Back in the late 80's I kinda stumbled on making some strikers from dogwood. The thing is..... I was getting dead but not rotten limbs or twigs from trees while I was hunting. Not a lot bigger than the Rod size you want.
I scrapped and sanded them down....... then made em using the old Hard corn cobs. Which I can't find anymore.
Then burnt the end and rub pollished them on a piece of glass.
I also drilled a small hole where the wood met the cob and wrapped copper wire around the shaft to make them center heavy. On a couple I glued a piece/slab of cocobolo to the top... to make it heavier. It was a lot of work and fun trying to tune.
They must have been good...... I gave them all away.......
I mainly used them for soft calls and clucks and purrs.
Seeing your post....... I might try them again.
