box call

[twinters]

hey guys,I need some help.I have been building box calls for a couple of years,but they have been glued up boxes,they sound good,but I really want to build boxes out of solid blocks of wood.
   I have about 1,000 bf of butternut,and walnut 8/4 lumber that I have been sawing at the sawmill where I work.I have cut out several blanks that I want to make calls out of.
   I hogged one out today,and shaped a lid for it,but this thing sounds horrible,I think I got my rails to thin,it sounds like a duck chocking on a corn cob.
the first lid I shaped was cedar,the second lid was cherry,but same results.
  I guess what I need to know is,are my dimensions ok for this box I have in mind.
  I started with a 2x2x8 inch block,then I cut the sides on a 5 degree angle.I hogged out a 5 inch center for the box.The box is 1 3/4 inches from bottom of box to the highest point of my rails,with a gentle curve from end to end.I left the inside bottom at 1/4 inch thick.
  I hogged out another box,but have not drilled it for the lid yet,I wanted to get some advice before I waste any more of my good wood.
I did pay close attention to the way the grain is running.The box has the grain running from back of the box to the front,and the lids are running from front to back.The box material is riff sawn,and the lid material is quarter sawn.
I would really appreciate any advice,and may even be willing to part with some of the blanks,just to get some help with this.Thank you in advance.Twinters 

[J Lacey]

Can you post a pic of the call you made so we can get a better idea of your progress?


Jeff

[twinters]

I wish I could,but don't know how to post pictures on here

[TripleGobbleCalls]

Something to keep in mind when doing box calls, is that the less wood in the call, the more it's going to change your sound. In my opinion, I would leave a 1/2" on the bottom of your call instead of a 1/4" and start with sides that are 3/16" thick, and then hand sand them to the tune you want

[twinters]

Thank you for your reply,I wondered if the bottom thickness might have something to do with it,and also should I have my highest part of the rail a little forward of center or should it be in the very center of the call.This is so much different than a glued box,but much more enjoyable.I started my second box,but it was a fail also,this time I kept the rails at about 1/4 and sanded them down from there,got a little better sound,but still not good,(I would not dare hunt with it)Any more help would be greatly appreciated.Thanks Twinters

[TRKYHTR]

You can buy Neill Costs book on "Double sided boxes" from Branton Berryhill. It's only 20.00. It comes with dimensions. Good luck.

Joe

http://www.brantonberryhill.com/products.html

[twinters]

Thank you I will pick up a copy.

[BT]

In addition to the book mentioned above, you might also want to Check out these two links:

http://woodbarter.com/threads/turkey-box-call-tutorial-how-i-make-a-box-call.11032/

http://www.customcalls.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1234034610


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[Brantley]

Hey, I tried to send you a message but I think it failed. I've built a few butternut calls and from my experience, butternut does best when using walnut or purpleheart as a paddle. Ive tried butternut and cedar and it didnt work out for me. Butternut and walnut will sing all day long. If your radii are correct on your sides and your paddle, your soundingboards are at the right thickness, and you're still sounding that bad- I'd try a different lid.