Problems with sticking reed

[quackstacker32]

I bought a SMM and I have been blowing it around the house and after it sits for a while I try to blow it again and the reed sticks. Is there a way to keep this from happening? Am I spitting too much into the call and if so how do i do it differently. Thanks for any help!!

[dirtycletus81]

Do the dollar bill trick. Take a dollar bill and run it between the reeds, and run it between the reed and tone board. You can also take a emery board and run it across the tone board a few times.

[shoreboy06]

i have found a $100 bill works the best......

[SBE II]

I would never scuff my toneboard, Butch gets a bit irritated if you do that to one of his calls. Just be sure to break your calls apart after you blow them and let them dry out, keep em clean and even a shot of rain-x helps...

[QuackKilla]

I always found putting a little chap stick on the tone board where the reed touches, keeps it from sticking. But just a litle and use a q tip to put it on.

[SBE II]

I always found putting a little chap stick on the tone board where the reed touches, keeps it from sticking. But just a litle and use a q tip to put it on.

Curious to try, isn't chapstick normally sticky?

[SMOKE]

rainex!! dont leave home without it

[Waterfowl_Kid]

so your suggesting use the dollar bill trick everytime you blow your call? that would be a pain in the field.

[feetdown20]

you probably are just spitting to much into the call. Learn how to blow the call with the Hot air approach. In stead of blowing in between your teeth which causing moisture build up on the tone board under the reed. Also blow with the toneboard on the upper half of the call. This will help the moisture you are spittling to run through the call freely instead of building up under the reed. Practice. I use to stick alot of calls, and this approach has helped me in the field tremendously. When you get done blowing, take the call apart, or turn it barrel side down to let the moisture escape. Hope that helps

[SO IL fowler]

Ryan, you aught to make a sticky for this to go along with your tuning one. This question seems to come up alot.
Gabe

[rj440gtx]

Been having the same problem all winter long. Just went to harrisburg and asked the staffer what the problem was. He said that from blowing the call , spit and whatever else is in your mouth gets stuck on the tone board and that is the reason for the sticking. just run an emory board (not real rough) across the tone board. Works great for me and occasionally I have to use the dollar bill trick too!!

[scouttracker]

Feetdown has it just right. most people spit into the call way to much. But if you mix up rain-x before seasone, dip your calls, pound out the spit and keep calls warm. They will not stick. Now if you eat candy , donuts, cinabuns(?) ect....... They going to stick. " Keep Your Calls Clean"

[mlgorecki]

First, I assume you have your reed(s) set up in the call so the natural curve is upward? PM me if you're unsure.

I tend to be a heavy spitter, so the emery thing doesn't work too well for me either. Blowing into the call through the bore works for some, but not for me. The dollar bill trick works, but it ain't feasible to take your call apart to do it while ducks are working, which is usually when it sticks the most. RainEx also works (coat your reeds in it periodically), but it quickly wears off.

Randy Fox showed me a field expediant way to break the stick in a hunting situation: Grab the insert in a way which prevents air from exiting the bore (seal it off) and force air into the barrel, thereby "popping" the reed up and away from the tone board. At first, it seems a little weird, but once you get the feel, it becomes easy. Foot note to the Calhoun Redneck.

Hope this helps.