Drying Wood for Turkey Calls

[Scott Kirsch]

Sloppy would like to try his first hack at making a box call from some wood on his property. I have some white oak, cherry, ironwood, shagbark hickory, and a few others.

How long does the wood need to dry with no kiln? Do the blanks need to be pre-cut to a certain size? Thank you.

[tphunter]

I would cut the wood into slabs roughly 2" thick by no more then 6" wide by whatever length (but longer then you need for your box call)...Seal the ends to minimize cracking or checking...Stack in an area with good air flow for about 2 years...Make sure there is alot of space between the slabs to allow good air flow...I've been known to search through peoples firewood piles for box call woods...Thats how I got the curly maple for the box call below.

[Papaw]

HEY SLOPPY
PAPAW HERE TP IS RIGHT CUT YOU WOOD ABOUT 2" SQUARE AND A LITTLE LONGER THAN THE CALL YOU ARE WANTING TO MAKE SEAL THE ENDS WITH WAX ( PARRAFIN. PUT IN A DRY PLACE LET THE AIR CURCULATE THROUGH THEM THEN SET BACK AND WAIT & WAIT& WAIT SERIOUSLY THOUGH IT DOES TAKE AWHILE TO DRY THE WOOD THE BIGGER IT IS THE LONGER IT TAKES. IF YOU EVER WANT THE NAME OF A GOOD WOOD SUPPLIER AT PRETTY REASONABLE PRICES PM ME AND I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU. HOPE THIS HELPS GOOD LUCK IN THE CALLMAKING LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES IF I CAN EVER HELP HOLLER AT ME
PAPAW

[Win Mag]

Here is a way to dry your wood.As i use to do for making waterbeds from fresh cuts.
Frame out a box big enough for the wood you want to dry.Enclose the sides with plywood and place a fan at one end of the drying box.Cut spacers and place evenly between boards to allow the air to flow around entire boards when stacked on top of each other.And i ran a dehumidifer in the room also to help draw moisture outof the room to help drying process but not ness.

[Scott Kirsch]

papaw said:

HEY SLOPPY
PAPAW HERE TP IS RIGHT CUT YOU WOOD ABOUT 2" SQUARE AND A LITTLE LONGER THAN THE CALL YOU ARE WANTING TO MAKE SEAL THE ENDS WITH WAX ( PARRAFIN. PUT IN A DRY PLACE LET THE AIR CURCULATE THROUGH THEM THEN SET BACK AND WAIT & WAIT& WAIT SERIOUSLY THOUGH IT DOES TAKE AWHILE TO DRY THE WOOD THE BIGGER IT IS THE LONGER IT TAKES. IF YOU EVER WANT THE NAME OF A GOOD WOOD SUPPLIER AT PRETTY REASONABLE PRICES PM ME AND I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU. HOPE THIS HELPS GOOD LUCK IN THE CALLMAKING LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES IF I CAN EVER HELP HOLLER AT ME
PAPAW

Thank you PawPaw. Please PM with your wood blanks contact. I will wait for my other wood to dry but I would like to take a shot at a long box call for the 2006 season. -Scott

[Scott Kirsch]

winmag said:

Here is a way to dry your wood.As i use to do for making waterbeds from fresh cuts.
Frame out a box big enough for the wood you want to dry.Enclose the sides with plywood and place a fan at one end of the drying box.Cut spacers and place evenly between boards to allow the air to flow around entire boards when stacked on top of each other.And i ran a dehumidifer in the room also to help draw moisture outof the room to help drying process but not ness.

WinMag - I'll give try dryer creation a shot. I have an old wooden box that my daughter used to keep toys in. It sounds much like you described. After fabrication, I'll photograph the drying box. Thanks for a good idea! -Sloppy

[Win Mag]

Glad to be of help.It worked really good for me and didn't split the wood.The box i made was 16"x20"x10' with a small fan attached at one end.

[Papaw]

HEY SCOTT
THE SUPPLIER I LIKE TO USE IS GROFF&GROFF LUMBER QUARRYVILLE PA. 800-342-0001
ASK FOR SHARON TELL HER I TOLD YOU TO CALL. TELL HER WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AND WHAT YOU ARE MAKING THEY SELL A LOT OF WOOD TO CALLMAKERS. HAVE HER TO SEND YOU A BROCHURE THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP YOU OUT. HOPE THIS HELPS FRIEND. PAPAW

[turkeyman]

Snoopy if you know what type of call you are going to try your hand at I might have a enough to help you with if you know what type of wood you need.

[Scott Kirsch]

turkeyman said:

Snoopy if you know what type of call you are going to try your hand at I might have a enough to help you with if you know what type of wood you need.

t-man-thanks. I'll take you up on the offer. I would like to create a 12" long box call. I envision the sound chamber and handle being made of butternut and a cedar lid. Let me know and thank you much. -Sloppy

[huntinfool]

Sloppy,

I think the concensus is right on this one. Drying wood on your own with only nature doing it is a LONG process. Like months and months and months. It WILL work, but you gotta be patient. I would suggest using a supplier. There are tons of them out there that supply not only domestic, but also the more expensive imported stuff.