As a turkey hunter, having a perfectly tuned glass turkey call can give you an edge in the field. The unique sound produced by expertly sanded glass transforms you into a lovesick hen, irresistible to any hot-blooded tom within earshot. But with so many sandpaper grit options out there, how do you know which one is right for your call? Let’s break down the grit choices and techniques to help you master the art of glass call conditioning.
Why Proper Sanding is Crucial
The glass surface of a new call is slippery smooth. This prevents the level of friction needed with the striker peg to emit realistic turkey sounds. Transforming the glass into an ideal friction platform requires reshaping it with sandpaper or call conditioning stones. Sanding creates microscopic ridges and grooves that generate vibration as the striker is dragged across them.
Without proper sanding, your call’s glass can become dangerously slick from accumulated moisture and oils during calling. This steadily degrades the quality and realism of the sounds you can produce. Periodically re-sanding restores the surface to optimal roughness and friction.
Sandpaper Grits for Glass Turkey Calls
Coarser grit sandpaper is typically used for refinishing glass turkey call surfaces
-
60-80 grit – Very coarse sandpaper that aggressively cuts glass. Best for major restoration of worn, smooth surfaces.
-
80-100 grit – The ideal range for general use on glass calls. Produces excellent friction properties for realistic turkey sounds.
-
100-120 grit – Slightly finer sandpaper suited for quick touch-ups between hunts. Still rough enough for sufficient friction.
-
150+ grit – Too fine of grit will over-polish the surface, reducing friction below what’s needed for authentic turkey calling.
How Grit Choices Affect Sound
Think of sandpaper grits like an artist choosing paintbrushes. Coarser grits create a rougher finish that increases surface vibration and resonance. This generates a deeper, raspier tone critical for calling in noisy spring woods.
Finer grits smooth the surface for a clearer, crisper sound. This alters tonal quality, like different musical instruments. Test various grits to find your personal preferences.
Proper Sanding Techniques Matter Too
Along with the right grit, using proper sanding techniques improves consistency:
-
Direction – Sand lengthwise in straight lines, not circles, to reduce swirl marks.
-
Pressure – Apply moderate, uniform pressure over the entire surface.
-
Frequency – Regularly condition your call to maintain peak performance.
-
Sanding Motion – Occasionally fold sandpaper to expose fresh grit and avoid polishing.
-
Cleaning – Remove any debris after sanding to keep the surface pristine.
Achieving the Perfect Custom Sound
Conditioning a glass call takes it beyond just maintenance. Experiment with different grits to create your personalized tone that precisely matches your calling style and hunting environment. Finding your unique sound signature could be the advantage you need to finally tag that wise old tom.
So grab your preferred grit of sandpaper, getter your glass call smoothed to perfection, and hit the turkey woods ready to unleash the seductive skills of an expert hen. Gobblers beware!
TURKEY POT CALLS / HOW TO USE:
- Yelping – Make small circles 1/2” to 1” in length. Some people prefer making a “J” shape.
- Clucking – Pull the peg toward you about 1/8” to 1” with light pressure.
- Purring – Pull the peg toward you in a half-circle with light pressure.
- Cutting or Cackling – Pull the peg toward you 1/4” to 3/8”.
- To achieve proper turkey sound, apply more pressure to peg.
Choose one of Preston Pittman’s turkey pot calls made of slate, aluminum, glass and/or crystal. Remember to always keep the surface well sanded before each hunt. Never rub calling surface with your hand. Avoid oil or grease from coming in contact with the surface; but, if it does occur, simply sand properly. Harder surfaces, such as glass or crystal, need to almost be cut. Softer surfaces require the opposite.
- Glass or Crystal – Use a coarse grit sand paper such as a 60-grit.
- Slate or Aluminum – Use a fine grit sand paper, never coarser than a 220-grit. Finer is better. Scuff pads are best
- When sanding most hard surfaces, such as glass or crystal, crisscross sanding is preferred. Results from sanding should be similar to “###” marks on the caller. This insures that the caller can call from any direction.
- When sanding soft surfaces with a grain, such as slate, sand with the grain only. When calling, pull the striker across the grain. Aluminum can be crisscross sanded, but remember, on slate and aluminum, use fine sand paper or scuff pad.
- Hold the pot only by the rim. For maximum volume, do not touch the bottom of the pot.
- To tone the volume down, experiment with touching the bottom of the pot or hold the pot in the palm of your hand.
- The closer to the edge of the pot that you hold the turkey call, the higher the pitch will be. The closer you call to the middle of the pot, the deeper/coarser the sound will be.
- The greater the tilt of the peg, the coarser the sound will be.
- By using these tips, you can make any of Preston’s turkey pot calls sound like a whole flock of turkeys, or easily change from one sound to another.
Conditioning a Glass Pot Call – STRAIGHT Out of the Box
FAQ
What grit sandpaper to use on glass?
Choose a medium-grit sandpaper finish (60- to 100-grit). We recommend Abranet® SIC NS and Abralon® for sanding glass. Abranet® SIC NS is a multifunctional net abrasive without stearate, developed mainly for glass sanding, but is also suitable for sanding of other hard surfaces like primers, clear coats and composites.
Should I sand my slate call?
Yes, you will either need a stone or 80 grit sandpaper for the initial rough spot. Generally, you only use a scotch brite pad for slate calls.
What do you use 320 grit sandpaper for?
180 to 220 Grit Sandpaper: Finer grit sandpaper is great for removing the scratches left by coarser grits on unfinished wood and for lightly sanding between coats of paint. 320 to 400 Grit Sandpaper: Very fine grit sandpaper is used for light sanding between coats of finish and to sand metal and other hard surfaces.
What grit to sand slate?
Start with a lower grit number for honing and move up to a bigger grit, such as a 400-grit or a 600-grit, to slowly and gradually achieve a polished look that …Dec 22, 2023