I know there are a few people on here that turn calls. I am going to be getting a little lathe and want to start turning some duck calls and other stuff and I have a few questions if someone wouldn't mind.

There are 2 ways to make duck calls, turn the barrels and add ready made inserts. That is the easy and cheapest way. The other is when you become infatuated with the art of making duck calls and you start to make your own inserts. Open you wallet wide, real wide, it makes the money flow easier to the sellers of the things you will need. Your lathe should have a 2MT in the headstock and tailstock with 1-8 TPI threads. A cheap lathe will work, but unless you know how to use it to your advantage, you are wasting your time.

Starter list for making a real duck call I used Harbor Freight stuff as estimates. Used is just as good as HF.

Lathe chisels..................................................$60
Sharpening system for chisels ................................$120 *
scroll saw ...................................................$80
Duck toneboard jig ...........................................$100 *
Band saw ....................................................$150
Table saw ...................................................$100
5/8" mandrel ..................................................$30 *
Collet chuck with collets .....................................$100
4 jaw chuck with jaw set.......................................$150 *
Drill chuck to fit your tailstock on your lathe ................$30 *
Sandpaper, 80, 120, 300, 400, 500, and 600 grits ...............$40 *
Watco Teak oil.................................................. $8 *
Drill bit, a 5/8" silver deming drill bit.......................$10 *
Wood, cheap wood to learn on, I suggest maple 1.5x1.5x3.5 blanks $50 *
aluminum and or brass duck call bands and pins ..................$30 *
Cork and reed supply ............................................$40

* other sources
Penn State industries for the chucks and sharpening system.
Toneboard and bands at Webfoot duck calls
Mandrel on eBay.
Sandpaper, Klingspor Woodworking Shop, buy the 1" or 2" cloth back roll type on SP.

I am sure I missed a lot, but I will add when I think of any.

Thanks dogcatcher, been doing a lot of reading and research think i have most of the tools nailed down that i am going to buy. I am going to a class at woodcraft on the 18th to learn some turning. Then will slowly get tooled up after that. I plan to start turning the barrels and using a echo insert. I plan to turn my own inserts as well but my main problem with that is i mostly duck hunt with guides so i am horrible at using a duck call. Have to learn to be half decent with one before i can turn an insert and tune it.

Anyone want to teach a guy to use a duck call?

There is a ton of info on Youtube on how to use a duck call. Then practice a bunch!