October Workbench

Eric Patterson

Eric Patterson

Administrator
Staff member
Work on the giant duck calls still underway. I spent today working on the inserts. Earlier I used my pattern maker lathe to start the shape of the bugle. The first picture shows what this looks like after that step. The next step is to turn that angular shape into a gentle curve. Now a lot of folks would do that step by hand. The problem is I'm making a batch of calls and I want them to look alike. The taper of the "bugle" is super sensitive and even slight differences cause the insert to protrude more or less. A few thousandths too much is all it takes to make the call swallow the insert too deep.

Img_7669.jpg

To remedy this I made a jig that controls the depth of cut and yields the exact same profile on every insert. The below pictures shows the jig and the insert after turning the bugle.

IMG_7736.JPG

IMG_7737.JPG

IMG_7734.JPG

IMG_7739.JPG
 
Last edited:
Richard, Oliver did not make a tracer attachment or any other copy devices. Aftermarket ones exist that will fit.

William, thanks for the interest but these are all spoken for. If I make another batch I'll be game.

Fred, I'm back and forth on whether to cut a tone board or just bore her to 5/8" and install a call insert made by a number of outfits. If I make the tone board I have no illusions of it working. I think the air demand will be too much and I doubt scaling a call up this large will work. But who knows. Maybe it will. If I do make the tone board version I tend to think of it as a salesman's example. Not meant to really work, but rather to show potential customers for illustration purposes.
 
Eric,

You come up with some nice solutions during builds. That jig is one example.

I'm thinking those calls are going to need a logo or artwork. Have you thought about something along those lines?
 
SJ Fairbank said:
Eric,

You come up with some nice solutions during builds. That jig is one example.

I'm thinking those calls are going to need a logo or artwork. Have you thought about something along those lines?
Click to expand...
SJ

Don't you know it! I'm exploring the idea of traditional water transfer decal. You may recall over a decade ago I was making calls under the name Old Oliver. My mind's eye says these calls need a very traditional logo with gold flake, and very simple fonts and basic colors. The kind of stuff water transfer is perfect for. On the other hand the shape of the call mimics the greatest duck call ever made, in my mind, a "Hambone" by C.H. Amaden. I'm tempted to have some vinyl decals that match his logo, only bigger, made for the call. Thoughts?
 
Eric Patterson said:
SJ

Don't you know it! I'm exploring the idea of traditional water transfer decal. You may recall over a decade ago I was making calls under the name Old Oliver. My mind's eye says these calls need a very traditional logo with gold flake, and very simple fonts and basic colors. The kind of stuff water transfer is perfect for. On the other hand the shape of the call mimics the greatest duck call ever made, in my mind, a "Hambone" by C.H. Amaden. I'm tempted to have some vinyl decals that match his logo, only bigger, made for the call. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Decisions, decisions!

If possible, I'd prefer a cut or burned logo. Scaling up a logo designed for a regular call may look strange on Godzilla's call. But if that's not practical any of your ideas would look great. A cool look might be checkering, knurling or fluting. Fluting will reduce the appearance of "mass" inherent to a large piece. Another nice accent might be brass wire wound in a diamond notch cut on or around the barrel. Gold or silver wire if you're wallet is feeling heavy. That kind of ornamentation refines the look and reduces the mass.
 
Good morning, Dax~

Sound repairs, no doubt! I am wondering, though, why those deck boards failed? Your photos - and the stain lines - suggest that the leaves sitting there off-season held moisture and allowed rot.

All the best,

SJS
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top