My box call sounds like crap!

[razorsharptokill]

It's a M.A.D. Cherry bomb. When I bought it I thought it sounded ok. I'm a novice at this.

I went hunting for the first time the other day and it was almost impossible to get anything close to a turkey sound out of it. It squeaks some thing terrible! Later I tried sanding the lid and applying more chalk and it got better but it still throws a shrill note fairly often. Any ideas?

[dorris]

sounds like its got a crack

[thp]

Razor,

The expensive option is to go get another box call. There's lots of them out there.

You might try a slate call.  I tried one of the Hunter Specialty slates for the first time this year.  With a little practice I was able to make very convincing yelps and clucks.  With a little more practice I'm sure I could do a convincing purr.

[razorsharptokill]

I have a primos slate and I do pretty well with it. I may just focus on it this year.

[shootrmn]

I have the uncanny ability to make the very finest calls sound like fingernails on a chalk board and cause turkeys to move five counties away in mminutes. I have alienated all my neighbors while trying to learn the mouth calls and more than one death threat has been posted while I was working with my slate calls. I am going to try following someone that sounds like a turkey and shooting at his over flow.

[2Blade]

As I tell everyone and no one paid atteion get a Blodgett!! They have the best box calls made they won the nationals 6 years in a row for best sounding box and friction calls NO ONE is close to the sound and beauty of these calls I guarntee you.

[Stone Knife]

Humidity plays a big role in how a box call will sound on any given day. Have you tried to tune it at all by adjusting the screw on the lid? As mentioned before you nee to use oilless chalk, i use the half round pieces of blue chalk line chalk that you can buy at a hardware store. Also you should not do a lot of sanding on a box with sand paper use scotch pads that are less harmful as you don't want to remove wood from the call. Very little pressure is needed to get a good sound from a box all calls are different but for the most part just the weight of the lid will be all that you need. Just like shooting trad gear a box call will require practice to master to get the sound that you want. A slate is a good call but make sure you have a striker that will work in wet weather, some of the best days to hunt turkeys is in the rain. You can't beat a box call for locating long distance but once mastered they are a very effective close in call also, good luck.

[gobbler10ga]

lightly sand the paddle then chaulk it well . the purpleheart paddle can give high pitches

[Charles Sorrells]

I would caution on too much with sanding and re-sanding the lid.  Take 80 grit with the grain with just little pressure then chalk it fairly heavy with an oiless chalk, if you don't have any I'll gladly send you a big chunk.  Keep working the call and let the chalk work down into the grain.  It will season it like a good skillet.  

On the side boards very lightly touch them along the grain with nothing less than 120 and nothing finer than 220 grit.  

The low tones in a box call come as the paddle travels low towards the bottom end.  If you are continually squeaking loosen the screw an eighth turn at a time and check it.  Loosening the screw allows the paddle to travel lower on the side boards to hit the lower tones.  One smooth motion of the paddle from the highest point to the lowest point should produce a full range of tone that you can judge for sound quality and make adjustments from the there.  Careful here too, and this should be done as a last resort.

Sorry to be long winded, but I just wanted to help.  I have made a few thousand boxcalls and this is what works for me.  

I would check the glue lines to as mentioned above.  If you find a loose one just seep some thin super glue in it and hold tight for a few seconds and that should mend that problem as well.

Good hunting!!!
Charles

[2-BIG]

Try what Charles said. I like to lightly use one of those green scrub pads to clean up the paddle as well as the edges of the box. Then re-chalk and try adjusting the screw until you get the right sound.
It may not sound great to you but most calls are made to attract the hunter and the birds aren't near as fussy as we are.
I have a buddy that has the nastiest sounding calling no matter what he uses but when the turkeys won't answer my "perfect" sounding calls, I have him call and they will answer!  

[flinch]

It's pretty hard to put down a box call and pickup a bow without being spotted by a turkey unless you are in a blind.  I prefer a mouthcall; but had to practice to avoid gagging.   For what it is worth a diaphragm is easy to use while holding a bow in readiness to draw.  I have also noticed turkeys will come to calls that are not perfect.

[bluegrassbowhunter]

I've got a cherry bomb I've been using for around 4 years & it sounds as good now as the day I got it.I clean off all the old chalk with a scrowing pad & steelwool,then rechalk....I've got a buddy that put that waterproofing stuff on his,the kind that's made for box calls & his sounds like junk now.....he wished he hadn't done it now...

[razorsharptokill]

Thanks guys . All good advice, I'll try it.

[bmfer]

I wish I knew how to call a turkey.

[bowhntrct]

Some of the worst turkey calls I have heard in the woods came from real hens. I also raised Bronze turkeys big and mean and rarely sounded like the ones on TV.Try a Lynch and the right chalk.
C.T.

[Roadkill]

Wow what comes when you use it?  I used to clean my calls with a scotch pad after every day's use.  In VA we could only hunt on base until noon, so i had time to clean it before the next day,  Try that as others have suggested.

[RC]

Razorsharptokill,  I have a box full of calls. I prefer a slate myself but have several box calls. Send me your address and I`ll be glad to send you a box and a slate call.RC

[olddogrib]

Also consider that beauty is in the mind of the listener. The awfullest clucking and cackling I've ever heard came from what I thought was the worst caller I'd ever heard moving in on my bird.  Turned out to be a real hen and the poor old gal with the speech impediment led the biggest gobbler I've ever killed right to me!

[fflintlock]

herrrrrrrrre turkey turkey turkey !!

heheheeeeeeeee

[razorsharptokill]

Cleaned all the old chalk off and scuffed it a little with 800 grit, tightened the screw a little bit, re-chalked it and the squeeks are gone.

Don't sound like the $59.00 one a tried at Basspro but I think it'll work! Thanks guys.