Cleaning and conditioning a glass friction call?

How do you get your glass calls purring and ready for the season?

Can someone go into detail about your procedure? (start to finish, what grit sandpaper, direction of sanding, alcohol/acetone, etc…)

Thanks!

I have been told go in one direction.

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How do you get your glass calls purring and ready for the season?

Can someone go into detail about your procedure? (start to finish, what grit sandpaper, direction of sanding, alcohol/acetone, etc…)

Thanks!

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This should be what you’re looking for – Slate Call Article. Glass is a bit tougher to rough up, and I’d use some rough grit sanding paper to get it done. Esp with glass, keep at it until that surface looks pretty rough. You’ll go through several pieces of sandpaper to get that done, but it’s worth it to really rough it up the first few times. Then re-condition with your scotch-brite pad for a smoother sound. Don’t forget to rough up your striker as well. Esp. with glass, be careful about touching or rubbing the surface of a conditioned call. They seem a bit more touchy to me.

Good luck!

Joel

i use a “conditioning tool” on my glass/crystal calls. i have an HS Strut and a Primos that i think work great.

they are a stone set in a plastic handle. pretty handy and both also have a scratchy pad area for cleaning your striker tips.

as far as sanding “in one direction,” you can go back and forth, just keep the same line all the time.

i hold the call with the top at the top, or 12 o’clock, and always condition back and forth from 3 oclock to 9 oclock.

then i work the call 12 oclock to 6 oclock.

also, if the call doesnt have a bump or other marking at the top, i will put a piece of tape there so i can find the top of the call in low light or if i have my eyes on that tom comin in.