cheap just buy a few inserts from echo and make the barrels yourself. That should cost you about $10 per call if you already have the tools.
@@mccaincalls4879 thats the route I was leaning, I had seen jc's though, it looked like they had more insert options, atleast on the site I was on. Thanks for your time
Was hoping for sure you were going to blow it at the end so we could hear it…never did 😠 😂
Haha sorry about that. There are several other videos on my channel of me blowing the calls too
كيف بدك تساولي وحدي لصوط طير المطوق وتبعتلي فيديو
haw to toon a duck call
Made me cringe with that box cutter cutting toward you....... sheesh.
Haha it goes against everything I’ve been taught but a sharp blade and paying attention does wonders
Great vid but wanted to hear it lol
There are a ton of soundfiles on my Instagram and one or two in other UA-cam videos