Brian Keahey

Here's a few more. That's it for today.

The first is a matched set of open-reed, closed-reed and squeaker buckeye burl predator calls. The second is a checkered cocabola goose flute. The third is a carved and checkered cedar duck call. The forth is a carved and checkered green bois d'arc duck call. The last is a shallow black walnut bowl.

Thanks, Brian.

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Bob Willing

Brian

Those are some really beautiful call. The checkering is outstanding. Where do you get your wood? What type of finish do you use on your calls? I make calls myself but not the detail that you demonstrate. I noticed in your first post and this one you have a rounded brass ring. Do you form your own or do you purchase them? I assume you make your own tone boards. I purchase all of my call inserts but some day I might try making a tone board jig.

I am trying to settle on a finish for my calls but I am still hunting for the right one.

Brian Keahey

Thanks Bob. Most of the exotics I use in my calls comes from All Righteous Wood. They are great people to deal with. Most of the domestic wood I harvest myself. The buckeye burl actually came from a large slab wall clock I picked up at an estate sale. The green bois d'arc comes from fence posts that have sat in wet ground for many years. I cut my own brass bands from brass pipe. The rounded edge was turned with my spindle gouge. I buy thicker walled brass pipe for those bands and shape them after they have been epoxied and pinned to the call body. Yes, I make my own toneboards. Making your own gives you total control over their sound. I make my initial toneboard jigs out of hard maple to refine the sound, and then I have a local machine shop make a hardened steel version of it for me. As far as the finish, I soak most of my wooden calls in teak oil for 24 hours, wipe off the excess and allow them to dry. Once they are dry, I buff and polish on a Beall 3-On set up. The naturally oily rosewoods simply get buffed.

Brian.

firehawkmph

Very nice Brian.
Do you cut the checkering by hand? If so, how long does it take you to do one call? Just curious.
Mike Hawkins

Brian Keahey

Hey Mike. Yes I cut my checkering by hand, one line at a time. The amount of time it takes to checker a call depends on the type of wood and the size of the call. On my standard call with 3 checkered panels, it takes roughly 3 hours from intial layout to final sizing of the diamonds. On my 6 panel carved and checkered calls, it takes roughly 8- 10 hours from layout to final sizing.

jdixon

Beautiful work there Brian. Very, very nice!

John