box call prep, chalking

[TomBow]

I apologize if this has been addressed before.

In about 1981, my father purchased a Lynch world Championship box call, used Carpenter's chalk (the kind for chalk-lines), used it a few times and then put it away. Fast forward to yesterday, he gave it to me, helping to feed my turkey-addiction. Question: How do you prep your box calls? Should I strip off old chalk and start with new? If so, how to remove old cloth, cloth, sand paper or ?? Do I sand the lid, with what grit sandpaper, smooth or rough? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you and good Luck!

 

[Tominator]

Try the call with the existing chalk and see how it sounds first. It if sounds ok, the the lid should be fine (as i believe it will). Then you can remove the old chalk and start over feeling pretty confident. I would get anymore aggressive that scotchbrite to start with, it'll remove the majority of the chalk without affecting teh radius of the lid. Wipe it good with the scotchbrite pad then re-chalk and have a listen, should be fine. If not, try LIGHT sanding with a 120 grit and re-chalk.

 

[TomBow]

any sanding needed on the sides of the box or is that a big no-no? what about cleaning the chalk off the sides, yea or nay?

 

[Tominator]

For the most part, that is a big no-no. just hit the tops of the sides with the scotchbrite and let it go at that.

 

[MrRee]

This makes me wonder

Does the kind of chalk matter? any diffrent sound with diffrent chalk ?

 

[turtle]

I wouldn't use anything more aggressive than 150 grit on the lid of the box. A lot of people are going with rosin for "chaulking" the lid. I don't know exactly where to get it at though. You can use a non-oil based chaulkboard or school chaulk on your call. Try not to sand too agressively though. Like Tominator said... stay away from the side rails.

 

[TomBow]

You should be able to get rosin at a store that deals with violins. Rosin is used on bows, no, not the shooting arrows kind but the playing violins kind. Ahh, that 1st grade violin class did learn me somethin', heh, heh. Might be able to get a rosin bag at a sporting good stores, don't pitchers use a rosin bag?