DIY Decoy making tips?
 

I would like toadd to my spread a self made decoy out of wood and/or cork. I have googled it a little, know you need to make a template, and would like to attempt my first one cork b/c I heard this may be easier for a begginer.

I ebayed a little for the block of cork, but figured i would ask you guys first before i buy anything. I have all the tools to hand carve, and sand and haev my mom paint.

I hunt water and feilds about equally, more so feilds in the late season. I would be open to making either but havent decided which is easier.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a begginer trying to carry on gramps carving skills?

I also have bass wood available.

thanks!

RE: DIY Decoy making tips?
 

i did carving in 4-h just remember the most important thing was the knife and lots and lots of patience. 20 yrs later and i still dont have the patience lol. try your hobby shops for the cork.

RE: DIY Decoy making tips?
 

Look at a few of the posts here
http://www.refugeforums.com/refuge/showthread.php?t=177416

As I only carve foam , I can't realy help you
But some of these guse turn scrap wood into art , in the shape of decoys

John

RE: DIY Decoy making tips?
 

If you were to use foam, pink styro- your cost would approach buying them. I priced 2" and it was almost $20.00/ sheet. Glueing the together is a problem as well. The upside is that regular spray paint eats away at it. if you painted feather detail, wing tuck, tail cleavage, etc with latex paint then spray it the solvent eats away leaving high and low spots. The amount of erosion is dependent on how thick you spray. After it erodes and dries off, it stops and leaves a relatively hard shell. I tried making heads and they looked great! The chips revealed pink!
Just my experiences.

RE: DIY Decoy making tips?
 

I use free broken foam boards or scrap , that I get free from jod sites

After I rough cut the pieces , I glue them togeather with glue designed for foam

After the glue drys I use a belt sander mounted to a bench to carve the blocks into decoy bodys ( out side )

I inlet a strip of pressure treated wood to atach the keel to later
I then burlap the foam bodies and add a Trex keel with SS screws

After I paint them I add a head that I buy

BTW if you use the right paint
It will not eat the foam

John