Hey guys - I'm just wondering who here makes their own strikers. If you do, what diameter dowel do you use, and what wood?

I'm a little partial to thinner strikers, because they don't feel so big and sloppy - and they tend to be a higher pitch.

I'll be making some new strikers this year, and I'm just looking for some ideas. I plan on making some more corncob tops, but after that, I'm open to new ideas. I've done wood in the past, but I like to try different stuff.

Also, are there any types of trees whose branches can be whittled down to make a good striker?

I made a few last year, using some rosewood dowel that I came up with.

Just looking for fresh ideas that Ican find laying around the woods/house. Feel free to post pictures ofyour homemade strikers if you have any.

quiksilver, don't know if you remember this one I modified with aluminum...sound fantastic on glass and runs great when wet...

Is that just a piece of XX75 shaft? Do you leave the end open?

Yes and Yes......I forget off hand what size that arrow is, I had so many from over 20 years of bowhunting....I picked one that was close to the original hickory striker and then simply sanded it down until it slid tightly into the arrow piece leaving about a 1/2 inch hollow area and simply epoxy'd in together....I have one I purchased that has a carbon arrow on a thinner dowl and a corn cob head....both sound great.

ive made some outa dowel rods and corncobs like you.....but my favorite way is splitting a log and making it out of good seasoned heart wood...and carving out solid strikers with a knife...then finish it up by sanding it......speaking of that.....i better go fishing this week while im off.....thats my favorite time to carve them...sitting on the lake shore waiting for a trout bite.....better sharpen up the knives tonite......

quiksilver makesure you build some with a mushroom flare tip

There is a company out of Canada that has just about any wood you could want in dowels. Talk to David at www.dowelsondemand.org. We give 2-piece strikers with our calls, sohe was suppose to be sending me a variety to see how we like them. I haven't gotten them yet because it seems Customs likes turkey strikers too. Hope this contact helps. You'll be amazed at what types of woods he hasavailable.

QS, I have made them from 1/4"X6-1/2" Dog Wood and Fig branches. Used finished and taperedCorn Cobs and some with Ash Wood for tops and using them on slate.
I lke the Dog Wood and finished tapered Corn Cob tops better, so do the turkeys.

I use a solid piece of wood and turn it on my lathe. I have liked my mahogany strikers for soft sweet sounds and hickory for more raspy sounds. I think many of the store bought sound good too. I just like to make my own. They're prettier than the store bought and working on them gives me something to do before the season. I also make my own slate and glass calls on the lathe, too.

I will cut a branch off a cedar tree and whittle it down to 1/4 inch round, sand it then burn the striker end of it then sand it again and it works like a charm. Put a corn cob on the other end and it sounds even better.