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Box call maintainance

Started by PEte_A, March 29, 2020, 06:39:14 PM

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PEte_A

Hey folks,

I have a few boxes and it seems like they are getting less grippy between the lid and box over time. They still play well loud, but are tougher to play quietly. I normally use scotch bright to clean the bottom of the lid and the rails and then re chalk. Any suggestions on other things to try?

Pete

palongbeard

I use very fine emery  paper and lightly clean lid and box contact surface.  Try to get it cleaned off as even as you can with minimal pressure.  Next I lightly go over lid with half moon railroad chalk.  Take the emery paper and barely touch lid going over it to even out chalk.  This has worked on every box and push pin call I have.  That's what works for me.    I have brought lots of guys calls back to life using this simple method.

Spring Creek Calls

This is how I "start over" on a box call. 
Wipe the remaining chalk off lid and rails with a soft rag.
Scotch brite (green) both to remove any remaining chalk. Go light on the rails.
Sand the underside of the lid lightly with 400 +/- grit sandpaper.
Apply a light coat of your favorite box call chalk to the lid.
2014  SE Call Makers Short Box 2nd Place
2017  Buckeye Challenge Long Box 5th Place
2018  Mountain State Short Box 2nd Place
2019  Mountain State Short Box 1st Place
2019  NWTF Great Lakes Scratch Box 4th Place
2020 NWTF GNCC Amateur 5th Place Box
2021 Mountain State 3rd Place Short Box
2021 SE Callmakers 1st & 2nd Short Box
E-mail: gobblez@aol.com
Website: springcreekturkeycalls.weebly.com

PEte_A

#3
Thanks for the responses guys. Got a couple boxes sounding really good :)

tlh2865

Good question and good info for me too!

PEte_A


WorkingBirds


Oldschoolboxcalls

Ok, here's what I do to keep my box calls running smooth. I rarely ever touch up the side rails on a box call. But if I had to, I would use a scotch bright pad and gently rub off old chalk going in the direction of front to back, so start in the front of the call and lightly rub towards the screw end. For the lid it's simple, rub old chalk off with scotch bright pad and then sand with some 120 grit paper going with the grain back and forth a few times. Re apply chalk same way as you sanded and you should be good to go. You want the rougher paper on the lid to allow the lid to grip the side rails, after running it a while it will wear smooth marks on the lid where it runs across the side rails forming a W or angel wings. Good luck.

vt35mag

If I use anything on the rails it's a green scotch brite pad and its only 3 or 4 light strokes. If i do this at all, its once, no more that twice in an entire year on a heavily used call.
I do not use any emery cloth, drywall screen, or sandpaper on the rails. You do not want to be removing any wood from the rail, which is more likely to occur with more abrasive materials. If you are removing material you are shortening the rail and how the lid rides it, which can change the tune, and will change the tune if done frequent enough.
I will once in a great while use a fine grit sandpaper on the bottom of the lid to raise the grain back up on a heavily used call. I use little to no pressure when sanding with the length of the lid, so I don't change the radius of the lid or put flat spots in it.


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