im wanting to make my own slate pot style call and i have a few questions.
1. Where could i get the materials (wood/slate/etc.) to build the call.
2. What tools would i need to get the job done.
3. What finish do yall use after your done making the call.
4. Whats the best way to build the call and striker.

There are really many answers to your questions...

1. You can get the wood at a lumber yard, some scrap you have around the house, or you can specialty order online.... slate, if not buying in big bulk check out grassycreekcalls.com. You can also get your sound board through there. Though, like the slate, if buying to make a lot of calls there are better souces.

2. Tools to do the job if making it totally... lathe, chisels, chuck or faceplate. Good chisel sharpener, sand paper in a lot of graduating grits. Goop glue.

3. You can use various finishes. I use a homemade brew I buy from another callmaker. There is poly spar, and MinWax wipe on......

4. Best way to build, or cheapest? Cheapest is to buy all your component pre-turned and cut ready for gluing. Best way is to turn your own ( but it can get expensive depending upon your learning curve). Strikers can be anything from a hand whittled stick (done that and got a turkey doing it) or a dowel fitted into a top piece, which can be a corn cob or another piece of bigger diameter wood. Or you can turn a one piece striker on a lathe.

Hope this helped... I'm no expert, I'm sure someone else can hit the finer points of it.

try a flooring store for your slate and a glass store for plexi and other materials. Most time they will cut it for you for a couple of bucks. After you but a piece.

Believe it or not I have made slate calls from a Skoal can and a piece of slate (chalk board) I bought from Wal Mart. I just cut the slate to size and fitted it in with some glue. I drilled a hole in the side of the skoal can and believe it or not it has called in turkeys before. I made my striker out of a piece of cedar I ut from a cedar tree. Just get a straight limb and wittle it down almost to a point and sand it round and burn the tip a little bit then sand the charred tip off. Chalk does help on the slate when calling...

Here are a snuff can and a coaster made into friction calls.....

that is an awesome bday idea......i might have to call ya Annie around Jan.

I didn't make these two Ma, they were trades cuz I was intrigued.

But I might be able to do the snuff can [&:]

Fairly easy to make. I just didnt have the holes in the bottom like on your call. I had mine on the side.

I sure someone knows.... But weren't some old calls nothing but slate cupped in your hand with a plain stick striker?

Yes I believe your right justannie.