Striker care

[RiverRoost]

Tips for  striker care. Should I use sandpaper on the tips and keep them brushed off with green pad that comes in primos slick trick or should I do anything to the tips beside keep them clean?

[GED6531]

I believe this is a subject that many people will agree to disagree. Here is what I personally do. When the call starts slipping I'll first condition the actual pot surface. If it still slips, I'll then take the striker and put the tip in the center of the scotch brite pad and twist the striker about 5 seconds. I know a lot of people that like to take sand paper and rough it up more; I personally don't like to do that because I am afraid I will mess up the profile and the sound of the striker over time.

[callmakerman]

I believe this is a subject that many people will agree to disagree. Here is what I personally do. When the call starts slipping I'll first condition the actual pot surface. If it still slips, I'll then take the striker and put the tip in the center of the scotch brite pad and twist the striker about 5 seconds. I know a lot of people that like to take sand paper and rough it up more; I personally don't like to do that because I am afraid I will mess up the profile and the sound of the striker over time.

What he said

[WillowRidgeCalls]

It depends a lot on what woods the strikers made of? Some woods sound better and play better, the dirtier they are. I like using a fine grit sandpaper on mine if I need to clean one. I don't care for a scratch pad, just because it glazes the tip too smooth, at least for a glass surface, a slate surface it works great. A couple of twist to clean it is fine, you don't need to sand it down just to make it play, if you do then junk that striker because it's not to good!

[Snoodsniper]

Stay with the slick stick. Just freshen up the scotchbrite pad once in a while.

[jakesdad]

I usually just draw 3-4 circles with mine on a scotch brite pad.Just enough to clean off any gunk but not enough to change the shape/profile

[mgm1955]

I believe this is a subject that many people will agree to disagree. Here is what I personally do. When the call starts slipping I'll first condition the actual pot surface. If it still slips, I'll then take the striker and put the tip in the center of the scotch brite pad and twist the striker about 5 seconds. I know a lot of people that like to take sand paper and rough it up more; I personally don't like to do that because I am afraid I will mess up the profile and the sound of the striker over time.

What he said

Good info Bill!

[TnTurk]

I started using the red scotch brite pads kind of like the ones that auto detailers use. They are a little more abrasive than the green and wont slick over the tip like the green tends to do on some woods.

[edjenkins]

I use medium grit sanding sponges and cut them up in small pieces to take in the field.  The sanding sponge conforms to the tip and doesn't change the profile.  A couple twists and you are ready to go.